Knowing more about our colourful culture
Peru, a land of dramatic landscapes and captivating culture, is an open invitation to explore its diverse beauty. In just five days, you’ll embark on a journey that will take you through Arequipa and the Colca Valley, two of Peru’s southern gems. This is a voyage into the heart of the Peruvian Andes, where you’ll uncover natural wonders, ancient traditions, and modern splendors in equal measure.
Peru is a nation renowned for its cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes, and the southern region is no exception. Arequipa, known as the “White City” for its dazzling colonial architecture built from volcanic white sillar stone, is a gateway to adventure. The Colca Valley, with its awe-inspiring terraced fields and the mighty Andean condors soaring overhead, is a testament to nature’s grandeur.
In just five days, you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in these two unique destinations, discovering the charm of Arequipa and the awe of the Colca Valley.
Your journey begins in Arequipa, a city where history and modernity coexist in harmony. Nestled at the foot of the Misti Volcano, Arequipa is an enchanting place with a rich cultural tapestry.
The historic center of Arequipa, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a wonder to behold. As you wander its cobbled streets, you’ll encounter a fusion of Spanish and indigenous architecture. The Santa Catalina Monastery, a miniature city within the city, is a captivating display of colonial architecture. Arequipa’s numerous churches, with their intricate façades and richly adorned interiors, offer a glimpse into the city’s deep-rooted religious traditions.
Arequipa’s culinary scene is equally remarkable. Peruvian cuisine, known for its fusion of flavors and ingredients, shines here. Don’t miss the opportunity to savor regional specialties, such as the acclaimed rocoto relleno and the spicy adobo arequipeño. And of course, be sure to pair your meal with a glass of chicha morada, a popular Peruvian drink made from purple corn.
From Arequipa, your journey takes you to the Colca Valley, home to one of the deepest canyons in the world. As you venture deeper into the valley, you’ll be greeted by picturesque landscapes of terraced fields carved into the mountainsides, traditional villages, and the towering Andes.
One of the highlights of the Colca Valley is the Cruz del Condor viewpoint, where you can witness the mesmerizing sight of Andean condors soaring on the thermals rising from the depths of the canyon. This awe-inspiring experience is a testament to the valley’s biodiversity and a chance to connect with the natural world.
You’ll have the opportunity to explore local villages, where indigenous traditions and crafts remain central to daily life. From Yanque to Chivay, the Colca Valley is a living testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Andean people.
This five-day journey will allow you to experience the contrasting facets of southern Peru. In Arequipa, you’ll find a city that effortlessly combines its colonial past with modern vibrancy. The Colca Valley, on the other hand, is a place where nature’s grandeur takes center stage, offering a serene and humbling experience. Together, these two destinations provide a well-rounded exploration of Peru’s southern marvels.
Join us on this five-day expedition to Arequipa and the Colca Valley, and immerse yourself in the rich history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscapes that define this enchanting region of Peru.
**All our programs can be modified according to your requirements on duration, interests, activities, flight reservations or other additional destinations.**
When you arrive at Arequipa, our staff will be waiting to welcome you and to take you to your hotel. In the afternoon, we will start our tour taking a leap to the past walking around the Monasterio de Santa Catalina (Saint Catherine’s Monastery), where we will discover more than three centuries of history and contemporary life behind its walls.
We will go to Arequipa´s Main Square giving you detailed information about it and then, we will go to the Iglesia de la Compañía (The Church of The Company), famous for its exaggerated baroque façade and altarpieces and its San Ignacio’s polychromed dome, which is one of the most outstanding in the city.
Once we finish our visit to the historic center, we will go to the traditional Yanahuara town, known for its traditional arches and square where we will have a view from the city and the Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu volcanoes.
After the all the visits, you will be taken to your hotel or to a close restaurant.
