7:00–7:15 a.m. Pick-up at your hotel or the main meeting point in the village of Chivay. We then head to the Condor Vantage Point and the Colca Canyon, with a brief 15-minute stop at the Antahuilque Vantage Point to see the crop fields and the area of ancient terraces dating back to pre-Hispanic times. You'll also be able to admire the geological formation of the canyon.
At around 8:30 a.m., we will arrive at the Colca Canyon, where we will have time to explore with an optional one-hour hike to enjoy the best views of its depth. With any luck, we will see condors in flight, depending on the season in which you visit (May through October are the best months to see them up close, with an 80% chance). In the rainy season, they don't usually come out much, but the landscape in these months is also stunning, with great splendor and snow-capped mountains.
We then head to the thermal baths in the village, where we'll have 1 hour to bathe in their 38-degree medicinal waters, and then return to Chivay, where we'll have time for lunch (additional cost). We'll then start our journey back to the city of Arequipa with short stops at the volcano observatory, the highest point, and the national reserve area, where we can see Andean camelids such as llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas in their natural habitat. Finally, we'll arrive in the city of Arequipa to end our tour, usually around 5:30 p.m.