Historical Arequipa

Description Arequipa and Colca Canyon Tour

With the Arequipa and Colca Canyon Tour or “Historical Arequipa”, in the panoramic bus you will be able to know and enjoy the white city of Arequipa in another way, we will enjoy this visit observing panoramically the important points of the city of Arequipa. This tour is ideal for those who want to know the white city arriving to Puno.

The center of Arequipa city tour, dominated by the Cathedral, built in 1656 and rebuilt in the nineteenth century. The Mirador de Yanahuara, is made up of a series of ashlar arches on which the words of illustrious Arequipa citizens have been engraved. This viewpoint has a privileged view of the city and the Misti volcano.

From the top of the Mirador de Sachaca, you can see the extensive Arequipa countryside, the old and modern houses of the city. This 19-meter high tower was built on top of the hill that housed the old cemetery of Sachaca. The Mirador de Carmen Alto is located in the valley of Chilina. Its Inca-influenced terraces stand out. The Colca Canyon excursion, catalogued as the deepest canyon in America, reaches 4,160 meters at its maximum point, in the town of Canco. It has on its right bank the Chila Cordillera (Bomboya, Serpregina, Mismi, Quehuisha) and on the other side are the Hualca Hualca, Sabancaya and Ampato. In the distance you can see the Ubinas volcano and the beautiful Coropuna.

The Mirador de la Cruz del Condor, from here you can see the canyon in all its splendor. It is also a strategic point to observe the gliding of the emblematic condor; a millenary bird of great size, which flies through the air taking advantage of the ascending thermal currents and on the way to the city of Puno we will make brief stops to continue observing birds, valleys and animals typical of this area.

The Lake Titicaca tour is the highest navigable lake in the world, located in the Andean altiplano in the central Andes, within the Collao plateau, in the department of Puno at an average altitude of 3,812 meters above sea level between the territories of Peru and Bolivia.

MAIN POINTS OF VISIT

• Arequipa (2,335 masl)
• Añashuayco Valley (1,969 masl)
• Chivay (3,635 masl)
• Cruz del Condor viewpoint (3,800 masl)

Day 1: Arequipa – Historical Center – Yanahuara Viewpoint – World Zoo – Founder’s Mansion – Sabandia Mill – Arequipa

• We have 3 schedules so you can know the monumental case and surroundings of this beautiful city: 09.00 am, 11.00 am and 2.00 pm.
• We will pick you up 15 minutes before the start of the tour, at the HOTEL located in the circuit of the Plaza de Armas.
• This tour is done in a panoramic bus and lasts 4 hours; the whole tour is inside and outside the city of Arequipa, we will start at the Plaza de Armas and the places to visit are: colonial buildings, museums and main streets of the city.
• In this Arequipa tour we will visit: Plaza de Armas of Arequipa and its bronze basin with a sculpture made of copper of a little elf with a trumpet, it is said that once had wings, but over the years it was lost, this sculpture is known as Tuturutu. There is a myth about the Tuturutu that says that it represents a soldier of the XVI century. Another legend says that “El Tuturutu” was a character of short stature who enjoyed the confidence of the Inca Mayta Capac for being his official messenger to the ayllus and soldiers, “The name Tuturutu was taken from the sound of the instrument used by this character to announce to the Inca about the arrival of a chasqui or an encomienda”. The Tuturutu of so much day and night, one morning he woke up dead and petrified by a wave of cold and since then he became the permanent watchman of the Plaza de Armas of Arequipa.
• We will also go to the Mirador de Carmen Alto Plaza and Mirador de Yanahuara, which is a set of beautiful ashlar arches built during the nineteenth century, by the location in which it is located, is a must-see place, because it allows us to admire the beautiful white city of Arequipa, having a panoramic view of its three volcanoes (Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu). We can also observe engraved writings of illustrious people of the city of Arequipa.
• We will make another stop at the OUTLET INCALPACA and the zoo, Zoo World tour to Arequipa houses 340 animals of 88 species that were recovered from traders or abandoned. It has 3 hectares of extension, we can find the spectacled bear, a protected species for being in the process of extinction; lions recovered from a circus a year ago; Peruvian otorongos and monkeys of various species. An area that attracts attention is the one that houses the penguins and the exotic fish aquarium where you can see piranhas, motor rays, discus fish, electric eels, needlefish, among others.
• We will pass by the Tingo Spa, the Via Paisajista and the Founder’s Mansion, then we will go to the Sabandia Mill.

