COLCA TREK & CLIMBING TO MISTI VOLCANO

GROUP SERVICE: The tour guide start pickup from customer hotel in Arequipa at 3AM till 3:45AM and then journey in a shared transport up to 19 people van - The journey takes around 4 hours to the first destination named Chivay (3600M), to have breakfast included - On the way from Arequipa to Chivay we travel up to 4910M of altitude and we really advice to wear good summer clothes - This service a stop at Mirador Cruz Del Condor no more than 1hr and then continue the transfer to the trailhead.

PRIVATE SERVICE: Having a private service the depart could be flexible but is recommend to start the trip no later than 6AM to avoid the traffic for getting out from the city of Arequipa - We travel directly to MIRADOR CRUZ DEL CONDOR to watch the flight of the Condors between 9AM to 10AM and get late breakfast included next of the view point with amazing view of entire canyon - This service includes a private transportation only for your party, trek guide and driver and of course the trip is very flexible according your interesting along the way.

GROUP & PRIVATE SERVICE: Around 11AM arrive to trailhead as known as Mirador Pampa San Miguel (Cabanaconde 3280M), where everyone is going to get the brief about the trek, check all what you could be need for trekking in the canyon and then start downhill to the bottom of the canyon - The descend will be on left rim of the Canyon for about 3hr or 4hrs to the Colca River (2160M), a difference of 1200 meters of descending with stops to relax the legs, luckily we will see Condors and other birds flying around, every corner of the canyon offer great views of villages, the river, and mountains for a perfect time for trekking in one of the deepest canyon in the world - In the Colca River we stop to enjoy the noise therapy and refresh our foots for about 30 minutes (optional) and then cross the hanging bridge and short uphill to the family lodge located in a valley named San Juan de Chuccho (2300M) - There everyone is going to have their own room with private bath and hot shower facilities - Late lunch will be served by the lodge owners (vegetarian food available) Free time to rest or OPTIONAL 2 hours walk around the all pre-incas ruins as known as JajaTapya to get nice view over from all the valley, of huge walls of the canyon and then 30 minutes return to the lodge - Dinner and rest.

At 7AM you will have a country breakfast offered by the family and then we begin a ascent for about 2 hours to the next village called Tapay (3000M) for a better view of the canyon - Visit other two small villages as Cosñirhua and Malata (2600M), here is a little church of mixed racial ancestry - Along the way will be local people practicing their daily activities but also is available to talk to you and exchange some knowledge about the canyon.

Around 1PM we do a second descend to Colca River to cross another suspension bridge in a very narrow section of the canyon and trek to Sangalle valley - Oasis (2100M) - The Sangalle is the original name of this place and looks as a oasis in middle of the dry area of the canyon between May to December, there are 7 places to stay (small lodges) in this valley but we chose one of the best with less hikers to get more quiet, enjoy the pool (18°C) and relax all afternoon or OPTIONAL walk to explore an abandoned mine next of the river or take shower in a small and natural waterfall.

At 6PM dinner and rest in a bamboo hut with toilet and cold shower facilities.

At 4AM everyone has to be ready for hot drink and begin the uphill trek for about 3 hours on the left rim of the Colca Canyon, up to Cabanaconde - The uphill will no more than 1200M of ascend but hard and of course everyone will need 3 liters of water, headlamp for the first 2 hours - The path is very marked and well preserved, lots steps, little dusty during the dry season (May to Dec) but on the raining season could cloudy/foggy or raining but fresher - Be ready to challenge 3 hour of uphill trekking to get out from the canyon - For people feeling tired/sick this is an option to hire a mule to ride all the way up or just use the animal for carry personal items, this has to be confirm the day before at dinner time.

Around 8AM you will end the trek on the top of the canyon and of course you will like to get a nice group picture to recover your brief and then have a lunch in the town of Cabanaconde (3280M).

GROUP SERVICE takes the shared transportation along the canyon with another short stop at Mirador Cruz Del Condor, few viewpoints and finally arrive to Chivay around midday - Lunch and dinner are excluded but you can chose any suggested place for food - Check in the selected accommodation and free afternoon to rest or OPTIONAL visit by taxy or collectivo to the thermal pools of La Calera (15 soles each) - So, the group service leave you free till next day morning - Hotel in Chivay with private bath, hot shower, wi-fi, towel and next breakfast as courtesy.

PRIVATE SERVICE: After breakfast in Cabanaconde you will get transfer for a second time to Mirador Cruz Del Condor and OPTIONAL short hike around for about 30 minutes more to enjoy the area with better opportunities to watch more flights of the Condors.

Around 10AM we will drive on a good paved road for about 20 minutes and then we take a gravel road up to 4370M of altitude where is located the GEYSER of Pinchollo, this fairly and rare natural phenomenon exist thanks to underground hydrogeological conditions that exist only in a few places in our planet and of course Walka Walka Mount (6025M) was an active volcano and thanks to that today we can appreciate a spring that discharges steam and hot water - Continue our private tour we return to the main road to stop and visit the standard viewpoint and villages on the right bank of Colca canyon, where is possible to see colonial churches, small handicraft markets, mountainous range and large area of agriculture terraces. Around 1PM arrive to Chivay to have lunch (Optional - Excluded) and then relax/rest or visit the thermal pools of La Calera (15 soles each) - We recommend to spend the afternoon resting for the next day.

