TRIP FROM COLCA CANYON TO CHOCOLAQA ROCK FOREST AND RAINBOW MOUNTAIN CUSCO

At 7AM pick from your hotel and departure to the Colca canyon in our private 4WD – First we leaves Arequipa by the Pan American highway to see the north part of Desierto de Atacama which is part of dries region of Arequipa, the desert look impressive as lunar valley making big contrast with high snowcap´s on the background – One of the first valley we pass will be La Joya (The Jewel), the name comes thanks to the rich soil to produce many kind of agricultural products in the middle of the desert – The next valley is name Valle de Vitor which is irrigated by the waters of Arequipa River as known as rio Chili, this valley is very fertile to produce different kind of grapes to produce good quality of wine and Pisco (grape brandy) which is the national drink of Peru – Continue driving along the highway across the desert showing us some little dunes next of the route we arrive to another valley in middle of the desert as known as El Pedregal (Alto Siguas - 1500M), this places exist there since 80´s thanks one biggest irrigation project supported by the Peruvian government – Today El Pedregal produce lot agriculture and livestock to import vegetables and dairy products to major markets of Peru.

From 1500M we start to ascend following an unpaved road to Andes of Arequipa – Again the geography offer rare and nice contrast of land as small rivers, canyons, cactus forest and steep mountains and different ecological floors make us to feel the altitude – The encounter between the last part of the desert and mountains show us little valley named Huacan with lot terraces from Wary period (Pre Inca culture) but almost destroyed by heavy rain and pass of the time – After 4 hours driving you will be on the Altiplano (flat plateau) which is very different terrain if we compare with the desert of the coast – This part of the tour offer impressive view of mountains as Ampato (6310M) where in 1995, during an ascent of Mt. Ampato, the anthropologist Johan Reinhard found Momia Juanita ("Mummy Juanita"), better known in English "The Ice Maiden", is a 15th century Inca mummy of a 12 to 14 years-old girl who died sometime between 1440 and 1450 – From the highest pass (4300M) we can see the majestic and vertical walls of the Colca canyon and of course we have the privilege to be the only tourists in these places on this route thanks to the poor experience of other tour operators, tour guides and drivers.

Descend to Huambo town (3200M) and short explore countryside surrounded by pre Inca terraces and huge mountains complete cover by wild flora.

At 1PM arrive to Cabanaconde (3280M) to have lunch and lodging. Late afternoon we go for short trek to Mirador de Achachigua, nice lookout of the Colca canyon and villages located on the left bank of the canyon. Stay in a small hotel town, with nice rooms build with local material and big windows to for nice views of the mountains and the canyon (L - D).

TIP: Today you must be ready for summer and winter weather – 2 hours of drive on asphalt and 4hrs on gravel and bumpy road making, with many stops for pictures and use toilet.

At 6:30AM we will have country breakfast and transfer to outside of the town and go for 1 hour of easy hike along the canyon following nice trail with chance to appreciate condors flying around the one of deepest canyon in the world. Around 8:30AM arrive to Mirador Cruz Del Condor and wait for the Condors flights. Then continue driving along the Colca valley visiting the left bank of river - Stop in small villages as Maca, Achoma and Yanque to see colonial churches dated from Spanish conquest to Chivay (3600M) is the most important town in all Colca valley thanks to infrastructure of hotels, restaurantes and handicraft markets – In this town we will pick-up our box lunches and then continue our drive along the upper section of the canyon up to th high mountains of Sibayo and Caylloma (4800M).

From the canyon takes around 4 hrs driving on gravel road, the route offer amazing views of mountains, fountains, small lagoons, multiples small flocks of thousands of local fauna (lamas and alpacas), and wildlife of andean birds (pink flamingos, andean goose, etc).

After crossing the border line between Arequipa and Cusco region, drive down into upper zone of Suykutambo canyon. Great views of immense granite walls formed thanks to water and wind erosion. This rocky canyon offer appropriate climit to practice agriculture activities almost at 4000M of altitude. Along the canyon the green atmosphere relax us and works as therapy after long drive on bumpy road.

Our guide will offer you 2hrs as maximum time for nice hike until the zone of "Tres Cañones of Suykutambo", as known as one of the natural wonders in Cusco region, enjoy the canyon views from different angles, making unforgatable experience of your whole trip in Peru. The last place to visit of today will be the ruins of Maucallaqta, located on the end of Suykutambo valley, we will walk through different Inca buildings seeing good preserved rooms, funeral towers, etc.

Around 5PM arrive to Espinar (3950M), a small town surrounding by mining activities, were 50% of men population work as miner (gold, silver and cooper).

Tonight we stay in small accommodation with hot shower (B - L - D).

Today the breakfast will be at 7AM in a local restaurant – Then we drive to the northeast of Espinar along stretch asphalt road for about 2hrs, passing remote small villages with lot group of local fauna.

Finally arrive to Quehue town (3800M) and descend to upper zone of Rio Apurimac, where is located QESWACHACA suspension bridge over Apurimac River (“Oracle of the mountains god”), which was build using hardy grass that grows in this area, this amazing bridge dating from Incas times and used connecting communities around. Great time to see the Inca engineering and then crossing suspension bridge over relaxing noise waters.

After 1hr exploring this impressive ancient engineering we drive up to high mountain range, finding the circuit of 4 lagoons on the south of Cusco (Pampamarca, Asnacocha, Acopia and Pumacanchis).

Around midday we propose to OPTIONAL hike for about one hour on the shores of Laguna Asnacocha (3760M). This short hike show us Andean birds (Pink Flamingos, Andean goose, etc) and to enjoy this trip we get picnic next of pristine waters of this lagoon.

At 3PM descend driving to Chuquicachuna farming town (3380M), and then 2hrs of travel along the southern sacred valley of the Incas until Cusco (3400M), drop-off at customer hotel and end of service.