4-Day Arequipa and Colca Canyon Tour
4-Day Arequipa and Colca Canyon Tour. Join us for an exciting and unique Peru tour that includes a trip through Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
4-Day Arequipa & Colca Canyon Tour
Highlights
• Explore the second largest canyon in the world: Colca Canyon!
• Explore the White City of Arequipa and its stunning Santa Catalina Monastery
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arequipa
You will reach Arequipa Airport today where we will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel.
In the afternoon we’ll take a tour of the White City, starting in the beautiful San Lazaro Colonial District, Arequipa ‘s founding place. From here we will walk through its picturesque streets adorned with geraniums to later go to the Carmen Alto viewpoint for a chance to see the beautiful countryside of the agricultural terraces and the three volcanoes surrounding the city: Misti, Chachani and Pichu-Pichu.
Then we will head towards the Yanahuara Colonial district, famous for its Andalusian style church and viewpoint, a jewel of architecture surrounded by arches of sillar (volcanic stone). Then we will visit the monastery of Santa Catalina, an impressive religious shrine that was closed for about 400 years; with narrow streets , squares and gardens that recall the old quarters of Seville or Granada.
We will proceed to the Main Square to see its beautiful Cathedral and the stone arches that surround it, and finally, it is time to visit the Society of Jesus Church, founded by the Jesuits in the 17th century, famous for its cloisters and its magnificent San Ignacio Dome.
Day 2: Arequipa – Colca Canyon
Today we will say goodbye to Arequipa and set off for the spectacular Colca Valley, traveling up the foothills of the volcano Chachani and admiring the volcanoes Misti and Picchu Picchu. Then we will cross the Pampa Cañahuas vicuñas reservation where we will be able to see them running free in the high Andes lands.
We’ll stop off on our way to the hotel for lunch. The afternoon afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the hotel, or take an optional visit to the nearby thermal baths.
Day 3: Colca Canyon – Arequipa
We’ll go to the Condor Cross viewpoint early in the morning. The shocking flight of the condors, huge Andean birds at the brink of extinction and the symbol of the Andes Mountain Range are before us. The view at this place enables us to appreciate the depth of the canyons, considered to be one of the deepest in the world.
After lunch we will visit the towns of Maca and Yanque that still hold the colonial churches.
We’ll then go back to Arequipa (5 hour drive).
Day 4: Arequipa
Today we’ll transfer you to the airport for your departing flight.
Breakfast is included.
This concludes our 4-Day Arequipa and Colca Canyon Tour. Safe travels!