Enjoy the benefits that the South of Peru has. Experience the magic of the beautiful landscapes.
Visit the amazing town of Chivay, enjoy the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint where you can appreciate the flight of the condors and observe the depth of the Colca canyon.
Enjoy the impressive Uros and Taquile Islands, the most visited islands of Lake Titicaca.
 Duration: 5 days |  Accommodation: Hotel |
 Difficulty: Easy |  Season: All year |
Overview
DAY 01: Arequipa – Walking City Tour and Santa Catalina Convent
- Arrival in Arequipa
- City Tour & Santa Catalina Convent
- Overnight in a Hotel in Arequipa
DAY 02: Arequipa – Colca Canyon (Excursion for 2D / 1N – Colca Canyon)
- Colca Canyon Tour
- Lunch in Chivay
- Overnight in a Hotel in Chivay
DAY 03: Colca Canyon connection – Puno
- Colca Canyon viewpoints Tour
- Lunch in Chivay
- Transfer to Puno
- Overnight in a Hotel in Puno
DAY 04: Puno – Floating Islands Of Uros – Taquile – Puno
- Lake Titicaca Tour (Uros and Taquile Islands)
- Lunch on the Islands
- Overnight in a Hotel in Puno
DAY 05: Puno
- Transfer for departure
Itinerary
DAY 01: Arequipa – Walking City Tour and Santa Catalina Convent
Reception in the city of Arequipa and transfer to the hotel.
In the afternoon, you will visit the beautiful city of Arequipa. We will show you places such as “El Mirador de Carmen Alto” a wonderful viewpoint with a gorgeous panoramic view of the Chilina Valley and the surrounding mountains.
Then we will continue to stroll around the pedestrian paths until we reach the Yanahuara viewpoint that offers with its picturesque park and arches a wonderful place to take some amazing photos. Hereafter we will visit the Santa Catalina Convent, a 17th-century “small town” opened to the public in 1970 after it had been for 400-years an old cloister.
Our guide will explain to you the fascinating history of the convent, thereby transporting you 4 centuries back into the past. You will visit various spacious courtyards and beautiful gardens, the kitchen, the old washing place, and the slave rooms, to name just a few of the historic corners of the convent.
Then we will continue to the main square where you will be able to appreciate the beautiful facade of the Cathedral, the Church, and finally the Dome of San Ignacio.
After the city tour, we will drop you off at your hotel so that you can relax and process all the information about the city of Arequipa.
- Accommodation in Arequipa
DAY 02: Arequipa – Colca Canyon (Excursion for 2D / 1N – Colca Canyon)
You will have breakfast at the hotel before we will pick you up to start our journey.
Then we will drive to Yura, passing by the beautiful Chachani mountain and entering the Pampa of Cañahuas. Here you will have some gorgeous views of the nifty Vicuñas grazing freely on the wide plains. As we drive further through Vizcachani and Pampas de Toccra you will be able to spot a large number of different local birds flying in the air. Then we will circle the Chucura crater before we reach Patapampa (4,800 masl) where we will stop at the viewpoint of the Volcanos. Here you can take some amazing photos of the volcanoes Chachani, Misti and Pichu Pichu that surround the city of Arequipa.
Finally, we will descend to the town of Chivay for lunch.
Your afternoon will be free, so you can check out the thermal baths of La Calera and take a relaxing bath in its medicinal waters, or simply stroll around the picturesque town of Chivay.
- Accommodation in Chivay
DAY 03: Colca – Puno
Early breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, we will drive to the Cruz del Cóndor which is 41 km away from Chivay. Here you will be able to observe the majestic flights of the Condors, spinning their circles in the depths and heights of the Canyon. Then we will continue our journey to the picturesque towns of Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma, and Yanque. We will make several stops, especially at the stunning viewpoints of Antahuilque and Choque Choquetico, where you will be able to view Colca’s hanging tombs and “Litomaquetas” which are design models chiseled in stone.
Then we will return to Chivay, where we will enjoy a delicious lunch.
Hereafter we will leave the region of Arequipa heading towards the city of Puno making a detour to Patahuasi in order to take the road that is in the best condition and completely paved. On the way, you will travel through differing Andean landscapes, from the desert and stone forests to high-altitude lagoons and small towns in the region, such as Imata, Santa Lucía and the city of Juliaca.
