Arequipa and Colca Canyon

Day 1 : Arequipa

Arrival greeting and transfer to your selected hotel. Enjoy an afternoon city tour. Known as the white city, the primary building material used in Arequipa is a smooth white volcanic stone. One of the city's major attractions is the 16th century Monastery of Santa Catalina, which for more than 400 years housed an order of cloistered nuns. This convent, closed to the public for almost 400 years until 1970, is still home to a few cloistered nuns. The tour also includes a visit to the Plaza de Armas, the main square, where you will see the Cathedral with its marble altar, a huge organ from Belgium, and the magnificent pulpit carved in Lille, France. Continue on to the Jesuit church of La Compania with its beautifully painted chapel and carved volcanic stone arcades. Return to your hotel for overnight.

Day 2 : Colca Canyon

After breakfast, at 8:30 am, board a bus for a scenic drive to Colca Canyon (The itinerary is subject to change due to weather.). Enjoy the Colca Canyon tour as you head for Yura district, going round Chachani Volcano at 6,075 meters over sea level, and then pass by Pampa de Arrieros and Pampa Canaguas, both part of Aguada Blanca National Reserve and Salinas. There you will be able to observe the four species of South American camelids: vicunas, llamas, alpacas and wild guanacos; as well as a number of bird species such as flamingos, huallatas, ajoyas, among others. The journey will go on to the area known as Window of Colca, where you can appreciate the very start of the Colca Valley, going through a beautiful landscape where you can see formations that look like medieval castles, known as the Callally Enchanted Castles, and the we will get to the namesake village. The tour goes through the ghost town of Sibayo, and then we eill enjoy our lunch. We will visit Tuti, where the famous valley name-giving colcas are located; then Canocota Village, going through the Incan bridge up to Chivay, capital of Caylloma Province.

Day 3 : Colca Canyon

Your day begins very early since you are going to the Cruz del Condor lookout, a site where you have spectacular views of one of the deepest canyons in the world. If the conditions are right, you might actually have the chance to take pictures of the majestic condor, world's largest and most powerful bird. Transfer back to Arequipa and continue on to your next Avanti destination!