COLCA CANYON TREK & LLAMA EXPEDITIONS $715 USD Per Person

At 8am pick up from your hotel and tour (private van)to the second deepest canyon in the world, driving on the left side of Chachani mountain (6070m), continue going up to 4400ml, is a Natural Reserve of Salinas and Aguada Blanca, is the nature habitat for the Vicuñas, one of South American camelidos, groups of Llamas, Alpacas, small lake (Bofedales), highlands views (Pata Pampa 4850m), snow caps and volcanoes, will stop every place to get short break getting pictures from all each place you like.

At 1pm we will arrive to Chivay town (3600m), to have lunch and then we continue traveling on the right rim of the canyon, through small villages as Coporaque, Ichupampa, Lary and finally Madrigal, all those small town are surrounded by impressive pre Inca terraces and protected by huge snow-capped. Arrive to Madrigal (3260m) were we camp out of the town. Lunch + Dinner and Family Lodge or Camping.

Today after delicious country breakfast served by our professional cook we meet the second part of our camp staff, the horse handlers, llamas, and assistant. After packing our own gear begins of the Colca Trek, uphill hiking through serpentine trail we arrive to Chimpa Inca fortress (3570m), were are Inca remains, religious room and urban sector, this archaeological site is located on the slopes of Bomboya snow-capped. Continue climbing on stony path we get 5000m, were exist an abandoned Inca trail what is uses rarely by locals. Stop at the highest point named Bomboya look out, from you can have the best view of the entire Colca valley and their eleven colonial towns on the both bank of the Colca River. After nice lunch break continue hiking through Bomboya snow-capped and enter to small canyon of Puna Chica. Downhill to Queñuales forest, the trees are protected and were Pumas, Foxes and other wild animals use this forest to live. Camp in the middle of Queñua forest (4200m) and protected by jealous mountains. This day will around 8 to 9 hours of trekking. Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner and Family Lodge or Camping.

At 7am breakfast in the middle of this Queñua forest canyon, feeling the pure nature and mystical atmosphere. Downhill to Tapay village (3100m) through agriculture fields and stony path, today is only 4 hours trekking and then visit the pre Inca ruins/cemetery named Maucallaqta, this archaeological site is located in the middle of cactus and rock forest protecting the ancients remains. Explore the Maucallaqta ruins having spectacular views of Tapay, Cosñirhua and Malata villages. Late afternoon come back to Tapay and stay in local family house, available hot shower and camp fire. Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner and Family Lodge or Camping.

Today hikers will wake up at 7am and then country breakfast served by local family. After packing everything and carried in the Llamas we continue hiking on nice maintenance trail to Cosñirhua (2700m), were spend one hour to visit the local school and share some gifts and haven nice recreational games. Visit little and interesting local museum running by family. Hike through cactus forest and after 5 hours walk on plain path arrive to Fure remote village (3100m), located on the right bank of the Llatica river/canyon. Late lunch with the local family and free noon to spend reading or contacting with local kids or adults.

Stay in bamboo rooms and after dinner nice camp fire under starry sky.

Before breakfast we will do a short trekking to a nice waterfall of Waruro (80m), is hike is on the right bank of the Llatica river, following small path in the middle of the cactuses, walking over the cliffs and after one hour arrival to the powerful waterfall, completely green and noisy place.

9am breakfast in our lodge and continuing trekking going down to Llatica village and cross the river by an hanging, short explore to this quite place.

2pm we will arrive to deepest area of the Colca canyon. Llahuar (2100m) is a nice place located between Colca and Llatica rivers, one of the best places to get our lunch with nice view of both canyons. The afternoon is free to enjoy and use the thermals pools (hot spring) around the rivers. Stay in bamboo romos run by local family. Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner and Family Lodge or Camping.

At 5/6am we breakfast as we watch the sunrise light up the canyon. A short (two hour) relatively level trek along the left bank of the Colca river, takes us across abandoned terraces completely covered by cactus through a small valley called Soro (2050m). All too quickly we pass abandoned farms and several working farms, pick our last tuna (January to April), offered by the farmers and then we cross a suspension bridge over the Colca river to meet our 4WD. It's a breathtaking drive back up the canyon along a serpentine road smoothly executed by our experienced drivers. The views beckon us to make several photographic stops because it's hard to imagine that what's to come can quite match the current scene. The magnificent views continue for the next as we make our way to Huambo (2900m), a village surrounded by green terraces, a lovely town square, and a different group of people (do you know their ethnic identity?) wearing different local dress. At the highest point of our journey in the Andean range, at the "Mirador del “Ampato" we have a good view of the Ampato, a snow covered mountain. In 1995 the mummy of 14 year old "Juanita" was found by climbers. We continue on to see two small volcanoes in the vast Pampa de Qerqe (whose summit is only 300m). We travel to the coast.

El Pedregal (1400m) long green valley in the middle of the driest area located on the both site of the Panamericana highway. There are three options at this point: Direct return to Arequipa (2 hours). A visit to the mysterious Toro Muerto Petroglyphs on a desert plain (2 hours = 600m) found within green fields of reclaimed dessert, and then continue to Arequipa (4 - 5 hours). Or, one can stay an overnight in Aplao and return to Arequipa the next day (for an additional cost). Breakfast + Lunch).