Arequipa Land of lava and valley of the

• Lenght of Time : Three days, two nights
• Departures : Daily
• Includes :
• Transfer In/Out (Airport/Hotel/Airport)
• Official tourist guide in foreign language
• Transportation in private tourist units
• Lodging including breakfast
• All the tickets in Arequipa and Colca

PROGRAM

FIRST DAY

8:30 a.m

Pick up of passengers from the hotel

9:00 a.m

We will start our circuit with a visit to the Basilica Catedral (year 1656), considered one of the first neoclassic religious monuments, decorated in its front with 70 columns and two big towers. Inside you will appreciate the Main Altar made in Italian marble from Carrara. The Pulpit is sculptured in cedar wood and made in France and the pipe-organ was made in Belgium in the XVII century. Then you will visit the Plaza de Armas (Main Square), surrounded by three portals made of granite stone and vaults of brick, and at the center a fountain of the XVI century. After that we will go to the Convent of La Compañía de Jesús where you can appreciate the polychromed Chappel of Saint Ignacio de Loyola as well as the cloisters with decorated arches in sillar. Finally will visit Santa Catalina's Monastery (1580) a small town in a town, all made in sillar with an extension of 20,000 m2, with peculiar characteristics where cloistered nuns built their private rooms and had a life under severe confinement. Behind those thick and tall walls there are designs and architectural forms that are a mixture of native and spanish elements Inside there are the important Claustros de los Naranjos, Apprenticeship, and the Major Cloister. Leaving downtown we will drive to the town of Paucarpata, where pre-incas terraces, still in use by farmers of the zone, will be appreciated. You can visit the main Plaza as well as the Church of Santa Ana. We will continue to the town of Sabandía, where is located the hydraulic stone Mill, built in the year 1785 (This is one of the oldest of this area). All of it was built in sillar, volcanic white stone, reason why, Arequipa is called "The White City". Solid supports and rustic balconies characterize this mill, from where it is possible to watch the volcanoes that surround Arequipa, being the most important "Misti" (5,800 m). Our circuit will end with the visit to the Mansión del Fundador (Founder's Mansion), constructed in the XVII century at the edge of a cliff by the founder of the city, Manuel Garcí de Carbajal. It has distinguished characteristics, a foyer with an arched ceiling and a wide main patio, ending in a classic style Chapel. Going through this circuit you will appreciate the typical "chacras" (fields) in many shades of green, which are characteristic of Arequipa's landscape.

12:30 p.m

Return to the hotel. Free time

 

SECOND DAY

7:30 a.m

Pick up of passengers from the hotel

8:00 a.m

This trip starts on the road to Yura, going behind the volcanoes Misti and Chachani. We will make a stop at Pampa Cañahuas, a flat at the National Reserve of Aguada Blanca. There you will appreciate the different south american camelids such as Vicuñas, Guanacos, Alpacas and Llamas. Through all this route you will see different species of flora and fauna (cactus, ichu, tola, yareta) as well as birds, foxes, vizcachas and others. Further on, we will make another stop at the Stone Forest of Patahuasi (geological formations made by the wind and water). On our way to Chivay we will make another stops in the most important tourist places, such as the Bofedales de Tojrapampa (marshes), the Chucura volcano's crater and the Mirador de los Andes of Patapampa (looking point and the highest place 4,910 m). During all the way you will have a spectacular view of volcanoes and snow-capped mountains, such as the Ampato, Sabancaya (active) and Hualca Hualca. We will end our trip at Mirador del Mismi (snow-capped mountain which is the origin of the Amazon river). From this place you can appreciate the pre-inca terraces in Chivay (3,650 m), town of origin of the Colca Valley.

1:00 p.m

Arrival to Chivay, lodging at the hotel

1:30 p.m

Lunch at Chivay

2:30 p.m - 4:00 p.m

Time to rest. Visit to the Indian Market in town

4:00 p.m

Visit to Baños Termales de La Calera (hot springs) and to the Ethnological Museum

6:00 p.m

Return to Chivay

7:00 p.m

Dinner and folk show

 

THIRD DAY

6:00 a.m

Breakfast at the hotel

6:30 a.m

Departure to the Cruz del Cóndor, the best place to see the Canyon and the magnificent flight of the Cóndor. Leaving Chivay we will stop at Yanque where a folk show with local dancers is offered. We will also visit the Miradores de Antahuilque (lookout point) and Choquetico, place of hanging tombs and of the Litomaqueta (miniature model, engraved in stone, of the real landscape in front of it). You will appreciate, as well, the pre-inca terraces, and the towns of Pinchollo, Maca and Achoma

1:00 p.m

Return to Chivay

1:30 p.m

Recojo de los Pasajeros al Hotel

2:30 p.m

Return to Arequipa (or Puno optional)

8:30 a.m

Recojo de los Pasajeros al Hotel