PUNO COLCA CANYON AREQUIPA BY PRIVATE 4x4 AND GUIDED TOUR

At 7AM you will be picked up from your hotel in Puno and then you will aboard our private van to travel through the Altiplano of Puno region to visit the funeral towers of Sillustani. On way go there we will stop at Atun Qolla community to visit the local family, the will show us they daily art craft and little about their agricultural production. To visit the local family will be one the best experienced to introduce to the Andean life over 3800M. If you like taste help the economy of this people there are some handicrafts on sale making by their hands. Continue the journey you will arrive to Sillustani, which is situated in the north and about 30km away from the shore city of Puno (4100M/13500ft). This is a historical land with ancient Quechuas communities as the Aymaras, Uros, Pacajes and Paquinas and also one of the most important cultures of the Andes, the funeral towers are called Chullpas of Sillustani is considered the most impressive and the largest necropolis in the Andean world and it overlooks Lake Umayo witch offer quiet atmosphere and beautiful view of the landscape.

Continue driving through Lagunillas lagoons, Crucero Alto is the border between Puno and Arequipa department, Imata rock forest is the giant stone forest have been eroded over millions of years by the wind, rain and humidity to form the shapes of trees, animals and human figures. Enter to the reserve of Aguada Blanca and Salinas with more than 4000m - 12900ft, inside this reserve is Pampas Cañahuas, almost behind the Chachani Volcano, where the Vicuñas (Vicugna) are protected is, is one of two wild South American camelids along with the Guanaco, which lives in the high Andes. It is a relative of the Llamas and the Alpaca. Vicuñas produce small amounts of extremely fine wool. It is understood that the Incas raised Vicuñas for their wool, and that it was against the law for any but royalty to wear vicuña garments.

Around 1PM we will stop next to the reserve of Aguada Blanca Salinas for break to use the available bathroom and them you will be awarded with plenty of snack and hot drinks (lunch) above 4200M. After one hour of break we continue driving up to the highest pass as known Patapampa (4850M), this point is also recognized like the Andean or volcanic range viewpoint. Short stop for some spots of the volcanoes rang, Snow Mountain as Ampato and Chocura.

One hour more and following a nice paved road we will descend from Altiplano to Colca valley, the valley offer nice view of Colca River and Chivay town (3600M). On the way down will able groups of Llamas and Alpacas grazing and with good view for pictures.

Around 4PM arrive to the hotel in Chivay to make check in and then transfer to the hot spring of La Calera, where is recommend to spend no more than 2 hours.

At 6PM transfer to hotel and free evening for personal activities.

OPTIONAL: If time permit and you like to hike for 1.5hrs from the half way down to Chivay through ancient trail seeing the change of Altiplano scenery and getting to Colca valley will be nice. If you don't like to visit the thermal pools and if time permit and if is good weather condition (Dec – April raining season) please us your tour guide in advance to arrange the trekking according your convenience.

At 6AM is the breakfast in the hotel and then travel 2 hours in our private transport to the famous point in the all the Colca canyon, this places is known as the Condor Cross, on the way go there we stop to visit the small remote villages on the left bank of the canyon, villages with colonial churches surrounded by Pre-Incan terraces and spectacular mountain range.

After 1.5 hours driving will be possible to appreciate the fly of Condors or sometimes seating on the rocks, two hours spending looking this amazing and biggest bird in the world and the villages at the deepest part of this spectacular Canyon.

At 10AM continue traveling on the dirt road to Cabanaconde village (3280m), short recognize of this nice Cabanas home, this place probably the pass of the Juanita mommy (“Ice maiden”), she was founded at the top of Ampato volcano near of Cabanaconde town. From Cabanaconde we descend driving to the bottom of the canyon (deepest part). Down there is small valley named Soro (2030M) lived several farmers working the reach fields to produce much type of fruits. We start a short trek along the Colca River, crossing suspension bridge and through cactus forest on the right bank of the canyon. After 2 hours of trekking following single truck arrive to Llahuar lodge to have lunch and then free afternoon to enjoy the thermal pools next of the river or read a good book surrounded by pure and quiet nature.

At 7PM will be country dinner served in nice dining room with the best view of the canyon and under starry sky, tonight you will sleep in the bamboo cabins, the cabins are without bath and hot shower, the roof and the walls are builder with bamboo and we recommend bringing your headlamp or flashlight to walk between the room and the bath or to the restaurant. The cabins are very simple but charm enough for one night with local family (B - L - D).

At 6AM will be the 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 down to the coast till the Pan American highway to Arequipa - Normally we arrive to the hotel around 6PM and end of service (B - L).