Colca Canyon & trip to puno

Our Colca Canyon & Trip to Puno program include 3 days of full activities and also allows you plenty of time to explore the zone at your own pace. Our journey starts in Arequipa and ends on the Altiplano lands, at the shore of the Lake Titicaca. On this especial program visitors will be able to get the most out of their visit to the Colca Canyon and also will enjoy a spectacular car ride directly from the Colca Valley to the city of Puno, stopping along the way at various natural spots of interest as well as at the archaeological site of Sillustani, where are situated ancient burial towers, built by pre-Inca cultures some 2000 years ago.

Tour description:

Day 1º: Private Car ride to the Colca Canyon - Overnight at the Colca Valley

Our excursion to the Colca Canyon starts at 08:00 h. 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.

 

2° Day: Cruz del Condor - Colca villages - Overnight at the Colca Valley

In order to see the mighty Condor, you will wake up at 05:00 h, breakfast will be served at 05:30 h, and by 06:00 h, 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.

 

3° Day: 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.

Included

• Pick up from your hotel in Arequipa.
• Private transportation. Arequipa / Colca Canyon / Puno.
• Entrance fees to the Colca Canyon National Park.
• Professional English speaking guide.
• 02 nights accommodation at the Colca Valley. (rooms with private bathrooms, hot water and heaters)
• Entrance fees to the hot springs of La Calera in Chivay. (the hotel provide the towels)
• All meals included. (2 Breakfast / 2 Lunches / 2 Dinners)
• Drop off at your hotel in Puno at the end of the tour.

No Included

• Extras & gratuities.
• Accommodation in Arequipa / Puno.

Departures:

09:00 h.

Price:

Available upon request. Send us an e-mail to info@mysteryperu.com and we will reply as soon as possible or within 24 hours at the most.

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.)

Additional information:

• All your personal information is required at the moment of your booking.
• Confirmation of the excursion will be received at time of booking.
• All tours are operated in English unless otherwise stated.

Travel voucher:

• You will receive an electronic voucher via e-mail once your booking is confirmed.
• For every confirmed booking you will be required to print your electronic voucher for presentation at the moment we start the excursion. The electronic voucher acts as a confirmation for all the services you request.

Local Operator Information:

• We will send you complete operator information, including phone numbers at your destination.
• Our Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.

Accommodation in Arequipa:

• In order to meet you easily in the city of Arequipa, we might book also a hotel or hostel for you depending on your budget and preferences. We have especial deals with hotels and hostels in Arequipa. Do not hesitate to contact us.

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