Description Tourist package in Arequipa
With the Arequipa Tourist Package or tour “Arequipa Canyon and Volcanoes”, you will be able to know and enjoy the White City in a different way, inside and outside, in the historical part, countryside, walking, climbing and relaxing on horseback in the Chilina Valley.
The center of the city tour Plaza de Armas Arequipa, dominated by the Cathedral. The Mirador de Yanahuara, is made up of a series of ashlar arches on which the words of illustrious Arequipa citizens have been engraved. From the top of the Mirador de Sachaca, you can see the extensive Arequipa countryside, the old and modern houses of the city. The Carmen Alto viewpoint is located in the Chilina valley, which highlights its Inca-influenced terraces. But also, the Arequipa countryside, the founder’s house and the Sabandia Mill.
The Colca Canyon excursion is part of the tourist package in Arequipa and is listed as the deepest canyon in America, reaching 4,160 meters at its highest point, in the town of Canco. The Mirador de la Cruz del Condor, where you can appreciate 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 that flies through the air taking advantage of the ascending thermal currents.
And finally, to climb the enigmatic Misti Volcano, guardian knight of this beautiful city tour arequipa. The Misti is a stratovolcano in southern Peru, near the city of Arequipa, considered one of the 10 active or potentially active volcanoes in this part of the Andes. It has become one of the major symbols of Arequipa. During colonial times most of the houses were built with sillar, a white stone formed with the deposition of ash and lapilli during the pyroclastic eruptions of the volcano. The last time Misti showed some kind of relevant activity, such as large fumaroles, was in 1870.
Enjoy the Tourist Package in Arequipa
MAIN POINTS OF VISIT
- Arequipa (2,335 masl)
- Yanahuara viewpoint (2,343 masl)
- Chilina Valley (2,506 masl)
- Colca Canyon (4,160 masl)
- Chivay (3,635 masl)
- Cruz del Condor viewpoint (3,800 masl)
- Misti Volcano (5,820 masl / 16,820 fasl)
Day 1: Arequipa – Historical Center – Yanahuara Viewpoint – World Zoo – Founder’s Mansion – Sabandia Mill – Arequipa
- 08.45 hrs We will pick you up at your hotel which is located in the circuit of the main square.
- 09.00 hrs This circuit begins with a visit to the Cathedral Basilica (1656) of neoclassical style and with a facade decorated with 70 columns and 2 towers.
- Then, the Convent of the Company of Jesus where the highlights are the polychrome Chapel of San Ignacio and its cloisters with carved ashlar arches. Finally visit the Monastery of Santa Catalina (1580), a citadel built in ashlar with an area of 20 thousand m2.
- Leaving the center of the city of Arequipa, we will go to the traditional village of Paucarpata, where we will appreciate the pre-Inca terraces currently used by farmers in the area, visit the church of Santa Ana and its main square.
- We will move to the district of Sabandia, where is located the hydraulic stone mill, construction of the year 1785 (one of the oldest in this area), made with the typical white sillar, volcanic tuff made stone and that is the reason why Arequipa has the nickname of “White City”.
- The mill has characteristics of solid buttresses and rustic balconies and from here you can appreciate the immense snow-capped volcanoes that surround the city, highlighting the figure of its tutelary volcano, the Misti tours Arequipa (5,800 meters).
- To finish the tour, we move to the Mansion of the Founder, built in the seventeenth century on the edge of a cliff and was ordered to build by the founder of the city, Manuel Garcia de Carbajal. It has stately features, a hallway with a vaulted ceiling and a large courtyard that ends in a classic chapel. Walking through this circuit you can appreciate the typical farms, with crops where the greenery stands out in its different ranges, a typical characteristic of the Arequipa countryside.
- 13.15 hrs Approx. arrival to the city, we will leave you near the Plaza de Armas.
Hotel: CORREGIDOR
BREAKFAST – HOTEL / LUNCH and DINNER – PASSENGER
Day 2: Arequipa – Añashuayco Valley – Arequipa
THE VALLEY OF AÑASHUAYCO is located in the district of Uchumayo, at 2,120 meters above sea level. The Quarries of Añashuayco, is the place where the emblematic sillar is extracted. The white volcanic stone used in the construction of colonial buildings in the city of Arequipa.
- 07.50 hrs We will pick you up at your hotel, in the circuit of the Plaza de Armas.
- 08.00 hrs We begin our tour to the Route of the Sun of the Sillar that is a tourist route with a lot of history and living culture, we visit quarries and areas where the sillar originated. We will make a stop at the Añashuayco Quarry; which we will reach in 45 minutes approx.
- At the moment it is in exploitation, the quarrymen make their work from very early; in the place we will be able to appreciate an immense canyon with cliffs (walls of ignimbrite) that have several meters of height, formed by the extraction for the formation of the ashlars. At this point we will tell you the history of the ashlar, the elaboration and the use that has always been given to it.
