A five-day journey through Arequipa and the Colca Canyon that adds the Sillar Route.
The programme opens in Arequipa, the 'White City', with a tour of the Santa Catalina Monastery, the Plaza de Armas and the Yanahuara and Carmen Alto viewpoints facing the Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu. A day is devoted to the Sillar Route: the Culebrillas gorge, its petroglyphs and the Añashuayco quarries, where master stonecutters show the extraction and carving of sillar. The circuit continues to the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the world, crossing the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve to Chivay, and culminates at the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint. Accommodation is offered in 3-, 4- and 5-star categories.
Highlights
A tour of Arequipa's 'White City' and the Santa Catalina Monastery
The Sillar Route: the Culebrillas gorge and its petroglyphs
The Añashuayco sillar quarries and the master stonecutters' workshops
The Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, with vicuñas, alpacas and llamas
The Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the world
The Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint and the flight of the Andean condor
Day-by-day itinerary
Day1
Day 1: Arrival in Arequipa – city and Santa Catalina Convent
Arrival in the city of Arequipa; a flight arriving around 11:00 is recommended to allow enough time before the afternoon activities. Meeting and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, a tour of Arequipa, the 'White City', so called for its buildings of sillar, a pale volcanic stone. The tour begins at the Santa Catalina Monastery, a religious citadel of more than 20,000 m² founded in 1579 that preserves its colonial structure; it continues to the Plaza de Armas, the heart of the city, dominated by the Cathedral of Arequipa, and to the Yanahuara and Carmen Alto viewpoints, with panoramic views of the city and its three guardian volcanoes: the Misti, the Chachani and the Pichu Pichu. Overnight in Arequipa. Meals: none.
Day2
Day 2: Arequipa – the Sillar Route
In the morning, a route from Arequipa to the enigmatic Culebrillas gorge, a narrow passage carved by the erosion of water and wind over thousands of years. You descend through the gorge admiring the imposing rock walls and, after about 20 minutes' walk, reach the petroglyphs at a crossing of ancient paths. The vehicle then takes the group to the working quarry in the Añashuayco gorge, where you hear the ring of the tools and watch the master stonecutters working the rock face. You visit 15 interpretation workshops where the stonecutters show the extraction, cutting and carving of sillar, and admire the carved façade of the Church of the Compañía de Jesús, sculpted into the rock wall by the same stonecutters. Return to the White City of Arequipa, with the rest of the afternoon free. Overnight in Arequipa. Meals: breakfast.
Day3
Day 3: Arequipa / Colca Canyon
Departure towards the Colca Valley, one of the deepest canyons in the world. Along the way you climb through striking landscapes, crossing the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, where vicuñas, alpacas and llamas can be seen in their natural habitat. Around midday you reach the picturesque village of Chivay, the heart of the Colca Valley, at 3,600 m above sea level, where you enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with typical regional dishes. In the afternoon, free time to rest. Overnight in Colca. Meals: breakfast and lunch.
Day4
Day 4: Colca Canyon / Arequipa
Early breakfast at the hotel and departure to the Cruz del Cóndor, one of the most spectacular viewpoints of the canyon. There, conditions permitting, you can watch the majestic flight of the Andean condors, which ride the thermal currents to rise up the canyon; it is one of the most memorable moments of the trip. Back in Chivay, lunch is taken (not included) before setting off on the return journey to Arequipa. Overnight in Arequipa. Meals: breakfast.
Day5
Day 5: Arequipa / Lima
At the arranged time, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Lima. Meals: breakfast.
Suggested hotels
Crismar By Xima
Standard
Arequipa
3-star option in Arequipa (3 nights).
Pozo del Cielo
Standard
Colca
3-star option in Colca (1 night).
Los Tambos Fundador
Superior
Arequipa
4-star option in Arequipa (3 nights).
Colca Lodge
Superior
Colca
4-star option in Colca (1 night).
Costa del Sol Wyndham Arequipa
Luxury
Arequipa
5-star option in Arequipa (3 nights).
Aranwa Colca Resort & Spa
Luxury
Colca
5-star option in Colca (1 night).
Essential, Premium and Luxury categories available. Final accommodation is confirmed by date and availability.
What's included
Included: Private airport / hotel / airport transfers
Included: Half-day tour of the city of Arequipa and the Santa Catalina Convent
Included: 3 nights' accommodation in Arequipa (3 breakfasts)
Included: Half-day Sillar Route tour
Included: 2 days / 1 night in the Colca Canyon (lunch included on day 1)
Included: 1 night's accommodation in Colca (1 breakfast)
What's not included
Not included: National and international airfare
Not included: National and international airport taxes
Not included: Early check-in and late check-out
Not included: Meals not mentioned in the programme
Not included: Drinks not included with the lunches
Not included: Expenses not specified in the programme
Not included: Tips and gratuities
Not included: Travel insurance
Not included: Anything not expressly mentioned as included
Optional services
Optional, at extra cost:
La Calera thermal baths — In Chivay, after lunch, the option to relax at the La Calera thermal baths, known for their therapeutic mineral-rich waters that reach temperatures of up to 38 ºC. Activity not included in the programme.