Colca canyon trek. in a region in Arequipa where the famous canyon is located, right on the Valley of the Volcanoes in southern Peru. It is located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Arequipa, it’s one of the deepest canyons in the world at 10,725 ft. (3,269 m), it is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the United States. The Cotahuasi Canyon nearby to the northwest is referred to as being a deeper canyon at 11,488 ft. (3,501 m).
Since they are such major features of the landscape, the Colca and Cotahuasi canyons are both easily recognizable in even low-resolution satellite photos of the region. The Colca Valley is a colorful Andean valley with towns founded in Spanish colonial times and formerly inhabited by the Collaguas and the Cabanas.
The local people still maintains ancestral traditions and continues cultivating the Inca and pre-inka. So, visit this beautiful colca canyon site, in a unique program combining minivan, and bicycle in an escorted tour.
07:00 hrs
At 7am we pick you up from your hotel and 4 hours by our own 4WD, this travel is between the Misti and Chachani volcanoes up to 4850m where will see Llamas, Alpacas, Andean birds also will appreciate the Vicuñas, this animals living are protected by the national reserve of Aguada Blanca and Salinas, we’d have a nice blue sky while doing our downhill.
Beginning at the highest pass on this trip, named Patapampa (4850m) from here is possible to observe the volcanoes chain and mountain range in the South of Peru, to rice our bicycles on a nice asphalt or taking single track on the ancestral Inca trail, descending 1200m to Chivay town (3600m). In Chivay we will have lunch and at 1:00 pm.
Continuing biking on dirt road on the left bank of the Colca river, crossing between old pre-Inca terraces and small villages and visiting colony churches. Finally we will arrive at Maca village (3350m); after 4-5 hours here we will spend the night in a nice accommodation with hot shower and private bath. Lunch and dinner are provided this day.
At 6am after packing everything, have our energetic breakfast and continue traveling 2 hours and 40 minutes on our own private 4×4 vehicle, continue on the left bank we will arrive at 8:00 am. to the popular Condor Cross, and stop for about 2 hours to be able to see the condors flights, getting pictures of the small villages in the deepest part of the deepest second canyon in the world.
At 1am we will bike down till Cabanaconde (3280m) this short trip biking take one hour and half. In Cabanaconde we will have lunch and short recognition of this Andean town surrounded by green terraces dated from Inca time. At 1pm continue downhill biking on serpentine dirt abandoned road, this downhill offer spectacular view of the both side of the deepest part of the Colca canyon. After 2 hours we finish downhill at valley of Soro (1950m) across the suspension bridge you will be on the right bank of the river.
Trekking along the river through cactus forest till Llahuar lodge where will find nice hot spring next of the river. After enjoying the thermal bath will have delicious dinner accompanied by deed starry sky. Stay in charm bamboo cabins, (Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided).
Today we will up at 6am and then enjoin a delicious country breakfast with the best sun rising over the Colca and Llatica River
At 7am trekking across the Llatica River and uphill through mountainous landscape and following single track between the cactus forest and wildlife. After 5 hours trekking we will be at the Oasis where are nice swim pool (cold water) next to the bamboo cabins. Lunch in the middle of nature and peaceful valley located between two huge balls combined with different colorful landslide., in the late afternoon we trek uphill on the left bank, this climb will take 3 hours by thousands of steps along the way.
This climb will be the hardest and strenuous trek on this trip. Finally you will get the top of the climb and you feel how dig and deep is the Cabanas world. We walk to Cabanaconde to have hot shower, delicious dinner and stay in a comfortable rooms, (Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided).
At 7am have breakfast and begin 2 hours of nice trekking on the left rim of Colca Canyon Tour, to the Condor’s Cross lookout, viewing many smalls’ towns all around the Colca Valley, located in the high part of the canyon.
At the Condor’s Cross lookout we can appreciate the best fly of the highest Andean bird. Continue our journey through the Colca valley, and mountainous range. After 2 hours of travel we will arrive to Chivay to have lunch. Optional visit to the Hot springs of Chivay, (3600m). At 1pm travel back to Arequipa, this travel takes 4 hours passing the highest pass of this trip (Patapampa 4850m), from you can see the magnificent of the active volcanoes and highest mountain of the south of Peru.
Pampas Cañahuas is the home of the Vicuñas, considerate protected wild animal, living at high altitudes like 4000m. Continue driving down arrive to Arequipa and complete our trip, (Breakfast and lunch provided).
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