Meals: None
We will leave Arequipa city at 07:30 a.m. to Chivay, Caylloma’s province capital, 160 kilometers from the city. At the beginning our trip we will see the 3 volcanoes flanking the city: Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu. Then, we will enter the Pampa Cañahuas National Reserve where we will stop to see the vicuñas (the most important camelids in America) in their natural habitat. Arrival to Pata Wasi (Pata = high, Wasi = home), an Andean community located at the opposite side of the reserve. It is interesting to see the stones’ and volcanoes’ formation here, from another angle. To avoid the altitude sickness, we will enjoy a coca tea or a coffee in a local restaurant in the area. Our trip continues passing by Tocra, at more than 4,500 meters above sea level where we will see some lagoons and migratory birds, as well as the highland’s landscapes with camelids from the area. We will stop at the highest point (Pata Pampa), at 4,850 meters above sea level. This point is a natural lookout for the Ampato, Sabancaya, Hualca Hualca and Mismi volcanoes and the Chilca mountain range. Once we start our way down to Chivay, we will enjoy the view of the multicolored valley’s terraces. After having lunch, the guide will offer to visit the town and its surroundings. In the afternoon, we will go to the thermal baths. After a relaxing bath, we will be taken to the chosen hotel.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
We will have breakfast early to go to the Condor’s Cross Lookout. Timely arrival to see the canyon’s depth, if the weather is favorable, we may enjoy the condor’s flight. Then, we will have free time at the lookout and walk on the canyon’s margin (1 hour approximately).
Then, we will go to Chivay, visiting in our way Pinchollo, a traditional town and the Antahuilque lookout where we will see wonderful 1,500-year-old terraces, built by the Collahuas culture, which was previous to the Inca culture. We will also stop at the Choquetico lookout, where we will see the hanging tombs and a model made in stone with the terraces drawn on it that can be seen just in front of the drawn stone.
Brief visit to Maca town, which experienced a powerful earthquake in 1991, and the Yanque town’s church, which is considered the most beautiful church on the valley.
Once we arrive at Chivay, we will have free time to have lunch, explore the town and its surroundings. Free afternoon, you can schedule other activities such as treks, bicycle rides or horseback rides (not included in the itinerary)
Return to the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Early breakfast. A Coporaque inhabitant will pick us up to begin an experiential visit, sharing with them the morning labors: sowing, harvesting, animal herding, preparation of the land for growing, among others.
At midday, we will go to Chivay to have lunch. After lunch, we will return to Arequipa.
Transfer to Puno city, optional with an extra charge.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
After breakfast, transfer to the airport or bus station.
Meals: Breakfast
| Destination | Tourist | Superior tourist | Superior | Deluxe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Arequipa |
Runcu Arequipa |
Conde de Lemos |
La Hostería |
Casa Andina Premium |
|
Colca Valley |
Colca Inn |
Pozo del Cielo |
El Refugio |
Colca Lodge |
| Price per person: USD | 494 | 535 | 634 | 869 |
| Arequipa | Conde de Lemos |
| Colca Valley | Pozo del Cielo |
| Price per person: USD | 535 |
|---|
Prices per person in US Dollars, based on double occupancy.
INCLUDES:
NOT INCLUDED:
PRICES
All rates are expressed in US dollars, per person, based on double occupancy and are subject to change without notice.
ITINERARY
All our itineraries have been very carefully prepared taking your trip’s best operation into account. However, changing the order of some tours or routes might be necessary in some cases. Although these changes occur in few instances, the itinerary details should be taken as a basic guide.
AIR TICKETS
If Colourful Peru oversees buying and issuing local-flight tickets, their prices may vary until the date of the flight’s booking and payment. Furthermore, the airline might change the flight number as well as its departure hour.
Once the flight reservation and payment are made, the latter will not be reimbursable. Changes regarding name, flight, route, trip’s date or cancellations are not allowed.
Hotel reservations that are not part of an organized trip
Cancellations and Reimbursements
Booked trips
Cancellations and Reimbursements
(*) Note: some suppliers consider stricter cancellation conditions, consequently, they reserve the right to charge additional fees for other penalties in such cases.
Regarding the Inca Trail: the reserve is subject to its payment and there will not be reimbursements in case of cancellations, moreover, neither name nor date changes are allowed.
During peak season, the company reserves the right to change the cancellation regulations in case the suppliers apply other penalties or make the aforementioned changes.
