Arequipa and Colca Canyon 3-day tour

3-day tour Arequipa and Colca Canyon. This tour will take you to enjoy one of the greatest cities in Peru guarded by not one, but three dramatic volcanoes. Voted in 2000 by UNESCO as a world heritage site, Arequipa’s architecture is an ensemble of baroque-mestizo buildings grafted out of local white sillar rock. You will also have the chance to visit Colca the second-deepest canyon in the world. There you will see breathtaking rock formations, stunning flora and fauna as well as mighty condors. The world´s largest flying birds, doing their ritualistic sweep around the rim every morning. An excursion to this region is one of the most memorable attractions in southern Peru bursting with history, culture and tradition.

Why to choose Culturandes Travel & Adventure for this 3-day tour Arequipa and Colca Canyon?

Are you looking for unforgettable memories for this adventure? Culturandes Travel & Adventure want you to have a hassle-free planning and an unforgettable travel experience without any stress and unexpected situations by the hand of its experts travel advisors and knowledgeable local guides providing you:

  • Reliable and high level services
  • Certified Peruvian tour operator
  • Safe transport according to the highest standards
  • Adequate equipment for the activity
  • Detailed and personalized information prior to the trip
  • 24 hour support during your trip
  • Excellent official local guides who will be the star of your trip

We are experts in private and customized tours all around Peru, ask our expert travel advisors to upgrade your experience with additional activities and extensions.

Group services versus Private services?

This is a question we all need to ask ourselves when planning a trip. The answer depends largely on the age, the particular interests of each person and, above all, the economy of each passenger. Below, we list the differences between conducting a group service versus a private service. It should be noted that, in either of the two modalities, you will receive top quality care from the entire team of professionals who will make your trip unforgettable

Group Services

  • The driver follows the stops designated by the tour
  • Groups can have between 15 and 20 people
  • Guidance is simultaneous in English and Spanish for the entire group
  • The itinerary has to be strict to fulfill the daily plan
  • Guidance is available at the same time for the entire group
  • The main advantage of group services is the affordable price

Private Services

  • The driver will make the necessary stops where you indicate
  • Of 5 or more people, the private service has a similar price to the group service.
  • You own the time you want to have at each stop
  • Guidance is in only 1 language and at the passenger’s choice (prior consultation for rare languages)
  • The guide will be available only for you and attentive to your requirements
  • The travel experience becomes much more personal and deep in knowledge

We urge you to get in touch with us so we can design your trip to Peru together, probably combining some excursions in private and some in group services. Our team of experienced voyagers knows what it means to plan a trip of a lifetime as well as the investment that implies, therefore, we want everything to go perfect.

 


TOUR CATEGORY
  • Cultural
  • Nature
  • Wildlife watching

LOCATION
  • Arequipa
  • Colca Canyon

ACTIVITY LEVEL
  • Easy

DURATION
  • 3 days / 2 nights

WHEN TO GO
  • Year round

AREQUIPA

  • Wander around one of most important cities of Peru
  • Take in the beautiful colonial houses
  • Enter Santa Catalina Monastery and step back 400 years in time into a walled city within a city.
  • Taste some of the most distinguished cuisine of Peru and dare yourself to try the spicy fare in the local “Picanterias”.

COLCA CANYON

  • Wander through a region that boasts a dramatic and colorful landscape sprinkled with charming colonial and ancestral villages.
  • Bask in the medicinal hot springs
  • Watch the majestic condors as they soar around the snowcapped mountains of the Andes.

DAY 01 AREQUIPA CITY TOUR

Standing at the foot of El Misti Volcano and brimming with colonial Spanish charm, take the opportunity to visit, along with your guide,  the most important parts of the Arequipa city which vies with Cusco for the title of Peru’s most attractive city, and retains an elegant historic center constructed almost entirely out of a pale volcanic rock called sillar. Old buildings dazzle in the sun, giving the city its nickname of the ‘White City’. The main plaza, with its cafes and nearby cathedral, is a lovely place to while away the day.

A visit to the Monasterio de Santa Catalina is a must for a glimpse into a bygone way of life. When the convent was built in the 16th century it was traditional for the second son or daughter of a family to enter the religious service. Santa Catalina accepted only women from high-class Spanish families, with each family paying a hefty dowry for her acceptance. But life inside the convent was far from modest – each nun had between one and four servants. Many brought rugs, fine china and silk curtains, and they often held parties.

Optional: A visit to Arequipa would never be complete without a visit to see the mummy of the teenage Inca maiden, now christened Juanita. Learn the story of one of the most important archaeological finds of the recent decades in the museum. (This is only possible  if the mummy is not touring)

DAY 02 COLCA CANYON JOURNEY. OVERNIGHT IN COLCA

After an early breakfast (not included) and pick up from your hotel, we depart from Arequipa heading northwest following a paved road, which will lead us to Colca Canyon.

Going round the Chachani volcano, head towards the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve where you will be able to stop and take pictures of wild llamas, alpacas and vicuñas while learning how to identify the differences between all of them.

After a stop at the Tocra swamps where you will see Andean geese, ducks, Andean eagle “Kara Kara” we get to take in the crater of Chucura, an extinct volcano. After, we continue ascending a dirt road to the highest point of the trip, Patapampa (4800 meters-15000 feet), where the  view of the volcanoes Ubinas, Mismi, Misti, Chachani, Sabancaya (which is still active) and Ampato is simply magnificent.

The journey then continues downhill to the main village of Colca Canyon, the village of Chivay.   The Incan and pre-Incan terraces that are carved into the walls are still cultivated today and traditional Indian villages are dotted throughout the canyon. Time for lunch (not included).  Transfer to your lodging.

MAKE IT DIFFERENT (OPTIONAL)

 We advise our clients to lodge in hotels that have their own thermal pools, but if this should not be possible, then later in the afternoon you will be able to visit the Calera hot springs (35ºC/95ºF), to enjoy a relaxing bath in their large thermal pools surrounded by huge mountains.  Walking around the town and experiencing the local life is a good idea before having dinner with a traditional Peruvian musical performance.

ASK OUR EXPERTS ADVISORS TO UPGRADE YOUR EXPERIENCE

DAY 03 CRUZ DEL CONDOR. RETURN TO AREQUIPA OR BUS TO PUNO

The main attraction of the canyon is not only the amazing scenery, but also the magnificent Andean Condor. To fully appreciate this majestic bird, an early start is necessary. After two hour ride along the edge of the Canyon having the best views of the Colca Valley, you will reach a natural viewpoint, from where you will be able to see these dignified Andean creatures soaring gracefully on the rising thermal air currents.

On the way back, there will be some stops in the typical towns of Pinchollo, Maca and Yanque with their beautiful colonial churches, and you can interact with the friendly locals dressed in their typical needlework costumes. From some strategic observation points you will experience fantastic views of the beautiful pre-Inca terraces that are still used to grow Andean cereals such as corn, quinoa or kiwicha.

After a relaxing lunch in Chivay (on your behalf), you will return to Arequipa, or if you prefer, continue your trip by bus to the city of Puno.

MAKE IT DIFFERENT!

Ask our experts travel advisors to complete your trip with an extension to the impressive citadel of Machu Picchu, the challenging Inca Trail, the impressive Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, the majestic Colca Canyon, the mysterious Nazca lines, the enigmatic jungle or the Kingdom of the Chachapoyas

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