Adventure across the Andes 7D/6N

Description

Ride horseback across the high, rugged tablelands between Cusco and Arequipa. We'll see mountains, canyons, caverns, hot springs, and get to know the country folk, native animals and ecology of the high plateau. We ride up the geologically disturbed Apurimac River and down the Colca Canyon where we will look for condors. Note: this tour can go to Arequipa or to Cusco at the end. Use it as a pleasant way to travel from Cusco to Arequipa.

Itinerary

Note: this tour can go to Arequipa or to Cusco at the end. Use it as a pleasant way to travel from Cusco to Arequipa.

Day 1

We go from Cusco to Espinar (Yauri) and then by horseback to the Hacienda Puente Central.

Day 2

We follow the River Apurimac upstream into the department of Arequipa. At Angostura, we camp and eat alongside hot springs. The altitude is 4800 meters.

Day 3

We ride in the surrounding area to get to know the highlands, where the vegetation is different from in the valleys closer to Cusco. We fish in one of the high lakes.

Day 4

We ride to Caylloma, a village on the Apurimac River.

Day 5

We leave the Apurimac River at its headwaters, the twin lakes of Vilafro and Huarhuarco and pass south, around Mts. Culluncuya and Choquecarao, whose north faces drain into a tributary of the Apurimac. But between Choquecarao and the highlands of Mts. Sabancaya and Huaroncate cuts the Colca canyon. Here we pause for the night.

Day 6

We descend into the Colca Canyon. At midday we arrive at Chivay, a small town at the bottom of the worlds biggest canyon. Here there are hot springs and a two-star hotel to welcome us after the rough descent.

Day 7

At dawn the Andean Condor rises on thermals wafting up the sides of the canyon and the mist boils away. We go to Cruz del Condor, where condors rise near the rock wall and we await atop a lip of rock for some condor to unsuspectingly rise close to us, easy to see and clearly huge. They have as much as a 10-foot wide wingspan, and are neither afraid of humans nor interested in eating adults. After lunch we go to Arequipa and return by 7:00 in the morning.

Included :

• Professional English speaking guides
• Private transportation round trip
• Horses
• All meals
• Lodge accommodations
• Optional : video or photos Services .

 We recommended to bring:

• Sleeping Bag
• Warm clothes for the night
• Comfortable clothes to ride, trekking shoes
• Small backpack with personal belongings
• Flashlight and sun block, hat, windbreaker
• Bottle of water and snacks
• Camera + Film

Prices