AREQUIPA

Surrounding Countryside
Duration: Half day
This tour includes the surrounding villages, La Mansión del Fundador and the Sabandía Windmill.

Toro Muerto Petroglyphs
Duration: Full day
In the warm valley of the Majes River, very close to the village of Corire, is the Toro Muerto stone sculpture complex. Here you can appreciate at least 2,000 rock carvings or petroglyphs representing hunting and scenes from daily life from the Huari and Chuquibamba cultures.

Typical Lunch
Lunch at a local “Picanteria” (spicy food restaurant) where you will have the opportunity to taste delicious typical dishes of the Arequipeñan famous cuisine. Transportation and meal included.

Santuarios Andinos Museum
This museum is dedicated to the offerings made by the Incas to the Apus, or mountain deities. The mummy of a girl, now named Juanita, was found perfectly preserved in the snow on mount Ampato, she and her clothing are shown in the museum.

Andagua, The Valley of the Volcanoes
277 Km from the city of Arequipa, (approximately 10 hours by car). The valley of the volcanoes was the scene of intense volcanic activity 200,000 years ago and today we can see the extensive layer of lava from which around 86 small volcanoes have emerged. It is at an altitude of 3,587 m.a.s.l.

Casa del Moral
A 17th Century mansion, this is one of Arequipa’s oldest and most important baroque buildings. The mansion owes its name to an ancient mulberry tree that used to grow in the courtyard, it is one of the most complete examples of Arequipa baroque architecture. Walking through its rooms shows us the daily life of that era.

4 DAYS COTAHUASI CANYON

The Cotahuasi Canyon is locates in La Union Province, one of the remote provinces in the Arequipa Region and with a depth on 3,535 meters is considered deeper than the Coca Canyon, however not as deep as some canyons in the Himalayas. The canyon itself is an impressive gorge carved by the river passing between two enormous vocanos: Coropuna (6,425m) and Solimana (6093m).
To visit Cotahuasi Valley we have to pass through Cotahuasi town (The capital of the province) that is located 375 kilometers northeast of Arequipa City.

Day 01: AREQUIPA-CORIRE – APLAO – TORO MUERTO – VIEW OF COROPUNA MOUNTAIN & LAKE PALLACORCHA

Depart early in the morning (5 am). Today on our journey we will pass through Corire and Aplao Valleys, where we will find a suitable place to have our volcanic rocks with drawings dating back to the Huari Culture (our visit there takes about 1 hour). We carry on until we arrive at ”Chuquibamba town”, a traditional place where we can have lunch at a local restaurant.
We hit the road again, enjoying the beautiful landscape of the ”Puna” highland and diverse geographical areas.
On the way, we stop to visit ”Pallarcocha Lake”, located at the bottom of the snow-capped ”Coropuna”, and an ideal place to observe this impressive volcano close at hand. After a short stop at the natural viewpoint of ”Allahuay” offering an incredible view over the Cotahuasi valley we arrive at our lodge in the town of Cotahuasi at about 6 pm.

Day 02: PUYCA TOWN – TOMEPAMPA AND ALCA – MAUKALLACTA RUINS – HOT SPRING IN LUICHO

Today we’ll have a full day excursion toward Puyca town (3560 m), enjoying the area with its wild surroundings and deep gorges. On the route we will visit also the traditional towns of Tomepampa and Alca, arriving at Puyca around midday. After lunch at a local place in town, we will walk up to the remarkable Inca ruins of Maukallacta having an impressive view of the area. On the way back to Cotahuasi town we’ll visit the thermal baths of Luicho with the possibility of a relaxing bath in its 35 degree water. Overnight in a lodge in Cotahuasi.

Day 03: SIPIA WATERFALL – VILLAGE OF HUAYNACOTA

About 6 am we’ll start our visit to the Sipia waterfall. The 150m high cataract is an impressive natural spectacle which is located at the lower and warmer regions of Cotahuasi. On the route to Sipia we will have a short hike, crossing hanging bridges, enjoying the landscape with its unique flora and fauna and taking a look at the walls of the canyon. In the afternoon, after returning to Cotahuasi and having a short rest we will drive to the village Huaynacotas (2700 m), who’s inhabitants still live deeply rooted in ancient customs and traditions. Return and overnight in Cotahuasi.

Day 04: COTAHUASI TOWN – AREQUIPA CITY.

At about 7:30 am we will take the road back to Arequipa. On route we will have some stops for pictures and lunch. Our tour ends in the city at about 6 pm.