LIABILITY
Live Corporation carries out your trip’s arrangements, books transfer services, hotel rooms or other travel services required on your behalf, consequently, the company takes no responsibility for the loss of items, flight or tours delays due to events of force majeure, accidents or other events.
Important!
Live Corporation disclaims any liability for medical conditions, pregnancy, mental or physical limitations that might put at risk the health or integrity of the passenger or third parties during the operation of the booked tours or that might jeopardize the trip’s progress. Therefore, the company will not be obliged to any refunds or to address claims regarding the aforementioned reasons, even when there are not noticeable problems in normal circumstances.
Given this, it is important for the passengers to inform the company whether there is any of the aforementioned impediments, so we can offer and suggest suitable services according to the existing limitations.
CLIMATE
The climate in Peru can be divided by zones: the western Andes that has a dry and cold climate in winter and its very rainy during the summer. The rainforest that has a hot, wet and rainy climate and the desert coast with a warm climate without regular rainfall.
The climate in Arequipa city and the Colca Valley is dry and cold. The temperatures are between 17ºC y 24ºC in the morning and between 2°C and 6°C at night. Arequipa has sunny days and cold nights throughout the year. The rainy season is from December to March.
TIME ZONE
Peru Time Zone according to Greenwich Mean Time is -5 (GMT -5), same as Bogotá and Mexico throughout the year and same as New York during summer. When it is midday in Peru the hour in the most important cities is:
| São Paulo | 14:00 |
| Frankfurt | 19:00 |
| Nueva York | 13:00 |
| Londres | 18:00 |
| Hong Kong | 01:00 + 1day |
| Singapur | 01:00 + 1day |
ALTITUDE
In Arequipa: 2,350 meters above sea level
In the Colca Valley: 3,500 meters above sea level
WE RECOMMEND
HEALTH
The Peruvian Andes are at high altitudes, so it is necessary to take precautions to avoid altitude sickness or “soroche”. It is important to rest a few hours, to walk slowly and to eat light before beginning any tour. We also recommend drinking coca tea that helps with acclimatization. Even though water is potable in most cities, it is advisable to drink bottled water to avoid any problems.
VISA
To know if you need a visa to enter Peru, please go to the closest consulate since the requirement may vary at any moment. For more information, please go to:
Visa types to enter Peru
LANGUAGE
Peru’s official language is Spanish, which is spoken by 80% of the population. However, there is a large portion of the population that speaks Quechua and Aymara (especially in the Peruvian Andes). Moreover, we can find 55 dialects in the Amazonian rainforest.
ELECTRICAL CURRENT
Electricity in Peru is 220 Volts and 60 Hertz. In some hotels, you may find dual voltage outlets, however, we suggest checking your appliances’ voltage and take precautions by having a power adapter or converter.
PERUVIAN GASTRONOMY
During the last years, the Peruvian gastronomy has become famous because of its variety and exquisiteness. Among the most known dishes you can find the ceviche, a dish made of fish and seafood marinated in lemon juice.
The famous “picanterías” stand out in Arequipa. These are typical restaurants from the past. There, we can find dishes made of cheese, milk and shrimp from the Majes Valley. The best-known dish in Arequipa is the rocoto relleno. The rocoto is a spicy fruit that is stuffed with meat and it is served with potato and cheese.
Other dishes you should try are the ocopa arequipeña, solterito de queso, chupe de camarones and adobo arequipeño (dish made of pork’s meat and chicha de jora). The city’s signature dessert is the queso helado prepared with milk, coconut and cinnamon.
You can try alpaca and trout prepared in several dishes in the Colca Valley
You can drink chicha de jora, a beverage made of fermented corn, and a shot of anisado as a digestive.
Restaurants during your trip:
Arequipa: international and local food restaurants.
IMPORTANT
Colourful Peru reserves the right to make any changes without prior notice due to weather conditions, river levels, transport departures or arrivals, etc., to assure a better development of your trip’s operation.
Knowing more about our colourful culture
Our team will be contacting you as soon as possible.