Peru | Road Scholar Trip Extension: Arequipa and Colca Canyon

This morning, you will be met at your hotel and will be transferred to the Lima airport for your flight to Arequipa. Domestic flights have a luggage weight restriction of 44 pounds per person. You will be met outside of baggage claim and will be transferred to your hotel for the evening. Arequipa is located 7,750 feet above sea level and surrounded by snowy peaks, and it delights visitors with its colonial charm and friendly inhabitants. Arequipa is a beautiful place, with white colonial stone buildings; the back drop of the volcanoes and snowcapped mountains all around makes the setting fantastic. Following check-in at the hotel, you will enjoy a nice lunch there. This afternoon, you will have an orientation to Arequipa, including a visit to The Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena and Momia Juanita. The Monastery of Santa Catalina is a 4.5-acre maze of gardens, plazas, and churches in the town center. Enjoy people watching in the main plaza or just relax in the colonial hotel. Visit the Catholic University of Santa María's Museum of Andean Sanctuaries where Momia Juanita is located. Also known as the Ice Maiden, this Incan mummy was discovered in 1995 just below the peak of the Ampato volcano. Juanita had been well preserved in ice for more than 500 years before volcanic activity melted the snow surrounding her. Anthropologists believe that this Inca girl, who was found tightly wrapped in textiles, must have been ritually sacrificed and buried on the mountain peak.

This morning, you will travel to Colca Canyon. This is a scenic 4-hour bus ride to one of the deepest canyons in the world, which is approximately 11,000 feet deep. It is thought to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Unlike most of the Grand Canyon, portions of the Colca Canyon are habitable, with pre-Columbian terraced fields still supporting agriculture and human life. On the trip, drive across Pampa Cañahuas in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, inhabited by herds of vicuñas and alpacas (South American cameloids). The highest point of the road is at 14,271 feet above sea level. Pass through the high plains (Altiplano) and down to the village of Chivay, the biggest town of the valley of Colca. You will enjoy a nice traditional lunch at the town of Chivay. Chivay is located at an altitude of nearly 12,000 feet and is the largest town in the Colca Canyon. You will have time to explore the town and market and meet with a local craftswoman, where you will learn about Colca embroidery, which often features the native Colibrí Gigante or Giant Hummingbird, the largest hummingbird in the world. This evening, you will enjoy dinner at the hotel with a musical presentation honoring the Andean Condor.

Early in the morning, you will transfer to the town of Yanque. Yanque is a small town with a laid back atmosphere around 6.2 miles west of Chivay. Here, you will visit the Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción de Yanque, an Andean Baroque church with beautiful art depicting the faces of various saints with mestizo features. You will also see the local children perform in the square before they go to school. You will then drive to Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint to observe condors soaring through the spectacular gorges. This stop is a highlight of the journey, as visitors can see the pass where condors fly gracefully on the rising thermals occurring as the air warms. You will want to be there early to see the condors in flight. They hunt in the morning or late afternoon and watching them is an unforgettable experience. There are no railings, and the floor of the canyon is 3,960 feet below the viewing area, so please watch your step. A discussion led by a naturalist guide examines the importance of the condor to both canyon ecology and Incan culture. Traveling back to your hotel, you will visit the town of Maca and its famous church and the town of Pinchollo. This afternoon, you will have time on your own to explore the area.

This morning, you will return to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima, you will be met and transferred to the international airport for your departure flight.