Highlights
- Follow a route linking Pampa Cañahuas, Chivay, Colca Valley rather than treating each stop as an isolated attraction.
- Continue through Cruz del Cóndor, traditional villages with context on landscape, architecture and local use.
- Prepare for road travel, paved village streets and uneven viewpoints, with practical guidance on footwear, weather and pace.
- Follow local guidance in areas associated with Chivay, Yanque, Maca and Cabanaconde-area villages, including respectful photography, purchases and private spaces.
- Receive a clear service confirmation covering pickup, entrances, operating hours and optional payments.
- Use a professional guide who can adjust explanations to the group rather than repeating a fixed script.
- Choose private service for more control over stops and rhythm, or group service for a lower per-person rate and a social setting.
Before departure, the operations team confirms pickup location, start time, required documents and any dietary, medical or mobility notes. Travelers should review the route conditions, bring the essentials listed below and keep the phone number used for booking active on the day of service.
Itinerary
Arequipa – Salinas and Aguada Blanca – Patapampa – Chivay
The vehicle collects travelers from the confirmed Arequipa pickup area and climbs toward the Colca Valley. Stops may include vicuña areas in Salinas and Aguada Blanca, Patahuasi, the Tocra wetlands and the volcano viewpoint at Patapampa. The high point approaches 4,900 meters, so the group remains there only briefly. After reaching Chivay, lunch and hotel check-in are followed by free time. The thermal baths are optional unless transport and entrance are listed on the voucher. Day highlight: Reach Chivay after following the day’s main route at a measured pace. Technical details – Road travel: about 4 hours plus stops – Maximum altitude: about 4,910 m / 16,109 ft – Terrain: paved road and short highland walks – Accommodation: hotel in Chivay or the Colca Valley – Meals: lunch only when included
Cruz del Cóndor – Colca Viewpoints – Maca – Arequipa
Breakfast is followed by the drive to Cruz del Cóndor. The group remains at the authorized viewpoint for canyon views and possible condor flight, which cannot be guaranteed. The return route pauses at selected terrace viewpoints and in Maca or another village according to access. Lunch is taken in Chivay on the traveler’s account unless included. The afternoon road journey returns to Arequipa, with any missed highland stop added only when time and weather permit. Day highlight: Reach Arequipa after following the day’s main route at a measured pace. Technical details – Transport: tourist vehicle – Terrain: viewpoints, village streets and road travel – Walking: short, optional sections – Expected arrival: late afternoon – Meals: breakfast; lunch according to the booked service
Discounts
- Family, child and large-group reductions depend on the entrance rules and the confirmed service type.
- Groups booking together should request a commercial quotation before payment; reductions cannot be added after tickets or third-party services are issued.
Optional Extras and Upgrades
- Optional services are quoted after the traveler confirms dates, group size and required comfort level.
Notes About Our Service
- Hotel pickup and return: Pickup is limited to the confirmed service area. Narrow streets, traffic controls or hotel access rules may require a nearby meeting point. The return time is approximate and can change because of traffic, weather or operations.
- Luggage storage: Large luggage should remain at the hotel or at the Andean Peru Treks storage area when that service is confirmed. Trekking duffels must stay within the stated weight limit.
- Payment conditions: A deposit is used to secure permits, entrances, trains, hotels and third-party services. Once issued, many of these items cannot be transferred, changed or refunded. The balance deadline appears on the booking confirmation.
- Operational changes: Weather, strikes, road blocks, rail instructions, site closures or safety concerns may require a different order, route or cancellation. The operations team coordinates the safest workable option with the traveler.
Availability
This program may operate year-round or in its stated season, subject to weather, road access, opening hours and minimum passenger requirements. Requests within 24 hours may be possible for some dates, but service is not confirmed until Reservations issues written approval.
Health and Travel Restrictions
Most travelers can complete this program with normal mobility, but stairs, uneven ground, heat, sun or altitude may still matter. Report mobility limits, recent surgery, pregnancy or a relevant medical condition before payment so the route can be assessed honestly.
Accommodation
The planned lodging is one hotel night in Chivay or the Colca Valley.
Hotel names and room types depend on the selected category and written confirmation. Basic remote lodges may have limited hot water, heating, electricity or internet.
Single rooms, upgraded hotels and extra nights carry an added cost unless included.
Included Transportation
The route uses shared or private tourist vehicle.
Seat assignments, vehicle size and exact pickup time depend on the final passenger list and operational plan.
Private service means the vehicle is allocated to the booking group for the stated sector; it does not remove official traffic, rail or site restrictions.
Inclusions
- Pre-departure service confirmation and operations contact
- Professional guide in the language stated in the booking
- Transport explicitly listed in the confirmed itinerary
- Basic first-aid kit and emergency coordination protocol
- Hotel pickup and drop-off only within the confirmed service area
- Entrance tickets and meals only when shown on the voucher
- International and domestic flights unless expressly stated
- Travel insurance, medical expenses and evacuation costs
- Tips for guides, drivers, cooks, muleteers, porters, boat crews or host families
- Personal snacks, bottled drinks, alcohol, laundry, phone calls and personal purchases
- Services not written on the final booking voucher
Upgrades
- Private guide or private transport, subject to availability
- Hotel category upgrades for multi-day programs
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Special entrance, train, meal or activity upgrades when available for the route
Group Price
Group Service Characteristics & Rate Details:
- Shared Group Service: Travel with an organized group and professional licensed bilingual guide (English / Spanish).
- Transport & Assistance: Round-trip tourist transportation included from Cusco/meeting point with continuous assistance.
- Optimized Group Sizes: Small to medium group sizes designed for comfort, safety, and personal attention throughout the route.
- Flexible Booking: Guaranteed departures on scheduled dates. Student discounts (with valid ISIC/university ID) and child rates available upon request.
Why choose us
- Route knowledge: The operations team plans around road travel, paved village streets and uneven viewpoints, not only the names shown in the itinerary.
- Local respect: Staff brief travelers before passing through Chivay, Yanque, Maca and Cabanaconde-area villages, including guidance on photographs, purchases and private spaces.
- Clear service limits: Andean Peru Treks states which entrances, meals, transfers and optional activities are confirmed before collecting final payment.
- Professional guiding: Explanations can be adapted to the traveler’s interests, while safety instructions remain direct and practical.
- Equipment chosen for the route: Trekking programs use sleeping, dining, kitchen and emergency equipment suited to the altitude and expected weather; day tours use inspected tourist transport and basic first-aid support.
- Private planning: A private service can adapt the pace and focus, while opening hours, official routes and road rules remain fixed.
Times are approximate and are confirmed according to season, access rules and the selected service type. The guide may adjust the order of visits to reduce waiting time or improve safety. Travelers with medical conditions, reduced mobility or strict dietary needs should advise the agency before payment so the operations team can confirm what is realistic for the route.
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