| HOLIDAY NAME | : | Colca Canyon to Puno 3/D 2/N |
| DURATION | : | 3/D 2/N |
| DEPARTURE | : | Daily Departures |
| SEASON | : | march to december |
| GROUP SIZE | : | Upon Request |
Ecological Sustainable Adventure Travel Tours
Quechuas Expeditions Authorized Inca Trail Adventure Tour Operator
Under Local Mountain-Jungle & Cultural Multilingual Guides Management
QUECHUAS EXPEDITIONS Highly Recommended By:
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SOUTH AMERICAN EXPLORERS / LONELY PLANET / FROMMERS / NYTIMES / TRIP ADVISOR / REAL TRAVELERS REVIEWS. 1.-QUECHUAS EXPEDITIONS GROUP TOP QUALITY SERVICE: (GROUP SIZE 08 PEOPLE MAXIMUN) our most popular trek and offers to visitors the most economical method to trek the Inca Trail and alternative Inca Trails to Machu Picchu. you'll be joining a group of other hikkers like you coming from overseas, a great opportunity to have fun and make new friends.
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COLCA CANYON AREQUIPA
It is located north of the city of Arequipa, at 180 km (111.8 miles) from it. Over this valley, the erosion from the Colca River creates a canyon of about 70 km. (43.5 miles) length, being the deepest of the world, 3000 meters (9,842 feet). Very beautiful landscapes with strong wind, over flight by condors which are the biggest birds in the world.
In the mirador "Cruz del Condor" located among Maca and Cabanaconde's town (place of privileged view), is very common to see condors in majestic flight.
Between December and March, the waters of the Colca River offer for the lovers of canoeing, one of the best places in the world for the practice of this sport. It includes rapids of high speed (gradient + V), and great isolation in certain tracks. The upper part (Andagua) and the middle of it can be navigated in kayaks by sportsmen with much experience. This is an area of pure adrenaline.
This area was traveled and explored for the first time in 1979 by an expedition of students of the University of Cracovia (Poland), who baptized the route with the names of Canyon of Juan Pablo II, Canyon of the Poles and Reparaz Canyon in honor to its discoverer Gonzalo de Reparaz Ruiz.
The lower part of Majes river can be navigated in rubber rafts, it does not have long rapids but the beauty of its landscape and clarity of its waters will give you an unforgettable experience, and it will also provide strong emotions and high doses of adrenaline. This area can also be navigated from April to November.
In the side banks of the river you may find lodgings specially conditioned for the sportsmen and adventurous, providing all the equipment you will require, and experienced guides.
In 1983, National Geographic magazine sponsored the "Canoandes" expedition with the purpose of verifying the data provided by its discoverer Gonzalo de Reparaz, and to obtain more geographical information. In 1984 the "Guiness Book of Records" declared it as the deepest canyon in the world.
Program: 3 days / 2 night
Day 1: Private Car ride to the Colca Canyon - Overnight at the Colca Valley
Our excursion to the Colca Canyon starts at 08:00 hrs. Our clients are collected from their hotels by our local guide/representative. Afterwards we will board a private machine and then we will drive northwest following a paved road towards the “Colca Canyon”. Before leaving Arequipa, we will stop at a small shop where our clients can purchase some chocolates, candies and coca leaves. Later on we will continue till Pampas Cañahuas (3500 m /11,482 Ft), a National Reserve where visitors may spot some Vicuñas & Alpacas. Unlike the Alpacas, Vicuñas are wild animals, and still can be seen running freely on these high plateaus. We will stop at this national park and our local guide will provide information about these shy Andean camels. Then we continue our journey to the Colca Canyon, little further up we will stop again at the little restaurant of Viscachani, where you can enjoy a stunning scenery of the Andes and also drink a typical coca tea. Afterwards we will continue ascending a dirt road till we reach the highest point of our trip, “The Lookout Point of the Andes (4,800 m /15,748 Ft). At the very top, we will get off of the bus some minutes to observe the landscape, having in the background the volcanoes Ubinas, Mismi, Misti, Chachani, Sabancaya (active) and Ampato. Later on we will drive down hill to the main village of the Colca Canyon, the Village of Chivay (3600 m / 11.811 Ft). In this town we will have lunch in one typical Andean restaurant, where visitors may enjoy their meals accompanied by Andean musicians. After lunch our clients will be transferred to our lodge located in a little village at edge of the Canyon.
