COLCA TREK & CLIMBING TO CHACHANI MOUNTAIN

PRIVATE SERVICE: Pick-up time will be at 5AM from hotel in Arequipa, orientation about the trek and journey for about 6 hours to Colca Canyon (Cabanaconde 3280M) - Along the way stop at national reserve of Aguada Blanca (Pampas Cañahuas), Mirador de los Andes as known as Patapampa (4910M), Stop in Chivay to pay the entrance to Colca canyon and use toilet - The trip continue along the leftbank of the canyon with some stop in small viewpoints of agriculture terraces, colonial churches and around 11:30AM will be the stop at "MIRADOR CRUZ DEL CONDOR" and luckily you will see the flight of the andean Condors, stay at this place about 30min. and then continue with the transfer to Cabanaconde town for lunch (included) and then transfer to the trailhead as known as "Pampa San Miguel" - Here we start trekking in the canyon descending 3 hours to the Colca River (2160M) - There is a very well preserved train to descend passing huge rock walls and very step terrain making more challenge the trek - Around 3PM we will cross a hanging bridge to the other side of the canyon and then 30 minutes of ascend to the place to stay with a local family.

At 4:30PM will be OPTIONAL short walk to San Juan de Chuccho village (2300M) to explore the nature or join the local people and shared with them some activity - Campfire, dinner and rest (L - D).

GROUP SERVICE: The pick-up from customer hotel will be between 3AM and 3:30AM and then travel for about 4 hours to Chivay in shared transportation up to 19 people, The breakfast will be Chivay (included) and along the canyon will be just one stop at Mirador Cruz Del Condor around 9AM and then transfer to the trailhead continue with the itinerary mentioned above.

At 7AM country breakfast and then star the trek through Pre-Inca terraces and valley of fruit trees along the way - After 1 hour of uphill trek arrival to Cosñirhua village where we visit a local family, they will show us how work and their own economy thanks to nature resource in this area of the canyon - Continue hiking to visit a local museum of flora and fauna of the Colca canyon and are available some local handicraft - The town of Cosñirhua and Malata (2600M) are located on right bank of the canyon and protected by huge mountains, surrounded by lot nature and quiet atmosphere.

Hiking through cactus forest (prickly pear as known as "Tuna") and seeing the majestic Colca River and huge volcanic cliffs on the both side of the river, during the raining season the mountains looks very green and you can enjoy the cactus fruits (January to May) and if you are lucky is possible to see more Condor's flying over our head and crossing the mountains looking for their food - After 6 hours of trekking across Pacclia valley we arrive to another river as known as Rio Llatica and use raft bride to cross it and from there continue to lodge named Llahuar - The location of the lodge is in a nice and peaceful place running by local family - Late lunch included and then short downhill walk to the thermal pools to relax the muscles (40°C) - At 7PM nice dinner accompanied by wonderful starry sky over the mountains, tonight we stay in bamboo cabins (B - L - D).

Today everyone needs to wake up at 2AM or 3AM according your decision you toke in the night before - Hot drink and begin of the hardest uphill hike of this expedition through the second deepest canyon in the world - The hike will be in the dark following stony path and crossing suspension bridges over two rivers - Nice trek under starry sky (April - December) or full moon - The trekking from the bottom of the canyon (2100M) to Cabanaconde town (3280M) takes around 5 or 6 hours with amazing view of the canyon and with possibilities to see some Condors flying on the way up - For this part of the trekking is necessary to bring a headlamp, walking poles will be very helpful and enough water for drink because along the way is not place to get water.