After six hours of travel, at approximately 7:30 PM we will arrive at the Terrestrial Terminal in Puno where a representative of our travel agency will be waiting for you to bring you to the hotel.
- Accommodation in Puno
DAY 04: Puno – Floating Islands Of Uros – Taquile – Puno
Breakfast at the hotel.
Very early we will pick you up from your hotel to bring you to the main port where we will board our boat. Then we will drive for about 30 minutes to the floating Islands of Los Uros which form part of the National Reserve of Lake Titicaca.
Quickly you will realize that the people of Uros still maintain their own culture, customs and tradition. They still use artisanal fishing techniques, catching mainly “Carachi” and “Prateira”, and if the catch was abundant, they dry the fish in the sun.
Additionally, they also hunt wild birds and collect duck eggs. There are in total 75 islands today, and each island is well organized.
After a short visit of 40 minutes, we will continue the trip to the Island of Taquile, whose inhabitants are also mainly engaged in agriculture, crafts, and fishing. The locals continue to live in accordance with their ancient Inca traditions, laws, customs, religion, and popular manifestations, such as their marriage ceremonies (Sirvinacuy) and the payment of the land (Pachamama).
It should be noted that spinning and weaving are mainly done by men, from the age of eight. Women exclusively manufacture threads and fabrics.
Afterward, we will have a topical lunch on the island.
Then you will have two hours to visit the artisan center of the Island and take some amazing pictures before we return to the city of Puno where we will drop you off at your hotel.
- Accommodation in Puno
DAY 05: Puno
Breakfast at the hotel.
At the agreed-upon time, we will transfer you to the terminal.
Important: The exact time schedule will be confirmed in a previous briefing
Included
TOUR INCLUDES
- Services with professional bilingual guide (Spanish and English)
- Entrance tickets included
In Arequipa
- Transportation in and around Arequipa.
- 01 nights of accommodation in Arequipa with breakfast.
- 01 night of accommodation in Chivay with breakfast.
- Walking City Tour and Santa Catalina convent.
- Colca 2D / 1N program.
- Chivay to Puno tourist bus – 4M Express or similar.
In Puno
- Inbound / outbound transfers in Puno.
- 02 nights of accommodation in Puno with breakfast.
- Uros and Taquile Islands with lunch.
TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE
- National or international plane tickets.
- Services not detailed in the program.
- Hot and / or cold drinks.
CONTACT US
More Information
AREQUIPA
Arequipa is situated at an altitude of 2325 m in the desert mountains of the Andes. This beautiful city is almost entirely built in sillar, a kind of white volcanic stone. This is why Arequipa is called the White City. With its one million inhabitants, Arequipa is the second largest city of Peru. The main location, the Plaza de Armas is the most beautiful in the country. The Cathedral is magnificent and the shopping arcades are in colonial style.
Arequipa, a legendary and historic white stone city, is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Watched over by its beautiful volcanoes at Ampato, Chachani and especially the Misti Volcano. With its streets, buildings and churches of a spectacular colonial construction; with a wonderful geography that gives us a fertile valley and deep canyons among them, Cotahuasi and Colca, whose beauty and impact are impressive.
Santa Catalina Monastery
The Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena, or also known as the Convent of Santa Catalina, is a religious tourist complex located in the historic centre of Arequipa.
What makes the visit especially interesting is that the monastery itself is a small city, 20,000m2 surrounded by a 4-metre high wall that separated the life of the cloistered nuns from that of the rest of Arequipa’s inhabitants.
When is the best time to visit the Santa Catalina Monastery?
The city of Arequipa has a fairly stable climate, with moderate rainy seasons between January and March, so the visit to the monastery can be made without inconvenience throughout the year.
HOW TO GET TO THE COLCA CANYON
The Colca Canyon is located about 4 hours from the city of Blanca de Arequipa. The best way to get there is to take a tour or hike that includes transportation to and from Arequipa.
WHAT PLACES WILL WE VISIT DURING OUR 1 DAY COLCA TOUR?
Town of Chivay – Located at 3500 m.a.s.l., it is the main town of the Colca Valley.
