FROM CUSCO TO AREQUIPA 2

THE ROUTE OF THE CANYONS

3 days/3 nights


A UNIQUE CHANCE TO LIVE THE ANDEAN HIGHLANDS! WITH A SUV CAR WE WILL EXPLORE A HUGE AREA (500 KM – 300 MILES) OF PURE ANDEAN HIGHLANDS, VISITING 03 DIFFERENT CANYONS –THE CANYON OF APURIMAC, THE CANYON OF SUYKUTAMBO AND THE CANYON OF COLCA. ALONG THE WAY WE WILL EXPLORE SEVERAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES OF THE IMPERIAL PERIOD OF THE INCAS, THE FOUR LAKES OF POMACANCHIS AND THE NOW-FAMOUS HANGING BRIDGE OF QESWACHACA (DECLARED IN 2013 BY THE UNESCO INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF HUMANITY). THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES, RICH IN LAKES AND GEOLOGICAL MARVELS, AND THE IMAGES OF A STILL INTACT RURAL LIFE WILL FOLLOW US ALONG THE WAY.


DAY 1


After breakfast in your hotel we will approach the Suv car to start the journey, making our first stop in the area of Pomacanchis to enjoy the views over the Four Lakes; we will enter more and more in the Andean Plateau in search of the famous Hanging Bridge of Qeswachaca. After lunch we will reach the archaeological site of Kanamarka, the last stop before reaching our final goal: the mining town of Yauri.


PomacanchisThe Four Lakes of Pomacanchis - the first stop in our way to the Andean Altiplano will be in the area of the Four Lakes (called: Pampamarca, Asnacocha, Acopia and Pomacanchis). At an approximate altitude of 3750 meters (12.300 feet), the Four Lakes offer the first picture of what is coming next: Andean villages, farmers and the images of a remote place that is only 2 hours away from Cusco but also so far away from it.




The Hanging Bridge of Qeswachaca -

Templo Wiracocha Located approximately 100 km from Cuzco, Qeswachaka bridge was once part of a network of bridges, built in the time of the Inca empire, but is now the only one that has survived. Spanning 120 feet over the Apurimac river, at around 13,000 feet above sea level, Qeswachaka (also spelled Q’eswachaka or Keswachaka) is built using the ancient Qhapaq Ñan technique, used by the Inca people. In 2013 the Qeswachaca Bridge entered in the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO.



Kanamarca –

the archaeological site belongs either to the pre-inca culture of K’anas and to the imperial phase of the Incas. In 2006 the archaeologist Bernardo Aparicio discovered a burial chamber in one of the precincts of the complex, which would demonstrate the use of housing as burials, a feature that would belong to the K’anas.


Kanamarca

DAY 2


We will dedicate the entire morning to the exploration of the Canyon of Suykutambo, a geological marvel, and its Incan sites of Maukallaqta and Taqrachullo till we will reach the very heart of the Canyon in the place called The Three Gorges of Suykutambo. We will return to the town of Yauri for lunch, just a short stop before taking the way for the Colca Canyon.


Pomacanchis

Maukallaqta –

it means “old town”; this is a unique archaeological complex belonging to the imperial age of the empire of the Incas, located along the Apurimac river. The vast majority of the buildings are chullpas, with their respective courtyard s or plazas; there are also rectangular enclosures (houses).



Cañón de Suykutambo

Taqrachullo .-

It is an archaeological complex of the Inca period with a sector of Chullpas, typical of the local populations submitted during the empire. There was also a Yachay-wasi, the school-temple where the young nobles of the Inca society were educated. From the site of Taqrachullo it is possible to enjoy beautiful views of the Canyon of Suykutambo.


The Three Gorges –

is the confluence of three rivers – Apurimac, Cerritambo and Callumani – that become the Great Apurimac. The geological complex consists of mountains whose peaks rise unreal-looking rocks formations and, according to the moment of the day change in volume and color reflecting mythological animals, twisted shapes of humans…


Cañón de Suykutambo

DAY 3


DAY 3 After 2 days passed above the 4000 meters we are now back to the altitude that we had in Cusco, 3300 m. After the breakfast we will depart with our car for a half day tour to look for the most beautiful views over the canyon and the system of terraces done by the ancient populations that were living here before and during the time of the Incas. Our goal is the place called Cruz del Condor, the best point to start the observation of the condors, the largest flying land birds. On the way back the car will make a stop for lunch before taking the way to the city of Arequipa, another adventure full of views and geographical changes.



Cañon del Colca

The Colca Canyon.-

thousands and thousands of agricultural terraces, small colonial villages, historical churches, flying condors, glaciers and volcanoes, and the majestic canyon… this is Colca and its incredible reality. It is necessary to cross it from end to end in order to discover the views and see the condors.




The journey to Arequipa –

after lunch we will leave the Colca Canyon going up and up and up… till the incredible altitude of 4910 m. There – the Mirador de los Volcanes – we will make a stop to look at the fantastic view over the crown of volcanoes that separates the Colca Canyon from Arequipa: Sabancaya, Misti, Ampato, Coropuna, Mismi, Chachani… Before the infinite way down to Arequipa (at “only” 2300 meters) we will have the chance to see the Vicuñas move freely in the highlands.



Ciudad Blanca de Arequipa

ITINERARY OF THE TOUR


DAY 1

  • - Departure from Cusco
  • - Visit of the Four Lakes of Pomacanchis
  • - Visit the bridge of Qeswachaca
  • - Buffet lunch in a restaurant
  • - Entering in the Andean Highlands
  • - Visit of the archaeological area of Kanamarca
  • - Night in the town Yauri


DAY 2

  • - Breakfast and departure from the hotel
  • - Entrance in the Canyon of Suykutambo
  • - Visit of the archaeological area of Maukallaqta
  • - Visit of the archaeological area of Taqrachullo
  • - Visit of the Three Gorges
  • - Lunch in Yauri
  • - Departure from Yauri crossing the Andean Highlands to reach the Colca Canyon
  • - Night in the town of Yamque (Colca Canyon)


DAY 3

  • - Breakfast and departure from the hotel
  • - Crossing the Colca Canyon to go to Cruz del Condor
  • - Lunch in the Colca Canyon
  • - depature from Colca to go to the city of Arequipa making a stop in the Mirador de los Volcanes


INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED


INCLUDED

  • - Transportation with a SUV car (days 1, 2 and 3)
  • - 01 night in a hotel of the towns of Yauri (day 1), Yamque (day 2) and Arequipa (day 3)
  • - 01 buffet lunch (day 1), lunch in restaurant (day 2) and buffet lunch (day 3)
  • - Entrance tickets to the places (when it is necessary: day 1, 2 and 3)


NOT INCLUDED

  • - Snacks & dinners, beverages