Around 8AM you will arrive to the Cabanaconde to have plenty country breakfast and then you will be the transfer by private or shared transportation to Mirador Cruz Del Condor (30 minutes) - Plenty time to wait and see the mighty Andean Condor (Vulture Gryphus). Those birds normally fly around the Cruz Del Condor and you can get the best pictures of impressive walls and deep remote towns located inside the canyon. After we decide to return driving Chivay, along the way we stop at viewpoint to see the carved rock, it was model where the ancient architectures testing which part of the terrain was appropriate to build the terraces in the other site of the canyon. Continue going will stop next of huge cliff where is possible to see hanging tombs on the volcanic hillsides. You will arrive to Maca where is possible to observe nice colonial church from XVI century, next of this town is possible to see people from these regions dedicated life solely to work the terraces, therefore you will see many fields full of crops as corn, amaranth, kiwicha, potatoes, corn and more native product of Peru. Driving along the canyon you will see the great Colca River and small communities located on both bank of the canyon. At 12PM we will arrive to the hot spring of La Calera, located on the head of Chivay town, you can enjoy the thermo medicinal and outdoor pools with are 45º Celsius, we will stay 1 hour in this place. After relaxing swim in the thermal pools we will drive to the town of Chivay (3600M) to have lunch (excluded), we recommend to taste the local cuisine made with Andes recipes - After lunch you will transferred to select hotel in Chivay and free afternoon for personal activities (B).

At 8AM will be breakfast served on the hotel and then transfer by private van or public bus (according your request) to Patawasi (4200M), this travel takes 3 hours to the point where we will meet the second team - We will stop at backside of Chachani on plateau as known as Pampas Cañahuas and recognize as part of the national reserve of Aguada Blanca and Salinas, where it is possible to observe wonderful animals called Vicuñas, Guanacos, Eagles, Viscachas, Deer, Andean foxes and sometimes Condors if you are lucky – All those fauna live at 4000M above sea level, they are protected species by the government of Peru and all communities surrounding the reserve and Chachani Mountain - The most common flora along the way will be AZORELLA COMPACTA as known as Llareta by locals.

TRIP EXTENSION (Puruña Rock Forest)- This will be to visit a forest of rock formation as known as Puruña - This is located inside the National reserve of Aguada Blanca y Salinas but very rarely visited by hikers or climbers - The rock formation valley is thanks to the white ash from the eruptions of Chachani - PERU ADVENTURE TOURS really recommend to enjoy the view of this landscape and practice a short hike (30 min) to get better acclimatize to altitude before you go up to 5200M (base camp).

Then continue a challenge 4x4 off-raoding on the slopes of Chachani until a place named “El Collado” at 5100M of altitude (12:00HRS), this last section of the road is in bad condition for about 40 minutes (if you have a car sick be aware of that) - There we check and pack all our equipment to be used for climb Chachani Mountain – The guide prohibit you to forget any recommend/suggested equipment because is not way to replace it up there – The first part of the hike is very gradual and almost flat following ancient paths in good maintenance and market thanks to mountain guides - The second hour of the hike to includes some gradual uphill passing small and undiscovered Inca ruins on the lower zone of the path – After two hours of hiking carrying all your gear for camping and climbing finally arrive to the base of Chachani (5200M) - Set up the tents and have mountain lunch with spectacular view of the Andes – The base camp includes nice plateau on the north face of the mountain for almost 25 twin tents – After the sunset over the Andes you will be awarded with small but very rich in calories to recover energy for the next day – Lot Coca tea is available all time and rest in four season tents under starry sky or cloudy night according season of the year (B - L – D).

Today between 2AM and 4AM wake-up time and depending how the weather will be and how you feeling with altitude sickness – The tour guide or the cook will offer you a hot and energetic breakfast and then you have to verify all your climbing gear as gloves, boots, headlamp, walking poles, camera, bottle of water, wind proof gear to protect you from cold wind (-12°C or lower).

Today will be the hardest part all the way up (900 meters approx.) to conquest the summit of Chachani (6070M) – All the way up takes between 4 and 6 hours for climbers and this vary according physical conditions and level of acclimatize to altitude of each participants – 80% of climbers get summit of Chachani even if they have headache but being awarded amazing view from the top – The climbers spend around 30 minutes on the top getting spectacular views of the landscapes of Coropuna, Ampato, Hualca Hualca, Sabancaya, Misti, Ubinas, the city of Arequipa and other landscapes – This climb doesn't demand a technical rock or ice wall climbing because Chachani Mount demands just trekking in high altitude.

At mentioned time downhill hike to base camp for about 2 hours and one hour of resting and packing all the gear to get some food and then continue hiking down to find the 4WD vehicle and drive back to Arequipa (3PM) – This final journey takes around 3 hours to your hotel and end of unforgettable experience (B - L).