Explore Arequipa colonial city and the Santa Catalina convent with a professional guide. Discover the “white city” of Arequipa with houses and buildings made of sillar, a volcanic white rock. Travel to “Cruz del Condor” lookout to see wild condors fly near their nests. These birds have a maximum wingspan of 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in) and weight of 15 kg (33 lb). Then travel back to Arequipa witnessing how wild alpacas, vicuñas and llamas feed themselves surrounded by peaks and mountains.
Features: Dialy departures, nature, see wild condors, llamas, vicuñas and alpacas
Inclusions:
- Tourist van or minibus with panoramic windows
- English-speaking professional tour guide
- Entrance tickets to the places to visit
- 3-star hotel in a double, twin or single room
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival to Arequipa and afternoon city tour
Airport transfer:
We will be waiting for you inside the airport and then we will take you to your hotel located inside the historic center of the city.
City tour and Santa Catalina Convent tour:
At 02.00 pm we pick you up from your hotel. From the Yanahuara district and Carmen Alto we will have fantastic views of the old colonial part of the city, of the three volcanoes, and of its Andean terraces.
Then we will have a nice stroll through the historic city center, stopping at the Monastery of Santa Catalina, one of the most significant landmarks in the area, as well as the Main Square, the Cloister, and the Church of “La Compañia de Jesus”, where we will also visit the Saint Ignacio's famous and vibrant cupola. After about three and a half hours we take you back to your hotel.
Hotel included 3-star:
Please choose one of the following
Other hotels suggested:
Hotel Katari - junior suite room / Add $30 ppCasa Andina Select Arequipa - superior room / Add $30 ppHampton by Hilton Arequipa / Add $50 ppWyndham Costa del Sol Arequipa / Add $100 ppMeals: none
Included:
Airport transfer in a tourist vanWalking city tour with a English-speaking professional tour guideEntrance tickets to the places to visit3-star hotelDay 2: Arequipa - Colca Canyon
Drive from Arequipa city to Colca Canyon
At around 5:30 am, we pick you up and drive you to the breathtaking Colca Canyon. We travel to the national reserve of "Salinas y Aguada Blanca," where we will see South American camelids like vicuñas, llamas, and alpacas.
At 4910 mamsl we stop to visit the "Mirador de los Volcanes" to view the volcanic mountain range and then we continue to Chivay for lunch.
Once at your hotel you have the afternoon free to recover. There are hotsprings at La Calera but they are located in Chivay village so check where your hotel is located since there are other villages around like Yanque and Coporaque.
Hotel included 3-star:
Please choose one of the following
Day 3: Chaquicocha - Phuyupatamarca – Wiñayhuayna
The third day is the most stunning; when you go to the Wiaywayna tropical forest, you'll notice changes in the ecosystems. At the summit of the second pass (3950 m/12960 ft), we will pass by two tiny lakes. Before reaching the third pass, which offers a great perspective of the Urubamba Valley (3700 m/12140 ft), there is a mild ascent through spectacular cloud woods and a little Inca tunnel.
The closest town is Phuyupatamarca, sometimes known as "Town Above the Clouds" (3600 m/11811 ft). There is a location that has been well-preserved and contains a number of Inca baths, which are evidence of the superiority of Inca engineering.
Before viewing the remains of Wiaywayna (Forever Young) (2650 m/8694 ft), we travel via another Inca tunnel. Until you get at a red-roofed white building, our final camping spot, and also a location with hot water (S5) and bottled beverages, the Inca stairs transform into a zigzag path.
Normal level of difficulty
5 to 6 hours for the hike
Approximately 10 kilometers in total.
Booking terms
Highlights
- Explore the Inca trail with a group. Meet new adventure people and share an exiting adventure through the Andes and cloud forest of Cusco, while visiting Inca sites along the way.
- Places to visit: Llactapata, Runkurakay, Phuyupatamarca, Wiñayhuayna, and Machu Picchu Inca citadel, which includes the lookout, temples, houses, farming terraces.
- Distance: About 40 km from the old railroad km82 to Machu Picchu citadel.
- Location: Sacred Valley of the Incas / Cusco
- Departures: Check for availability below.
- From: Your hotel in Cusco and back.
- Transport: Tourist van or minibus, and train for the way back.
- Overnights: 03 nights at camping.
Customer reviews
Juan
01/03/2023
Amazing, we love it so much, highly recommended guys.. our guide has good english and he is very knowledable
Jason
01/03/2023
It was fun, we learned a lot, especially in Sacsayhuaman, omg, I'm still having trouble to pronounce that word, I think it's sexywoman, haha..
Mia
02/03/2023
Our guide was amazing, very knowledgeable, and funny. Cusco's blue sky is just lovely, we also did the sacred valley tour and it's very similar however you ...
Laura
18/04/2023
Great experience. I loved the huge stones in Sacsayhuaman, and the mixed religions and tales the guide shared.