Arequipa, Nature, Archeology and Colca Valley.

• Lenght of Time : Four days, three 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
• Box Lunch

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

7:00 a.m

Pick up of passengers from the hotel

7:30 a.m

We will start our trip through the old road to Yura making a stop at the National Reserve of Aguada Blanca, the Stone Forest of Patahuasi and to complete the circuit to the Colca Valley, we will take the old road to La Pulpera to get to the Ventana del Colca (Colca's Window) (4,000 m), which is an impressive rock formation that lets you observe the beginning of the Canyon. Further on we will take a detour to Las Cuevas de Pirita de Mollepunku, prehistoric rupestrian art. We will continue to Callalli, stop which will offer a view to the Enchanted Castles, rock formations as a result of the erosion of wind and water, at this point we will have our box lunch. Going down to the Colca Valley we will visit the towns of Sibayo and Tuti to look at the Little Canyon of Canocota and will continue to the town of Chivay (3,650 m).

2:30 p.m

Lodging at the hotel in Chivay

3:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m

Time to rest

4:30 p.m

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

6:00 p.m

Return to the hotel

7:00 p.m

Dinner and folk show. (Optional: disco night)

 

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, the Mystic Ponds and the towns of Pinchollo, Maca and Achoma.

1:00 p.m

Return to Chivay and lunch

3:00 p.m

Visit to the Plaza, Church of Chivay and to the Indian Market

7:00 p.m

Dinner and folk show

 

FOURTH DAY

8:00 a.m

Breakfast at the hotel

8:30 a.m

Departure from Chivay to the town of Coporaque, visiting the oldest church of the valley and the Inca's Mayta Cápac Plaza. Next we will go to the Mirador de Occolle (lookout point) where you will see the impressive Pre-Inca Terraces, later on we will stop at Chininía, place of the Colcas, ending our trip with a walk to the arqueological remains of Uyo Uyo, an Inca military fortress

12:30 p.m

Back to the hotel in Chivay and lunch

1:30 p.m

Departure to Arequipa making stops at the Santuario de los Andes, Patapampa and Chucura

6:00 p.m

Arrival to the hotel in Arequipa. Lodging. (Optional: Detour to Puno)