Hotel: CORREGIDOR

BREAKFAST – HOTEL / LUNCH & DINNER – PASSENGER

Day 2: Arequipa – Toro Muerto Petroglyphs – Arequipa

• 04.50 hrs We will pick you up at the hotel in the circuit of the Plaza de Armas.
• 05.00 hrs We move by bus to the town of Corire, this is the closest town to the petroglyphs of Toro Muerto.
• Our first visit is an adventure in TORO MUERTO, a place where we will find more than 6,000 thousand stones engraved with phytomorphic, zoomorphic, anthropomorphic and geometric shapes. We will have the opportunity to know in situ the historical legacy of our pre-Columbian cultures such as: Wari, Chuquibamba and Inca. This visit will last 03 hrs.
• They are manifestations of rock art in the Majes Valley distributed over an area of 5 km2, extending between 400 and 800 meters above sea level. It is perhaps the richest area in rock art in the world. Volcanic stones abound in this site because there are two volcanoes relatively close, the Chachani and Coropuna. These blocks are engraved using the bas-relief technique and according to iconographic studies, they are dated to 800 A.D. and were discovered only in 1951.
• Lunch in Corire (optional, picnic lunch based on shrimp).
• After lunch, we will visit a traditional wine cellar, where we will taste the finest wines and piscos produced in a traditional hacienda.
• In the afternoon we will go to the TORAN annex. In this place we will be able to observe pre-Hispanic cemeteries and also the south zone of the valley of majes. Return to Arequipa.
• 19.00 hrs Arrival to Arequipa, we will leave you near the main square.

Hotel: CORREGIDOR

BREAKFAST – HOTEL / LUNCH & DINNER – PASSENGER

Day 3:Arequipa – Chivay

• 06.20 hrs We pick you up at your hotel in downtown Arequipa, heading to Chivay in Arequipa tours. Travel time approximately 6 hours making scenic stops along the route to make the trip as pleasant as possible. The city of Chivay has hotels, restaurants of different categories, it is also known for its religious celebrations, cultural heritage and traditional festivals.
• We start the trip passing through small towns and seeing the volcanoes Misti, Chachani, Pichu Pichu and Ampato, the highest point of the Patapampa route until we reach Chivay.
• In addition, on this route nature will surround us and in the Andes we will admire the condors, llamas and alpacas in their natural habitat, we will make brief stops at different viewpoints to observe the Andean terraces and Inca terraces, until arriving in Chivay.
• 13.00 hrs Approx. time for lunch in a local restaurant (NOT INCLUDED).
• 14.00 hrs Then we will take you to your hotel to settle in, FREE TIME to relax if you wish we will take you to the thermal baths of La Calera.
• Dinner at a local restaurant (NOT INCLUDED).

Hotel: COLCA INN

BREAKFAST – HOTEL / LUNCH & DINNER – PASSENGER

Day 4: Chivay – Cruz Del Condor Viewpoint – Puno

• 06.00 hrs After breakfast we will leave towards the Mirador de la Cruz del Condor, travel time 2 h. where we will observe the majestic flight of the condors and the depth of the canyon for 1 hour.
• Three of its major habitats are located in the south of Peru, in the Colca Canyon – AREQUIPA Tours, in the Mayobamba Canyon and in Chonta – CUSCO.
• The Incas believed that the CONDOR WAS IMMORTAL. According to the myth, when the animal feels that it is beginning to age and that its strength is running out, it lands on the highest and most protruding peak of the mountains, folds its wings, picks up its legs and falls to the bottom of the ravines, where its reign ends. This death is symbolic, since with this act the condor returns to the nest, to the mountains, from where it is reborn towards a new cycle, a new life.
• The CONDOR symbolized strength, intelligence and exaltation. It was an animal respected by all those who lived in the Andes since before the discovery of America, since it not only brought good and bad omens, but it was also responsible for the sun to rise every morning, because with its energy it was able to take the sun and raise it over the mountains initiating the life cycle.
• On the way back to Chivay we will visit the villages of Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma and Yanque, where we will observe typical dances of the area, as well as the models, colonial churches and terraces.
• 13.00 hrs We will board the return bus.
• 18.00 hrs Arrival approx. to the city of Puno.

