4 Days ULTIMATE COLCA TREK

Overview

It’s not just the vastness and depth of the Colca that make it so fantastical, it’s the shifts in its mood. There are more scenery changes along the river canyon's 62-mile (100km) passage than there are in most European countries; from the barren steppe of Sibayo, through the ancient terraced farmland of Yanque and Chivay toward the cruising condors riding warm air currents, into the steep-sided canyon proper beyond Cabanaconde that wasn’t thoroughly explored until the 1980s. Of course we shouldn’t turn a blind eye to the vital statistics. The Colca is the world’s second-deepest canyon, a smidgeon shallower than its near neighbor, the Cotahausi, and twice as deep as the more famous Grand Canyon in the US. But, more than that, it is replete with history, culture, ruins, tradition and – rather like Machu Picchu – intangible Peruvian magic.

"LIFE IS A JOURNEY AND THOSE WHO TRAVEL LIVE TWICE."
Omar Khayyam

USEFUL INFORMATION
Duration: 4 days 3 nights
Starting Point: AREQUIPA - PUNO or CUZCO
Final point: AREQUIPA - PUNO or CUZCO
Destination: Colca Canyon - Colca Valley - Geopark
 Vicuña National Reserve
Theme: Hiking & Cultural
Total hikin distance: 41.5 km / 25.93 miles
Difficulty: bit hard
Group size: Minimum 2 participants
Abra Patapampa: 4910 meters /16203 feet
Chivay town height: 3650 meters /12045feet
Vicuña National Reserve height: 4000 meters / 13200feet
Availability: All year Long
Rainy season: January - March
Requirement: Good Physical condition

Itinerary

Day 1
AREQUIPA - CHIVAY - CABANACONDE - PALLCA

03:00 am 3:30 am we Pick you up from your hotel, then we take a journey for about 3hrs to the Principal town of the province named Chivay we have a healthy local breakfast after that we continue by car for about, one more hour, we follow the left bank of the Colca River  to get the main lookout point, known as (Cruz del Cóndor) to observe the largest flying bird in the world whose scientific name is (Vulture Gryphus) or simply Andean condor, we do an stop for about 40 minutes then we go to the second most important town of the canyon, its name Cabanaconde here is the starting point of our 5hrs hours hike but before we start we take time to prepare ourselves, to buy water, put sun cream on, go to the toilet, among other. then ready for the adventure, this day we descend about 1300 meters using a winding path to get the deepest parts of the canyon, along which it is possible to pick up some local cactus fruits to refresh ourselves and still with great chance of see the flight of the Condor over the mountains as well as some nests in the rocky walls of the canyon, the path leads us to the Colca River and to a small town known as PALLCA amazing place where the water of llatica river tributs to the  Colca river to continue its long journey to the pacific ocean, in PALLCA village we enjoy a delicious lunch prepared with local products, after that free afternoon to rest, relax the muscles in the thermal baths or explore the area  interacting with the local people.
7:00 pm dinner will be served as well as we have an interesting conversation with our tour guide who is going to explain us everything about national reality, culture, ethnic groups and traditions that are still alive in the Canyon, it is also a perfect moment to talk about the activities for the next day, after that you can drink something else or just go to sleep.

Accommodation: Llahuar – Virginia House
Cabanaconde height: 3300 meters/10890 feet
Pallca: 1950 meters/6435 Feet
Hiking distance: 11 km – 6.87 miles
Today Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
 Vegetarian food: Available

Day 2
PALLCA – LLATICA – FURE TOWN – HUARURO WATERFALLS

7:00 am the breakfast will be served, then we will be ready to continue the adventure, the first part of the trek has zig zag uphill, in general this pre inca trail presents more gradual uphill, with some short flat and downhill parts, it takes about 2 – 2.5 hours to get to the next village named llatica a very important town in the Colca Canyon because the number of local fruit cultivated since very old times, due to the perfect warm climate, it is a good place to take our first long stop to enjoy the view and of course some fruits.
Later on we cross a nice hanging bridge to continue our trek to Fure village along the way, there is a variety of typical wild plants that are really fascinating, the second part takes about 1.5 - 2 hours, the whole trek is really worth it and you will never regret it.
Fure village is the place for us to have lunch, dinner and to spend the night at a homestay of a local family, after lunch we have a bit of time to rest, then we just pick up a jacket, water and camera to go and explore more and of course to visit the most beautiful waterfalls of the canyon, the locals call it Huaruro, on the way we take a short stops to rest and appreciate this huge finger of the canyon eroded  by Huaruro River, as well as endemic plants of this this natural scenery, we will try to get close enough to the waterfalls to take the best pictures from different angles there is time to admire the beauty later on, we go back to the village before it gets dark but not before visiting the pre-Inca tombs, used as a mass grave during the invasion of the conquistadors.
7:30 pm dinner will be ready and after the tour guide talks about the agenda for the next day, but before you go to sleep, do not forget to take a look of the amazing Milky Way, and the most popular constellations of the southern hemisphere.

