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PIRWA TOURS IN AREQUIPA

• Colca canyon 2 days
• Colca canyon fullday
• Cotahuasi canyon 4 days
• Campiñas tour
• Llahuar and Fure waterfalls
• Climbing Chachani
• Chachani downhill
• Climbing Misti Volcano 2 days

PIRWA HOSTELS IN AREQUIPA

• Hostel Arequipa
• B&B Hostel Arequipa

 

 

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Pirwa travel Peru

Phone: +51 084 244315

E-mail: pirwatravel@gmail.com

Cusco - Peru

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COTAHUASI CANYON 4 DAYS/ 3 NIGHTS

During this tour you´ll see pre-Incan Andean terraces and Incan trails still in use today, waterfalls and natural hot springs, the ever-changing plant and animal life that mark the "The Canyon of Wonder´s" 12 ecosystems, mysterious petroglyphs, and more! Despite Colca Canyon´s fame as the world´s deepest canyon, most now believe that nearby Cotahuasi Canyon, beats it. It wasn´t measured until 1995, but is now known to descend 3,535m. This impressive geological wonder was home to the Wari Culture before they succumbed to the Incan civilization and the Incas began to use the land to shorten the salt rout between Cusco and the coast.

DAY 1: AREQUIPA – MAJES VALLEY - COTAHUASI

We´ll leave the White City of Arequipa in the morning and head towards the Majes River Valley, an attractive fertile oasis of rice and fruit crops known for its shrimp, Pisco, and a reputation for witchcraft. We´ll pass through its scenic expanses of rice fields and vineyards as well as the towns of Corire, Aplao, and Chuquibamba. After lunch in Chuquibamba we´ll continue on in view of the snow-capped Coropuna (6330m). We´ll visit the Lagoon of Pallarcocha from where you´ll be able to spot snowy Solimana Mountain, Vicuñas, and Yaretas Plants native to the region. (Yaretas only grow about a millimeter per year, so many that you´ll see are over 3,000 years old.) Eventually we´ll arrive at the gorgeous Cotahuasi River Valley. It´s an hour-long descent complete with views of pre-Inca Andean terraces still in use by locals farming quinoa, amaranth, purple corn, and other native crops. We´ll arrive at the town at around 5:00 and after getting ourselves settled in the hotel we´ll have our dinner.

DAY 2: TAURISMO – TOMEPAMPA – ALCA - LUICHO THERMAL BATHS

Early breakfast, we´ll visit the Cotahuasi, a quaint town where narrow streets bordered by old houses whitened with cal are surrounded stunning lakes, thermal baths, waterfalls, and petrified, puya and cactus forests. After a visit to the town´s Matriz Church, we´ll continue on by foot to Taurisma, whose colonial church we´ll also have a chance to explore. We´ll take a short walk through the Retama Grove and cross a hanging bridge. From their we´ll continue by bus to Tomepampa. After a visit to its colonial Church and a stunning view of its countryside we´ll visit a honey production center before stopping in Alca for lunch. Afterwards there´ll be a small walk through the countryside to appreciate the town´s stunning landscape. We´ll also have time to relax our muscles at the Luicho Medicinal Thermal Baths, three pools of natural hot springs varying between 33-38°C. We´ll have dinner and spend the night in the town of Cotahuasi.

DAY 3: SIPIAS WATERFALLS

After a 7:30 breakfast we´ll head along the Canyon by bus for about an hour before disembarking and continuing by foot. With the aid of pack horses we´ll enjoy a scenic 2 hour walk through the canyon´s narrow path. We´ll pass local peasants with llamas or donkeys bearing goods along the trail. Soon we´ll arrive at our destination: the majestic Sipia Waterfalls. Here the river abruptly narrows to 5m in width and a rainbow forms as roaring water cascades down 150m and crashes against the rocks below. It is humbling to reflect that over the millennia, this is what formed the enormous canyon in all its glory. We´ll have the chance to appreciate the splendor of the carved canyon floor and riverside. We´ll have a picnic lunch along the way and dinner back in the town of Cotahuasi, where we´ll spend the night.

DAY 4: MAJE CASTLE – TORO MUERTO PETROGLYPHS - AREQUIPA

On the final day we´ll have breakfast at 8am and then begin the return trip to the city of Arequipa. Along the way we´ll visit Maje Castle, a strange rock formation reminiscent of a medieval castle and site which has given rise to many myths and legends. We´ll also stop at the Toro Muerto (Dead Bull) petroglyphs, a 5km2 site of volcanic rock thought to be the product of eruptions from the Coropuna and Chachani volcanoes. Here one can see a varied array of stone engravings dating back 1000-1500 years. These representations of people and animals are thought to be from the Wari and succeeding Chuquibamba cultures, but no archeological remains have been directly associated with this site. We´ll have lunch during the trip, before arriving in Arequipa.

 

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Tour map

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PIRWA HOSTELS PERU & BOLIVIA

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