Colca Canyon and Colca Valley folklore with Coparaque
2 days
Not many people go off the beaten track in Arequipa region and this is not good. This part of Peru has not only beautiful landscapes to offer, but also slightly different customs, culture or local folklore. It is worth to get to know all this, especially if you plan to visit Colca Canon and its famous viewing point Cruz del Condor.
...Main places on the routeFor who is this trip?What to pack?
Colca Canion, Cruz del Condor, Chivay, Yanque, Coporaque, Uyu Uyu ruins, hot springs in Coporaque and in Yanque
This trip is for people who:
Dream about getting to know Arequipa region with all its folklore
Want to maximize stay in Colca Canon and go beyond viewing point Cruz del Condor
Want to spend time with local people living in Colca Valley
Value relaxing time in hot springs
Colca Valley is a beautiful place, but you need to remember that is on 3400-3600 above sea level. What goes with it? The nights and early mornings are quite cold. You need to prepare to trip in this region.
What to take with you on the trip do Colca Valley and Colca Canon?
Small backpack for 2 or 3 days
Comfortable trousers (preferably trekking ones), fast drying
Long and short sleeve t-shirts – because of the strong sun it is better to have long sleeve
Warm polar, the best is with hood
Jacket (for example softshell) for cold evenings and nights or light down jacket
Night clothes – the best is thermal
Hat to save head, hears, neck from the sun
Cap, gloves and scarf
Swimming suit
Rain jacket
Sun cream with high UV protector
Microfiber towel
Flip-flops
Comfortable shoes for trekking – the best are the ones stabilizing ankle
First part off the trip – group tour on the road Arequipa – Cruz del Condor – Chivay
The day begins as a group tour (combined service) with participants from other companies.
Between 2:30 and 3:00 am you will be collected from your hotel/hostel in Arequipa and will be transferred in a bus in 3.5h to little town called Chivay, located in Colca Valley. Here you will have breakfast break and afterwards you will be transferred to viewing point Cruz del Condor. In this exact place you will get to know Canon Colca.
In viewing point Cruz del Condor you will have free time not only to marvel at the canon, but also to watch condors in their natural environment. After the break we will go back the same road to Chivay, but on the way we will stop in few places.
First is a town called Pinchollo (Mirador de Wayrapunko) where there is great view on the whole Colca Valley. Second stop is planned in viewing point Antahuilque, where you can see many terraces similar to the ones in theaters. Next stop is planned in traditional village of Colca Canon – Maca. And at the end we will have 45 minutes break in hot springs, close to Yanque and afterwards around 12:00 – 12:30 we will go back to Chivay.
Second part of the trip – only for our customers
In Chivay we will leave the tour group behind and from this point we will continue in Colca Valley with our local family from Coparaque. It will be a unique experience, because you will be traveling with local guide and you will meet local family that does not speak English, only Spanish or Quechua. It will be great opportunity to try to communicate with local people in their languages.
Our local family, just after we finish group tour, will be accompanying us till next day when we board the bus going to Puno from Chivay. You will be taken to their house in Coparaque, where after the lunch break you will go for a walk in the neighborhood, get to know local customs. At the end you will go with local family to 45 minutes trekking to nearby hot springs where you can relax while watching the stars and moon.
In the evening we will go with private transport from hot springs to local house for a night, dinner and rest.
Today we will have another set of attractions. This time local family will take you for around 3h trekking through Colca Valley with beautiful view over Sabancaya and Ampato volcanos. We will finish with sightseeing Uyu Uyu ruins, where collaguas culture was a resident in a past. On the way we will see also local commentary (tumbas de Chilaqota).
After the trekking, if we have enough time, you will be transferred (15 min) to hot springs for another moment of relax. Next lunch in Yanque with local dessert made out of delicious cactus – sancaya (local sweet).
After the lunch you will be transferred to Chivay with local transport called colectivo and then at around 1:00pm with tourist bus to Puno. Time of the ride between Chivay and Puno is around 5 h and on the way few stops at viewing points. In Puno you will arrive around 7:00 – 7:30 pm – end of the trip.
Trekking time: 2.5 – 3 hours Maximum elevation: 4850 m above sea level
Arequipa region attractions are not only Colca Canon and viewing point Cruz del Condor, but also folklore, nice local people and unique, delicious food in Colca Valley to which we would like to invite you. You do not have so much time for Canon Colca? Maybe you would be interested in our 1 day trop Colca Canon in Peru with transfer option from Chivay to Puno
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Colca Canyon and Colca Valley folklore with Coparaque