Accommodation: Fure village
Fure height: 2900 meters/ 9570 feet
today's Hiking distance: 11.5 km - 7.18 miles
Huaruro waterfall 75 meters - 247 feet
Today Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Vegetarian food: Available

Day 3
FURE village - APACHETA - Pre Inca AMPHITHEATER - SANGALLE Oasis

7:00 am breakfast is served, then we start the 5hrs trek to reach our next destination Sangalle (Oasis) there is no doubt that this beautiful part of the Colca Canyon is rarely visited by tourists and travel agencies.
Today's trek is impressive as we will walk through llatica valley until we reach the Apacheta natural viewpoint (heaps of stones placed vertically, used by people of the Andes to mark the way) it is a perfect place that give us a great panoramic view of 2 sides of the canyon.
After having a generous break, we do the second part following a path cover with Andean plants and cactus of different varieties, later on we pass through the Amphitheater a singular place built by Pre-Inca culture for agricultural purposes it is like a platform that has existed for about 1500 years, the last part of our hike takes Approximately 40min of a zig zag downhill path with some shortcuts, flora and fauna make this hike unforgettable, after crossing another hanging bridge we arrive at the Oasis (2100m) once at the place we get our bungalows or cabins then time to refresh ourselves in the pool or simply rest and enjoy lunch, in the afternoon time is free to explore this magical and mysterious place walking through its small forest or maybe just to relax and enjoy the scenery drinking a delicious colca sour.
7:00 pm a traditional dinner is served and then we make our plans to coordinate our departure time, then we go to sleep.

Accommodation: Sangalle (Oasis)
Sangalle Oasis height: 2000 meters/ 6561 feet
Hiking distance: 12 km – 7.5 miles
Today Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Vegetarian food: Available

Day 4
OASIS - CABANA PUEBLO - VALLEY OF FIRE - AREQUIPA

4:30am begins our 3 - 3.5 hours of uphill hike, we take a mountain climber pace, in order to make good use of our energy and achieve our goal (the top of the canyon) we will arrive at Cabana Pueblo, good place for both enjoy our breakfast and rest, then we get on our transportation to return to Chivay, on the way back we cross the valley and its thousands of pre Inca terraces, if time permits, we stop in Maca town to visit the colonial church, buy souvenirs after that we go straight to thermo-medicinal baths to relax and relieve the sore muscles, temperatures are between 38 C ° and 40 C ° we stay one hour, later on we stop is Chivay to enjoy the last lunch we have another hour for that great moment then it is time to retur to Arequipa in a 3.5 hours journey arriving at approximately 5:00 p.m.
end of service.

Cabana pueblo height: 3300 meters /10890 feet
 Hiking distance: 5.5 km up hill
Today Meals: breakfast, lunch
Vegetarian food: Available

4 Days Ultimate Colca Trek Includes

This Expedition Does not Include

X Entrance ticket
    (Colca Valley s/.70.00)
    (Standard Service)
X Traditional Buffet Lunch (Day 4)
    (Standard Service)
X Entrance to the hot springs
    (Standard Service)
X Alcoholic beverages or water
X Tips for the tour Guide and the assistant staff
X Travel insurance
X Binoculars
X Transfer to Puno or Cusco

What do you need to bring?

· Trekking shoes
· A 40 liter backpack
· Water, Snacks
· Walking sticks
· Sunblock, sunglasses and cap
· Jacket and poncho
   (rainy season)
· Mosquito repellent
· Personal stuff, towel soup etc.
· Swimming suit
· Extra money soles
· Flashlight and extra batteries

NOTE

· STANDARD SERVICE
shares a group with other participants
· SUPERIOR SERVICE
Semi- Private (this option share a tourist transport only)
· PREMIUM SERVICE
Everything is private
· Our tour guides are very well prepared, experts and have a great passion for their job, most of them are English, French and Spanish speakers, they will be attentive to provide you support, in any circumstance
· The briefing of this expedition is usually in your hotel at 7.00 pm if you want to change the meeting time, just request it at the Booking time
· If you are more than 2 people you already get a different price
· A minimum of 2 participants is required to organize this excursion
· The total distance is variable and flexible, we will make it longer depending in your progress and experience
· Every day before you go to sleep, there is a briefing of the next day activities
· 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 if you are from Peru we use our Bank Accounts
· Our price does not include the transfer fee if you pay through Paypal
· We offer a Discount of $15.00 per person for foreign students under 25 years of age who have a student card with a valid expiration date at the time of their excursion and also for regular students between 8 and 17 years old
· This discount will also apply to people from countries belonging to the Andean Community (CAN) Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador
· Special discounts for Peruvians $20.00 per adult and $25.00 per student
· NO discounts will be applied in the high season months (June, July and August)
· To receive the discount benefit, we need you to send us the photo or high quality scan of the card. We also need to view the high quality image or passport scan of the student under 17 and children under 8 years old
· THIS EXCURSION CAN ALSO START FROM PUNO OR CUSCO CITIES
You will not have to get to Arequipa city and to take another journey (ask for free information)

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 agent, contact us at whatsapp number +51939394105 or to our corporate email:
operaciones@peruultimateexpedition.com
booking@peruultimateexpedition.com