Patahuasi – At this point we will be able to observe the stone castles of Patahuasi, located in a mountain.
Patapampa Viewpoint of the Volcanoes: It is the highest point of the route located at 4800 m.a.s.l., from which we will be able to observe 2 volcanoes like the Ampato and Sabancaya volcanoes.
Viewpoint of the Cross of the Condor – Main point of the route, and the best place for the sighting of the majestic flight of the Andean condor.
Viewpoints of the Colca Valley – During the journey to the viewpoint of the cross, we will be able to observe different points from where we can see the spectacular Colca Valley or Colca Canyon.
Town and church of Maca – Representative church of the Colca Valley, it has in its interior luxurious relics.
Tocra – In the wetlands of Tocra we can observe South American camelids such as Llamas and Alpacas grazing freely.
Salinas Reserve and Aguada Blanca – In the Salinas Reserve we can observe free-roaming Vicuñas and the backside of the Misti Volcano.
What is the best season to visit the Colca Valley?
You can visit the Colca all year round, however the best time to visit is between April and May as the rainy season is coming to an end and these are the months that show the most greenery of the Colca Valley and all its landscapes.
What is the difference between the valley and the canyon?
The canyon is a deep and narrow river valley. The main characteristic for the formation of a canyon is a fast flowing river, because the faster it flows, the greater the load of rocks and other debris it can carry.
A valley is a flat terrain between mountain slopes caused by the erosion of water flowing down from mountain peaks. The valley is an attractive place because of its natural environment and scenic value. The surrounding mountains and rivers make these places an excellent visit for nature lovers.
And if you want to make a direct connection between the city of Puno – Lake Titicaca after the Colca Canyon, you also have this option of 2 days in the Colca with transfer to Puno, perfect for not having to return to the city of Arequipa!
Did you know that Puno is?
It is the capital of Peruvian folklore, its inhabitants love to dance. Its festival of the virgin of the Candelaria that is celebrated every year on February 9th, where all the dance groups of the city go out to dance making a parade through Puno.
It was declared Cultural Heritage by Unesco in 2014. The city of Puno is the starting point to visit Lake Titicaca, the floating islands of the Uros, Taquilla Island and Amantani Island.
The city of Puno, dominated by Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, is the capital of Peruvian folklore, as well as the legend that Puno is where it all began. That its lake saw the birth of Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, founders of the Inca empire.
How to get to the city of Puno?
To get to the city of Puno, you can go by bus or airplanes, from Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, etc.
What you should know about Lake Titicaca.
Lake Titicaca is the highest lake in the world, at over 3800 metres above sea level. As you know, it has a part in Bolivia and another in Peru, plus several inhabited islands that you can visit.
On the Peruvian side are: Uros Island, Taquile Island and Amantani Island in Puno, three different places with an interesting, attractive and captivating culture.
Did you know that Taquile Island?
Taquile Island occupies about 6 square kilometres. It is almost 4000 metres above sea level. Its approximately 2,200 inhabitants are of Quechua ethnicity and language.
Taquile Island is located 36 kilometres from the city of Puno, and the boat trip takes about two hours. The textile industry of Taquile Island is recognised by Unesco and is said to be the best in Peru. The weaving is done by men, who have been learning it since they were children.
Price
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
We have price alternatives that accommodate all budgets, prices per person, expressed in US Dollars.
Make your quotes and reservations by email [email protected], you can also communicate with one of our sales executives at the telephones detailed below, we will be happy to assist you.
Phone – WhatsApp: +51 969 787 221
Phone – WhatsApp: +51 986 994 218
HOW TO BOOK THE TOUR?
To start the reservation process, please send us the following information:
- Name and surname:
- Passport number:
- Nationality:
- Date of Birth:
- Phone:
- Very important – We need the address and information about the hotel that you are staying at, in the city of Arequipa, to be able to pick you up at the time when the tour starts
To confirm reservations it is required to pay 50% in advance and the other 50% can be paid upon arrival at your destination.
PAYMENT METHODS
- IZIPAY
- PAYPAL
- WESTER UNION
- MONEYGRAM
- TRANSFER TO OUR BANK ACCOUNT PERU
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