Day 1: Arequipa City Tour
Begin your adventure in Arequipa with a walking tour. Meet your guide at Santa Catalina 204 and choose between a morning or sunset tour. Explore the city’s highlights, including the Main Square, the Compañia Church, the Compañia Cloister, colonial houses, the El Solar Neighborhood, the San Lazaro Neighborhood, the Alpaca Zoo, the first jail, the first hotel, and Love Park.
Learn about the history and culture of Arequipa from your guide.
Day 2: Into the Depths of the World’s 2nd Deepest Canyon
Pick up between 3am-3:30am from your hotel or Airbnb in downtown Arequipa, bus ride 3 hours to Chivay, stopping in Yanque for breakfast with stunning valley views.
One hour later by car witness majestic Andean condors soaring over the canyon’s 1,200m depths approximately at Cruz del Cóndor. Spend 40 minutes taking awe-inspiring wildlife photos.
After the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint we will take you to the point where you will start your hike down from 3,300m to 2,100m, crossing suspension bridges and visiting traditional villages (San Juan de Chuccho, Malata, Cosñirhua) lunch included in one of the villages.
Arrive at a palm-fringed oasis with natural pools. Unwind in cozy adobe bungalows and enjoy a starlit included dinner under canyon walls.
Day 3: Sunrise Trek & Hot Springs Bliss (transfer to puno optional)
Begin with a pre-sunrise ascent according to your guide. Take a challenging but rewarding 3-hour hike out of the canyon and watch the sunrise paint the cliffs gold.
Refuel with breakfast in Cabanaconde before driving back to Chivay, stopping at a Pre-Inca terraces viewpoint, thermal baths (38°C optional soak), and wild vicuña sightings in Salinas y Aguada Blanca Reserve.
Return to Arequipa and get dropped off near Santa Catalina Monastery, brimming with unforgettable memories.
NOTE: Bring a small bag-pack, towel, swimming suit, cash, flash-light and personal belongings.
For those that wish to finish in Puno: On return to Chivay at 1 pm, there will just be 15 minutes for lunch before departing to Puno. Arrival time in Puno is 7 pm, and the drop off point is at Puno Bus station. Don’t worry about your big suitcases! Your guide will store them securely for you until you finish hiking.
