Colonial Splendor and Natural Wonders
Arequipa and Colca Canyon Extension
Overview
Take in the colonial splendor of Arequipa, set on the edge of the Andes and surrounded by spectacular mountains, including snow-capped El Misti, a 19,000-foot volcano that makes a striking backdrop for the city. Explore the city’s harmonious and beautifully preserved colonial center of white stone architecture, recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then head out into the countryside to enjoy the grandeur of massive Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the world, flanked by glaciers and volcanoes. The canyon’s walls preserve some of the finest Inca terracing in Peru and shelter traditional Indian villages. Here you may spot Andean condors circling up from the canyon depths.
Arrive: Lima, Peru
Depart: Cusco or Lima, Peru
Highlights
- Explore the stunning colonial heritage of Arequipa, with its architecture of white volcanic stone
- Visit spectacular Colca Canyon and keep an eye out for soaring condors
Itinerary
Fly from Lima (pre-trip) or Cusco (post-trip) to Arequipa, known as the "White City" for its colonial architecture of white volcanic stone. Enjoy a half-day tour, including the Santa Catalina convent, a 400?year-old nunnery that is the main architectural monument of the city, the Compañía Church, and the traditional districts of Cayma and Yanahuara. Overnight at hotel in Arequipa.
Head into the mountains to Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world, with views en route of snow-capped volcanoes as you cross a 16,000-foot pass. We arrive in Chivay in time for lunch and a chance to enjoy the thermal baths at Calera, set amid remarkable Inca and pre-Inca terraces. We continue to Colca Canyon for overnight.
Visit Cruz of the Condor, a strategic point for viewing the canyon and its spectacular condors in flight. On our return drive to Arequipa, we visit lovely colonial villages with attractive colonial architecture and churches, including Coporaque, which has the oldest temple in the valley and is still in use. Overnight at hotel in Arequipa.
Transfer to the airport for your departing flight to either Cusco (pre-trip) or Lima (post-trip).
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.