3 Days MOUNTAIN BIKING
COTAHUASI CANYON

Overview

The Cotahuasi Canyon is Located 375 km from Arequipa, this canyon is 3,535 meters deep and thus ranks as the second deepest in Peru, only behind Colca. Its extension is around 100 kilometers, and it goes from the Huanzo lagoon to cross the Ocoña river.
Formed by river erosion, the Cotahuasi canyon is located between the Coropuna and Solimana mountains. It has impressive landscapes with unevenness, terraces and constructions of the different pre-Inca and Inca civilizations that inhabited the place.
There are three versions of the meaning of his name. The first says that it is a "meeting of the houses": ccota (meeting) and huasi (house). The second estimates that it could be a "goiter house", in relation to an inflammation in the thyroid gland due to the lack of iodine in the salt. And the third affirms that "cota" in Aymara laguaje means lagoon, so it would be "house of the lagoon".
The canyon is protected within the Cotahuasi Sub-Basin Landscape Reserve, a space of around 490 thousand hectares that protects the flora, fauna, landscapes and historical-cultural assets of this area.

“THE BEST BIKE RIDES ARE THE ONES WHERE YOU BITE OFF MUCH MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW AND STILL SURVIVE.”

Doug Bradbury

USEFUL INFORMATION
Duration: 3 days 2 nights
Starting Point: AREQUIPA
Final point: AREQUIPA
Destination: Cotahuasi Canyon
  Cotahuasi sub-basin landscape reserve
Theme: Biking & Cultural
Total biking distance: 129 km /80.62 miles
Oxigen Available: 24 hours
Difficulty: Medium
Group size: Minimum 2 participants
Visque Grande 4670m meters /1541 feet
Cotahuasi town height: 2600 meters / 8550 feet
Availability: All year Long
Rainy season: January - March
Requirement: Standard Physical condition

Itinerary

Day 1
AREQUIPA -CHUQUIBAMBA - VISQUE GRANDE - COTAHUASI - TOMEPAMPA

6:00 am We pick you up at your hotel, bus station or airport and then start our journey to the Cotahuasi Canyon toward south-west  following the Panamerican Highway and passing through a beautiful valley named Majes where the local farmers grow a wide variety of vegetables (fruits, rice, wheat, potatoes, beans, corn, alfalfa and much more depending in the season) this tour show us a beautiful contrast of colors that only nature offers, after Corire and Aplao towns, (popular places where the locals based their food on shrimps) we will find a nice natural formation named the enchanted castle as well as the largest cactus forest in Peru, after we enjoy those places we continue to Chuquibamba town the perfect place for us to stretch the legs and enjoy a delicious local lunch, later on we have a big chance to observe herds of South American camelids such as llamas, Alapacas, Vicuñas and with bit of luck Guanacos and foxes, our route passes between spectacular mountain glaciers Solimana and Coropuna 6452 meter (considered the third highest mountain in Peru) later on we will arrive at Visque Grande (4670m) starting point of the pure downhill on our bikes 1990 meters of unevenness from the top to the bottom it takes about 2 hours with spectacular view of the terraces, water springs, deep cliffs, and more. Once we get to Cotahuasi we continue by our transport to the thermal baths, time to relax the muscles and after that great moment, we have dinner and then the tour guide is going to explain the agenda for the next day later on we go the hotel to rest and sleep.

Accommodation: Tomepampa village
Tomepampa Village height: 2621 meters 8649 feet
Biking distance: 35 km – 2187 miles
Support vehicle: all the time during the ride
hot springs temperature: 36ºC - 40ºC
Today Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
snaks

Day 2
TOMEPAMPA - ALCA - PUICA - SIPIA WATER FALLS - COTAHUASI

7:00am we have a delicious local breakfast and after that we will be ready to leave this nice and quiet town, Tomepampa characterized by its houses of colonial and republican architecture, flanked by its protective mountains, the origin of its name has several versions, one of them says that it comes from the voices: Puma Pampa which means "Place where the pumas live" in this small town people cultivated potatoes, corn, quinoa, beans, among others. This day our tour follows the left bank of Cotahuasi River which also pass near to Alca a (2750m) prosper town it has colonial, indigenous and modern architecture characterized by its typical wooden balconies, from the colonial times it is also characterized by its important livestock and Peruvian paso horses breed.
The way to Puyca village offers a diverse shades of green, the red color of the quinoa crops, the waterfalls that spring from the hills and the river escorting our way creates a simply spectacular landscape.
Once in Puyca we prepare ourselves for a nice descent the adventure on the bikes is relative to our experience it will be about 4 hours till Cotahuasi town where we will get the lunch, prepared with fresh vegetables from the area, later on after digesting our food we continue riding our bikes for about one more hour and a half to a great place Sipia Waterfalls considered the highest in Arequipa according to some geographical investigations, here we have plenty of time to take do a little walk to get the best view of the waterfalls, Cotahuasi canyon and river, after enjoying this place walking around and taking the best pictures, we return to Cotahuasi to have dinner and sleep.