Late, in the afternoon, you may walk around the village and get to know better the rural life in this corner of Peru. By the afternoon we will go to swim and relax to the Hot Springs of the Colca Valley (35° C / 95º F), a nice pool outdoors surrounded by huge mountains. After sunset, we will return to our lodge where we will enjoy a good Andean buffet. Overnight at our lodge in the Colca Valley.
DAY 2: Cruz del Condor - Colca villages - Overnight at the Colca Valley
In order to see the mighty Condor, you will wake up at 05:00 hrs, breakfast will be served at 05:30 hrs, and by 06:00 hrs, we will be driving towards the “Cruz del Condor”, a natural lookout point where you can see Condors flying over the canyon. On the way to Cruz del Condor you will enjoy spectacular views of the canyon and will see hundreds of ancient agricultural terraces carved onto the slopes of the mountains. The people from these regions dedicate their life solely to agriculture, therefore you will see many fields full of crops (depending on the season you visit it), mainly potatoes, corn, barley and other products native from Peru. While driving along the edge of the Colca Canyon you can observe the great Colca River and also some small communities. At one point we will stumble upon a strange rock, where ancient architectures carved terraces, testing perhaps which parts of the Canyon were suitable for cultivation. In addition, you will also see mysterious hanging tombs on the hillsides. After approximately 2 hours we will reach the lookout point known as Cruz del Condor, where we will spend an hour or so, observing the giant Andean Condors as well as amazing views of the Canyon. Afterwards, we will return to the village of Chivay, where we will have lunch. Later on we will return to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon will be free for you to explore on your own this little village or just relax at the lodge. Overnight at the lodge.
DAY 3: Private departure to Puno - Visit to the Burial Towers of Sillustani
After breakfast you will board our private car and will drive to the "City of Puno". The car ride to Puno offers great natural sceneries. Along this paved road we will drive throughout small towns, as well as a beautiful lagoon called Lagunillas, where trout farms can be seen, and if you are lucky you might also see Andean flamingos and many others Andean birds. The highlights of this road are without doubt the burial towers of Sillustani, enormous cylindrical constructions built long before the Incas. The Sillustani towers are perhaps the finest and the most perfect cylindrical constructions of ancient Peru, as such perfection can be found no where else in South America. A tour to Sillustani will give you a better view into the life of pre-Inca civilizations, and exploring the area you can marvel with the great beauty of the Umayo Lagoon, which is located at the foot of Sillustani natural platform. After visiting Sillustani we will continue to the city of Puno. Upon your arrival in Puno, you will be drop off at your hotel in Puno. End of the tour.
PRICE PER PERSON: US$ US$460
INCLUDES:
• Pick up from your hotel in Arequipa.
• Private transportation. Arequipa - Colca Canyon (Group service - Average 6 people).
• Entrance fees to the Colca Canyon National Park.
• Professional English speaking guide.
• Entrance fees to the hot springs of La Calera in Chivay. (the hotel provide the towels)
• All meals included ( 1 Lunches / 1 Dinners).
• Accommodation at the Colca Valley. (rooms with private bathrooms, hot water and heaters).
• Pick up from your hotel in Colca.
• Professional English speaking guide.
• Visit to Cruz del Condor Lookout natural.
• All meals included. (1 Breakfast / 1 Lunche / 1 Dinner)
• Accommodation at the Colca Valley. (rooms with private bathrooms, hot water and heaters).
• Breakfast in the hotel.
• Pick up from your hotel in Colca.
• Private transportation. Colca Canyon - Puno.
• Visit to the Burial Towers of Sillustani.
• Professional English speaking guide.
• Drop off at your hotel in Puno at the end of the tour.
DOESN’T INCLUDE:
• Extras & gratuities.
• Accommodation in Arequipa.
• Accommodation in Puno.
Departures:
09:00 h.
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING:
• On this tour you must bring warm clothing, as the weather in Colca Canyon used to be very cold, especially in winter time (from June to September) when temperatures drop fast in the afternoon and nights are freezing due to the altitude (3600 m / 11.811 Ft.)
