First Day:
We will pick you up between 7:40 and 8:10 AM at your hotel in Arequipa by mini-bus. The guide who speaks English and Spanish will lead the group.
THE ALTIPLANO: We’ll take the route to the Colca Valley and Canyon, and crossing the “Salinas and Aguada Blanca” Natural Reserve, we’ll be able to watch Vicunas, Alpacas and Llamas - typical animals living in this deserted pampa composed by huge volcanoes like the Misti, the Chachani and the Ampato. The bus will stop several times on the way to enjoy the splendid landscapes. One of the most impressive viewpoints is the Volcanoes Mirador located at the highest pass at 4910 meters above sea level (16108 ft.) (we advise you to stay hydrated and to drink coca tea to ease your acclimatization). Afterwards, we will go down to reach Chivay (3600 meters above sea level - 11811 ft.) and there we’ll leave a part of the group and continue to our comfortable hotel in Yanque. Lunch not included.
HORSEBACK RIDE: At 2:30 PM, our equestrian guide and the Peruvian Paso horses will pick us up at the hotel. Then we’ll start the 3-hour ride (private or very small size group). At the main square of Yanque, we will see the splendid church built by the Spanish in the XVIIth century. Then we’ll cross the Colca River on the Cervantes bridge, from where we will be able to observe the famous “Colca”, small cereals storage holes carved in the cliff. We will continue to ride until the pre-Inca cemetery. These tombs dominating the valley present skulls and bones from the Collagua culture. We’ll pursue to the Coporaque's Village, whose fountain is in honor of the Inca, reference of the conquest by this civilization over the Colca Valley. Going back to Yanque, we’ll pass in front of the famous « amphitheater », succession of pre-Inca terraces in circular format. To finish, we’ll cross the impressive Sifon bridge before arriving at our hotel. Overnight in Yanque.
If you want to do more horseback rides, please click here.
Second day:
THE CRUZ OF CONDOR: Breakfast at the hotel (included), then the bus will pick us up at the hotel around 6:45 AM in order to arrive early to the “Cruz of condor”, amazing viewpoint above the Colca Canyon (second deepest in the world) from where we can see the magical flight of the Condor, so symbolic in the Andean culture.
PRE-INCA TERRACES: On the way back, we’ll stop in the small village of Maca and in different vantage points where we can enjoy landscapes composed by typical pre-Inca Terraces. Return to Chivay (lunch not included). Arrival time in Arequipa around 5:00 PM.
If you want go directly to Puno, we can book you a ticket from Chivay in a comfortable bus (please inform us with anticipation). This bus does some stops on the way to enjoy the nice landscapes.