Accommodation: Cotahuasi village
Cotahuasi village height: 2600 meters / 8550 feet
Starting point Puyca: 3674 meters/ 12,124 feet
Biking distance: 39 km – 24.37 miles
Support vehicle: all the time during the ride
Today Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3
COTAHUASI - COROPUNA - CHUQUIBAMBA - CACTUS FOREST - APLAO - CORIRE - AREQUIPA

This day everything begins very early 5:30 am after breakfast we start the ascent to the Pallar Cocha lagoon located at the base of the Coropuna Mountain here is where a long downhill path starts from the Andes to the coastal desert, lunch will be in Chuquibamba town we have the chance to continue riding our bicycles 95% downhill for about 3 more hours on a paved road, passing through beautiful small towns, ravines, desert and much more, once at the end point, we pack up everything then we board our transportation to return to Arequipa city on a 3 hours of journey depending on the traffic. We will be back in between 8:00pm or 9:00 pm.

Pallar Cocha lagoon height: 4750 meters/ 15,675 feet
Biking distance: 55 km / 34.37 Miles
Support vehicle: All the time during the ride
Today Meals: breakfast, lunch
Final point: AREQUIPA - Hotel

Mountain Biking Cotahuasi Canyon Includes

· Souvenirs kit
   PERU ULTIMATE EXPEDITION
· Briefing with the tour guide
   (one day before the excursion begins)
· Professional Mountain Bike Tour Guide
   (English / Spanish)
· Professional Driver
· Pick up from the hotel
   (For all the participants)
· Flexible Departure time
· Pick up from the bus station or airport
   (Superior Service) only
· 2 Nights in local hotels
· Private transportation
   (Superior Service) only
· Full tradicional meals:
   (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners)
   (Vegetarian food - Available)
   (Superior Service) only
· Entrance ticket to the canyon
· Entrance to the hot springs
· Half Suspension Bicycle
   (hydraulic brake disc)
· Comfortable Helmet
· Windproof gloves
· Protective equipment
   (knee and elbow pads) 
· Repair kit
· Camping gear
   (Tent & mats under request only)
· Oxygen and First aid kit for all participants
· Food and accommodation for our staff
   (tour guides and assistants)
· Plenty of Water
· Exotic fruits
· Snacks

This excursion does Not Include

X Alcoholic beverages
X Hotel in Arequipa
X Tips for the tour guide and staff
X Sunglasses
X Cycling shoes

What do you need to bring?

· Backpack or suitcase
· Jacket for rain or poncho
   (December to March)
· Sneakers
· A complete change of clothing
· Flashlight and batteries
· Hat or cap
   (to protect from the sun)
· Sunblock
· Insect repellent
· Personal snacks
· Camera and batteries
· Sunglasses
· Swimsuit
· Extra money

NOTE
· THE SUPERIOR SERVICE
   Everything is INCLUDED
·  THE STANDARD SERVICE
   Shares a group with other participants
· Our tour guides are experts and have a great passion for mountain biking, English and Spanish speakers, they will be riding the bicycle with you all the time besides to give you support during the expedition
· The briefing of this expedition is usually in your hotel at 7.00 pm if you want to change it, just request it at the Booking time
· If you are more than 2 people get a different price
· A minimum of 2 participants is required to organize this excursion
· This tour is only available to Superior Service
· The total distance is variable and flexible, we will make it longer depending in your progress and experience
· Our support vehicle goes very slowly behind the group, to give support in case someone need it
· Rainy season January - March
· Departure time More flexible for Superior Service
· We have a price for SOLO traveler
· We present two payment channels Paypal and Wester Union
· Our price does not include the transfer fee if you pay through Paypal

PERU ULTIMATE EXPEDITION
not only offers this option, if you like to be out of the ordinary and regular excursions, let us know to send you our secrets trips.
 Our group of experts is prepared to develop the trip on the way that you prefer, if there is any special activity that you want to do, contact us that we will kindly answer you.
We are experts in Mountaineering, Rafting, Mountain biking trekking in the deepest canyons in the world Colca and Cotahuasi, we also develop horseback riding, hiking, rock climbing, bird watching, and visits to the largest petroglyph deposit in the world, cave paintings or any other excursion that we can combine to create the best experience that you deserve.
We operate in Lima, Pisco, Paracas, Arequipa, Puno, Cusco Puerto Maldonado among others to obtain an immediate response from our travel agents, contact us at whatsapp number +51939394105 or our corporate email:
operaciones@peruultimateexpedition.com
booking@peruultimateexpedition.com

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