At 7PM visit the Maria Reiche Planetarium, we invite you to immerse in the mysteries of the Colca Valley sky and enjoy the performance "Colca deep Canyon, deep sky". You can learn how the ancient inhabitants of the Andes interpreted the night sky according to their myths and beliefs. The performances include projecting constellations in the Planetarium dome as well as observing the stars of Colca's sky through a professional telescope. Stay in Chivay in a comfortable hotel (3*).

COLCA GEYSER TRIP: The visit to the watch the Geyser activity will be available only:

1- During the dry season (April to Dec) and if the weather conditions is good.

To get the GEYSER from the main road takes around 20 minutes on gravel road - Three sections of the road are very steep and if is muddy will be not possible to continue driving.

2- There is a small river to cross twice without bridge and if raining and the water damage the access the trip is to geyser will be cancel without money refund or any claim is no going to be accepted.

3- The road to get the GEYSER is very narrow and is not suitable for large van over 6 people - As tour operator we recommend to have a 4WD for better performance is case the road condition is not good enough for standard tourist transportations - Please check this point at booking time and avoid any troubles.

4- If the road is not good enough to reach the GEYSER with the car and still like see natural phenomenon could be possible but only according the distance to hike for 1 hour or more but you really need to coordinate the time with our guides and driver - Any tour delay after this decision will be under customer responsability only.

5- If everything is perfect to get the GEYSER by car the maximum time to be there will be around 15 minutes.

5- Our tour company reserve the rights to change, modified, cancel or postpone the visit to GEYSER only under secure reasons (weather conditions, social problems, trip timing, etc).

GROUP SERVICE: Breakfast and at 8AM you will have assistance from hotel to bus stop and then travel for about 2 hours (+- without guide) to a place named Control of Pampas Cañahuas or Patawasi (4200M) - Our second camp staff (mountain guide & driver) will be waiting for you at Patawasi, and of course they will have all information of the bus company just in case - In Patawasi or control Pampas Cañahuas you will join other small climbers and begin the second part of challenge trek to summit of Misti volcano.

PRIVATE SERVICE: All participants need to be ready at 8AM for a journey by private transport up to MIRADOR DE LOS ANDES (4910M), this place is recognized as Patapampa and have great view of active volcano Sabancaya - The transfer also includes few stop into the National Reserve De Salinas Y Aguada Blanca to see wetlands were are Andean birds, local fauna as wild Vicuñas, etc.

GROUP &; PRIVATE SERVICE: Patawasi will be the last place to get drinks to bring for trek to volcan Misti and we suggest to bring 6 liter of drinking water for two days (excluded) and of course the mountain guide is going to verify this before begin this job, also you need to be sure having everything (headlamp, good hiking boots, windproof jacket/pants/gloves, sunglass, etc).

The transfer include some off-roading between nevado Chachani and Aguada Blanca dam - We also stop in the rock forest of Puruña for nice picture of some animals and human figures, this place is one of the secret and well preserved area without tourist and will be great to stop on the way to volcan Misti - Continue driving on the northeast of the reserve finally we arrive to the check point of Aguada Blanca dam, after we drive up to 4200M in a poor but nice road to get the bottom of the volcano - Here everyone pack their own items (mats, sleeping bag, tents, food, water, etc) and for customers having the service of porters (Private Service), they will take care of the items because they know very well how to bring everything to base camp in 2 hours - Lunch or box lunch is included at the bottom of the volcano.

Around 1PM start the challenge trek on following a sandy and uphill for about 4 hours to the base camp, located at 4800M named Monte Blanco - Of course we recommend to walk very slow, no rush and always trust your guide for better performance of your energy and take advantage of your acclimatization to altitude - For trekkers never been at this altitude we recommend to take easy, relax, enjoy and kept going very slowly following the guide prints - Around 4PM or 5PM arrive to base camp, set up tents, little relaxing with nice views of surrounding mountains, volcanic range and have nice sunset over the reserve - The dinner included will be around 6PM and then reset to recover energy for next day.

Today between 2AM or 4AM wake-up time depending on how is the weather/wind/cold and also you feeling will be the starting time - Breakfast before everything and then start the climb to the summit, today you need to bring small backpack with very few things but very well equipped for the cold, water, snack and you need to be very concentrate to get the top - If Misti is completely covered by snow, we take all our necessary climbing equipment (ice and crampons included) otherwise we suggest to bring walking poles will be enough - From the base camp to Misti summit (5825M) takes between 4 - 6 hours doing slow steps and battling with the altitude and following single serpentine track, many stops along the way to recover energy - To reach the top will be great to conquer an active volcano and of course there you will stay for a nice time getting spectacular views of the landscapes of Chachani, Pichu Pcihu, Coropuna, Ampato, Hualca Hualca, Sabancaya, Misti, Ubinas, Salinas salt lake, Arequipa valley, etc - After group pictures and If the time permitting descend into the mayor crater from where is possible to see volcano activity or have a short walk over the top and around the biggest crater of this volcano but everything depends how you will feel up there.

After 30 minutes staying in the top of volcan Misti, we go back down to base camp for about one hour taking the same path, lunch will be waiting for your, pack all the camping equipment and them one more hour to find the transportation at the bottom.

If everything is going well according the itinerary around 1PM or 2PM we drive back to Arequipa (3hrs) and end of service at customer hotel located in downtown only.