Hotel: CASONA HOTEL PLAZA

BREAKFAST – HOTEL / LUNCH and DINNER – PASSENGER

Day 5: Puno – Uros Island and Amantani – Puno

• 06.30 – 07.15 hrs Transfer from the Hotel to the Port of Puno.
• 07.20 hrs Departure from the port towards the Floating Islands of the Uros tours.  You will be able to observe a beautiful panoramic view, landscape. Our guide will show us the existence of the floating islands of the Uros. At present the people of the Uros tour still maintain their own culture and tradition, as well as artisanal fishing, especially the Carachi and silverside. When fishing is abundant, they preserve the fish by drying them in the sun. They also hunt wild birds and collect duck eggs. There are 75 islands that live at present and each island is well organized.
• Then we continue to Taquile tour, we will navigate by boat for 2 hours and a half. During the navigation we will be able to observe the mountain chain – the Cordillera Real.
• 10.00 hrs Upon arrival we will hike up for 1 hour to reach the village, where we will have direct contact with the villagers, share work experiences, learn about their culture, traditions, customs, handicrafts, daily activities, dances and music. Taquile is a huge island that is characterized by its beautiful weavings, and its friendly people, we will enjoy the beautiful scenery of Lake Titicaca in its greatest magnitude.
• Spinning and weaving are done mainly by men, starting at the age of eight. Life in Taquile is still largely unchanged by modernity. The visit will take an average of 2 hours and 1 hour will have to taste a delicious typical lunch.
• Lunch on the island. We will taste the typical – natural food of the place.
• 14.00 hrs Approximately we return to the city of Puno.
• 17.00 hrs Arrival to the port.

Hotel: CASONA HOTEL PLAZA

BREAKFAST – HOTEL / LUNCH and DINNER – PASSENGER

Day 6: Puno – Pukara – La Ray Pass – Raqchi – Anhuaylillas – Cusco

• The Ruta Del Sol, is a magical journey that takes place from Puno to Cusco or vice versa. The important thing is that through the Ruta del Sol, different and beautiful destinations are known by bus as Raqchi or Pukara; places where the ancestral tradition that Peru lived before the discovery of America is still alive.
• Pukara is also known as the “Land of the little bull”. During pre-Columbian times, this was the place of growth of the Pucara culture, which is why it is a site endowed with many archaeological samples. If you want to know more about that ancient essence, then we will visit the Lithic Museum. In this museum you will have a global idea of what was the Pucara tradition, all its history and all those works that resisted to die with the passing of time.
• Raqchi, is a place that shines largely for being lonely and nostalgic, while ancient rock buildings try to survive the passage of time. In the tour of this destination you will see sturdy columns, colcas and traditional baths of the Incas and what most catches your attention is the Temple of Wiracocha, which according to historians belonged to the Inca Empire.
• DEPARTURE FROM PUNO: Pick up at 06.00 hrs at your hotel to the Ruta del Sol Bus Terminal, Check-in of luggage 06.40 hrs. During the route we will make several stops to see different archaeological monuments until we reach the city of Cusco.
• THE LITICAL MUSEUM OF PUCARA, which is a culture that developed from 1600 BC to 400 AD located 106 km. northeast of the city of Puno, in this museum we can find ceramics and sculptures representing zoo morphic figures, including the famous sculpture of HATUNÑAQAC that in our times would be translated as the supreme cutthroat (30 min).
• EL PASO DE LA RAYA, border between the cities of Cusco and Puno to more than 4335 meters above sea level where the famous snowy CHIMBOYA is located, here you can take pictures of the landscape, the visit lasts 7 to 10 minutes.
• Lunch is buffet and was in the tourist restaurant LA PASCANA. The buffet consists of a wide range of national and regional food, the most delicious desserts and hot drinks (40 minutes).
• THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMPLEX OF RAQCHI, also known as the Temple of the god WIRACOCHA, who was the supreme Inca deity, in this place we will find Colcas or Andean granaries, we will also see magnificent buildings in stone and adobe (40 min).
• ANDAHUAYLILLAS CHAPEL, dating from the seventeenth century, also known as the Sistine of the Andes for the beauty of its murals, gold leaf work and paintings of the Cusco school that houses inside (25 min).
• ARRIVAL IN CUSCO, private terminal at approximately 17.00 hrs. Transfer to your hotel.

BREAKFAST – HOTEL / LUNCH – AGENCY / DINNER – PASSENGER