- In this quarry you will be able to appreciate a Megatallado of the Church of the Company of Jesus made by the stonemasons themselves. Also, we will have the opportunity to talk to the workers who perform this hard work and we can experience cutting one of their stone blocks.
- Afterwards, we will go to the Quebrada de Culebrillas, which is located 30 minutes away from Añashuayco. Arriving at this point we will make a walk of approximately 20 minutes inside the small canyon that was formed by the passage of water, which has walls of 15 to 20 meters, as we go into it the walls of the canyon are increasing in height.
- At the end of the walk we will be able to observe petroglyphs made by the Wari culture more than a thousand years ago. Before returning to the city we will observe the Apachetas, stone formations placed one on top of the other that are a symbol of gratitude to nature.
- 12.00 hrs Return to the respective hotel. Free afternoon for shopping or strolling through the historic center.
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. Travel time is approximately 6 hours with 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 – Arequipa
- 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, 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 getting old 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.
- 19.00 hrs Arrival approx. to the city of Arequipa.
Hotel: CORREGIDOR
BREAKFAST – HOTEL / LUNCH & DINNER – PASSENGER
Day 5: Arequipa – Chilina Valley – Arequipa.
The Chilina Valley is located in the district of Cayma, 10 minutes from downtown Arequipa, is a very well preserved natural environment, has an area of more than 15 kilometers, this valley is characterized by its agricultural sector on the side of the Chili River, it is interspersed with terraces and terraces of highly productive agricultural use used for planting and wild sector.
The tour is very pleasant, has mountains, a river, roads, etc.. The soils are characterized by typical plant species such as riparian forest, native trees such as molle, willow and introduced trees such as Monterrey pine, casuarina, eucalyptus, fig, Ricino. The best view of the Chachani and Misti is on horseback, we can also appreciate the local agriculture and the beautiful landscape.
- 08.00 hrs The tour starts with the pick up at your hotel and can be done in the valley of Chilina or Sabandia which are 20 minutes from downtown.
- Before starting the Arequipa tour, we will give you a brief talk about the handling of the horse, then we start the ride through the countryside, in which we will appreciate the agricultural crops, the river, the snow-capped mountains and volcanoes such as: Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu. If you have experience you can gallop.
- After the tour, we will board the vehicle and return to the city. We will drop you off at your hotel.
- FREE AFTERNOON, to stroll through the historic center or craft centers.
Hotel: CASONA HOTEL PLAZA
BREAKFAST – HOTEL / LUNCH and DINNER – PASSENGER
Day 6: Arequipa – Base Camp
The MISTI VOLCANO is located at the foot of the Chili Valley at 2,400 meters above sea level within the National Reserve of Salinas and Aguada Blanca.
It is approximately 800 thousand years old and it is said that in colonial times it was known as “volcano without a name”. According to myths, the ethnic groups that lived near the crater had to flee their lands because of the explosion of the volcano and when they returned home they took its name as a kind of reprimand.
It is also said that it was called Machu Putina, which in indigenous languages means “Old volcano”. This is due to the duality in the Andean cosmovision, since 40 kilometers away is the Huayna Putina, which means “young volcano”. However, it is not known since when it began to be called Misti, which in Quechua means “Creole or white man”. It is said that it was given this name because the city of Arequipa is called “The White City of Arequipa”, due to its buildings made of white ashlar.
- 08.00 hrs Pick up from their respective hotels, immediately we will board the 4 x 4, travel in the direction of Chiguata to Las Pampas del Misti (1h 30 min.) – 3,450 meters.
- 09.30 hrs We will arrive to part of the National Reserve of Salinas and Aguada Blanca at 3,400 meters, from this point is that we begin our walk for 5 or 6 hours to reach the BASE CAMP BASE sector 4,650 masl.
- On the route we will make a stop for lunch (LIGHT BREAKFAST).
- 15.00 hrs We will install our tents and all the equipment, dining tent and others, will proceed to the time of air conditioning.
- 18.30 hrs Dinner and then overnight to replenish energy for the next day.
Campamento: CAMPING BASE
DESAYUNO – HOTEL / ALMUERZO y CENA – AGENCY
Day 7: Base Camp – Misti Volcano – Arequipa
- Very early after breakfast, we will begin the ascent to the summit. This hike will last 5 to 6 hours until reaching 5,825 meters above sea level.
- Finally the crater of the Misti Volcano tour Arequipa will be visible, where there is fumarolic activity, the landscape of the summit is impressive. This visit will last approximately 1 hour.
- Then we will return to the camp (1h. 30 min.), we will take our things and we will arrive to the point where the transportation is located (1h. 30 min.), from where we will transfer to the city of Arequipa.
- 15.00 hrs. Approximate arrival to Arequipa, we will leave you near the main square.
- At the agreed time, transfer from the hotel to Arequipa Airport.
- Flight AREQUIPA/CUSCO.
BREAKFAST – AGENCY/ LUNCH AND DINNER – PASSENGER
