DAY 01: AREQUIPA IN – CITY TOUR + SANTA CATALINA MONASTERY
Reception and transfer to the chosen hotel. At the appropriate time, pick up from the hotel to carry out the activity.
14:00 hrs Start of the tour of the White City of Arequipa, visiting the Plaza de Armas, which features a beautiful three-plate bronze fountain crowned with the figure of a 16th century soldier. Here, we will appreciate the Cathedral and the Cloisters of the Company of Jesus. Then, we will visit the Monastery of Santa Catalina, which was a cloistered center closed to the public for centuries. Today, harmoniously restored and open, it allows us to appreciate what the city of Arequipa was like in the 17th century. We will see its streets, gardens, cloisters, rustic stone wash houses, ashlar walls and its art gallery, then we will move to the beautiful and green countryside of Carmen Alto and the Yanahuara Viewpoint where you will have a privileged view of the city and volcanoes such as Misti, Pichu Pichu and Chachani.
Accommodation in Arequipa.
DAY 02: AREQUIPA – CHIVAY
Breakfast.
Pick up from the hotel and departure towards the Colca Valley by the Yura – Puno – Cuzco road, crossing part of the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, visiting Pampa Cañahuas where you can see vicuñas, the back of the Arequipa Volcanoes; then continue to Patahuasi, a stop to adapt to the altitude, where it is recommended to drink coca tea. We will continue to Tocra to appreciate the flora and fauna of the region, then continue through Patapampa or the volcano viewpoint at a maximum altitude of 4800 meters above sea level.
Arrival in Chivay, we will enjoy lunch (*at the passenger's expense) and check-in at the indicated hotel; in the afternoon we will visit the La Calera thermal baths; at night dinner (*at the passenger's expense) with a folkloric show, music and live dance.
Accommodation in Chivay (Vita Colca, Tradición Colca or Colca Inn).
DAY 03: COLCA – CRUZ DEL CÓNDOR – AREQUIPA
Breakfast.
Very early, we will head towards Cruz del Cóndor (41 km from Chivay); on the route there are stops such as in the town of Yanque, some viewpoints and the town of Maca; the stops will be coordinated, these can be on the way there or on the way back. Arrival at the Cruz Del Cóndor viewpoint, from where you can see part of the depth of the canyon, and wait for the majestic flight of the condor, with an approximate stay of one hour.
Return to Chivay, lunch (*at the passenger's expense) and direct return to Arequipa.
Transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation.
DAY 04: SALINAS LAGOON
07:00 hrs Departure by the old road to Puno that passes through the traditional district of Chiguata between the Misti volcano and the snowy Pichu Pichu at a distance of 120 km. You arrive at the Salinas Lagoon, a place where you can see a variety of birds and especially to see flamingos and parihuanas, we also appreciate the saltpeter or salt on the shores of the Lagoon that appears from May to December.
16:00 hrs Arrival in Arequipa.
Accommodation in Arequipa.
DAY 05: SILLAR ROUTE - OUT
Breakfast at the hotel.
08:00 hrs We will begin our tour with a lot of history and living culture. We will make a brief tourist stop in the main square of the Cayma District and we will appreciate the Plaza and its Church. We will continue with a short stop at a viewpoint where we will have a view of the three volcanoes that we have in Arequipa: Misti, Chachani and Pichupichu. Then, we will arrive at the Añashuayco Quarry where we can appreciate the Quarry in operation, learn about the process of Sillar extraction, carving and mega carving by the master stonemasons. We will continue with the route heading to the Quebrada de Culebrillas; in this place we will take a 20-minute walk inside the small canyon that was formed by the passage of water, which has walls of 15 to 20 meters, as we continue walking the walls increase in height reaching the end we will be able to observe Oilfields made by the Wasi Culture. At the end of the tour, we will observe the Apachetas; Stone formations placed one on top of the other are a symbol of gratitude towards nature and also attract good luck, which cause a totally mystical sensation.
Return to the hotel.
At the appropriate time, transfer to the station/airport to return to the city of origin or continue with the trip.
