Arequipa – Chivay

Your journey starts around 07:30 am, when a private bus picks you up from your hotel. We start heading towards the small town of Chivay, which is a 4-hour ride through beautiful Colca Valley. On our way, we stop at the National Reserve of Aguada Blanca and Salinas, a place where you can observe the famous Vicuñas as well as all of the three great volcanoes of Arequipa: Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu.

The second stop will be at the National Reserve of “Pampa Cañahuas”, where we take a short break to observe the wild Vicuñas (one of the 4 types of American camels) in its natural habitat at about 3400 m.o.s.l. Continuing our journey, we will arrive at “Pata Wasi”, an Andean community at the opposite border of the reserve where we will have the opportunity to use the bathrooms and to drink the famous coca tea which will help you to prevent altitude sickness.

From here we will pass “Tocra”, a high plain at 4500 meters, where we will observe migrant birds at stunning lakes and get pictures of the “Antiplano” with its Llamas and Guanacos. The highest point of our tour will be “Pata Pampa” at 4820 meters, from where we can observe the volcanoes Ampato, Sabancaya, Hualca-Hualca, Misti (the source of the Amazon River), and the “Cordillera Chila”. Getting close to the town of Chivay, we will enjoy some spectacular views of the multicolored terraces of the Colca Valley.

Arriving at Chivay, we will have lunch first and then you will have some free time to visit the local market. Afterwards, we bring you to the Hotel Mamayachi where you have some time to relax before joining a 30-minute walk to the Hot Springs. Here you can enjoy the warm natural waters (35°C/ 95ºF) in the nice outdoor surroundings of the huge mountains, the river, and even some local animals. After sunset, we return to the hotel and have dinner.

Accommodation: Hotel Mamayacchi

Chivay – Puno

On the second day of our adventure, we will have breakfast very early in the morning and leave for the famous “Cruz del Condor”. Arriving there, we have plenty of time to enjoy the great view of the deep canyon and (if the weather permits) the majestic Condor in its natural habitat.

After some time, our guide will take you for a short walk near the Canyon (approx. 1 hour). On our way back to Chivay we’re going to visit the traditional village of Pinchollo and the “Antahuilque viewpoint” where we can gaze at the wonderful 1500-year-old terraces constructed by the Collaguas, an ancient culture before the Inca’s time. We will also make a small stop at the lookout point of “Choquetico” with its hanging tombs. Then, we continued our trip to the small Andean community of Maca and the village of Yanque with the most beautiful church in the whole valley.

We will stop for Lunch in Chivay before hitting the road in the direction of Puno, crossing the amazing sceneries of the Altiplano and leaving behind the gorgeous scenery of the Colca Canyon. On our way, we continue ascending a small road until we reach the highest point of our trip, the lookout point of the Andes (4800 m/15,748 ft). At the very top, we will get off the bus for a few minutes and enjoy the stunning landscape with the great volcanoes including Mismi, Misti, Chachani, Sabancaya (active), and Ampato.
Along the paved road, we will see many small towns as well as the beautiful lagoon Lagunillas, where we can explore trout farms and observe Andean flamingos among many Andean birds. Following an ascending road, we will then reach the Viscachani. We have a short break and stretch our legs, use the bathroom if needed, and drink a typical coca tea or coffee at the local restaurant.
Later on, we will drive through the national reserve park of the Peruvian Altiplano to finally reach the beautiful city of Puno close to the majestic Titicaca Lake.