Sample Itineraries - Subject to changes

Option A - 12 day ride

Day 1 :
We will pick you up from Arequipa Airport and lead you the hotel downtown. This is a free day, depending to your arrival time, so you may decide to take a tour of the city and visit the convent of “Santa Catalina” with an English-speaking private guide (optional).
Meals are not included on Day 1.
4 star Hotel accommodation at Arequipa.

Day 2 :
Departure around 8:00 am in a tourist vehicle in the direction of Colca Valley, an English-speaking guide will accompany you. You will cross the “Salinas y Aguada Blanca” reserve where alpacas, llamas and vicuñas can be seen. After reaching the spectacular "Mirador de los Volcanes", at an altitude of 4910 meters (16000 ft) above sea level, we descend into the valley which has an average elevation of about 3500 meters (11000 ft). You will settle and lunch at a hotel in Yanque village.
In the afternoon, you will meet our famous Peruvian Paso horses and their “Chalan” (groom and horse guide). Next, you will begin your first horseback ride around the village up to the Colonial Mill and to a Chapel devoted to the Virgin of Chapi. Return to the hotel to enjoy a relaxing 30min massage (included on this day) with free use of the indoor pool.
Dinner is served at the fireside of Hotel Tradicion Colca, where you will then stay the night.

Day 3 :
In the morning, we begin our second ride of 4 -5 hours to Coporaque village and its pre-Inca cemetery where the mummies of Collagua Lords were formerly safeguarded. You will have to dismount and climb a hill for 20min to reach the graves.
The ride continues to the ruins of Uyo-uyo which was the former capital of the Collagua Natives, who once ruled the Valley. Along the way, you will also see the “Colcas”, a kind of hidden granary that gave the name to the river, and the "amphitheater" (farming terraces highly valued by the Incas to improve cultivation of quinoa, corn…). Afterwards, it`s back to Yanque to savour a delicious lunch at Tradicion Colca Hotel.
In the afternoon we will drive you to the Hot Springs for a relaxing swim. At Tradicion Colca Hotel, you can enjoy free use of the indoor pool (optional massage previous reservation), dinner and Stargazing (subject to weather conditions) with our Dobson type Telescope with a diameter of 45cm (18 inches). One of the biggest Telescopes accessible to the public in Peru - installed in an ideal place for observation - permitting you to look at many deep sky objects (globular clusters, nebulae, galaxies…) only visible from the Southern Hemisphere. Before observing the night sky, we screen a short 12min film introducing to the Solar System in our Planetarium.
Overnight stay at Tradicion Colca.

Day 4 :
We leave at 9:00am for a 5 hour ride along the right side of Colca River, passing through beautiful landscapes as you go. Native people achieved a great feat in creating arable lands on the mountain. They did so by inventing terrace cultivation and irrigating those terraces with an ingenious system of water channels. We will cross the villages of Ichupampa and Lari and eat a packed lunch on the way. Having reached Madrigal in the afternoon, our horses and their Chalan will stay there while a vehicle will drives you and your English-speaking guide back to Yanque. After about one hour by car, you will enjoy the pool, dinner and overnight stay at Tradicion Colca Hotel (optional massage previous booking).

Day 5 :
This is the start of the itinerant ride, for which you will need 2 days of bare necessities. After an early breakfast at 5:30 am, we will drive you by car for one hour to Madrigal. Having hiked up Chimpa's Hill for two hours, at the top you will find on the restored ruins of an ancient and unassailable Fortress of the
Collagua Nation. From that vantage point you will enjoy breathtaking views at the only place where one can see both sides of the canyon. With luck, you might even see the majestic Condor in flight.
After a descent of around an hour and a half , you will finally get on your horse and ride for four hours to Pinchollo's Village after having crossed the Colca river across a lovely bridge.
Dinner and overnight stay in a fully catered adventure hostel at Pinchollo (Optional 3 star Hotel accommodation: 30 usd)

Day 6 : 
Breakfast 7:00am sets us up for our longest step of the trip (seven hours of horseback ride including 8km (5 miles) on a tarred road) to reach Pinchollo's Geyser and eventually the village of Cabanaconde. Climbing a hill, we will reach an elevation of 4450 meters (14600 ft) and there be amazed by incredible views: high snowy volcanos, waterfalls, and most importantly the "Hatun Infiernillo" Geyser which is active all year round. We will have a packed lunch before continuing our ride to Cabanaconde where we will have a dinner and spend the night in a 3 star Hotel.
On Day 6 we will all mount two different horses in order to let our equine companions have a rest before the descent into the canyon on Day 7.

Day 7 :
Breakfast at 8:00am precedes departure for a 4 hour journey to Llahuar where you will get down into the world's deepest Canyon. Day 7 covers an overall vertical descent of 1200m (4000 ft). We will have to dismount and guide our horses at points before joining Llahuar village where we will dine and spend the night in an authentic family-run lodge. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy either as a rest period or hiking around the Llahuar village.

Day 8 : 
After breakfast at Llahuar, you will ride your horse for 4 hours to the Oasis of Sangalle. As part of this trail you will cross a desert landscape mainly consisting of cactus. Lunch will be taken at Sangalle, where you can refresh yourself in the oasis’ hot springs.

Day 9 : 
After breakfast you will ride 3 hours on horseback to the village of San Juan de Chuccho. Riding along Colca River, you can admire awesome cliffside landscapes. You may sometimes have to get off your horse in order to cross a few small streams. We will stop for lunch in San Juan village and in the afternoon you can experience the lifestyle of the villagers, mostly related to agriculture, as this Canyon experiences unique microclimatic conditions that benefit certain plants. We will have dinner and spend the night in a rudimentary lodge.

Day 10 : 
The ascent of the canyon begins after breakfast. For the security of both riders and horses, the climb will mainly made walking with the horses through this stunning natural environment. Upon your arrival at Cabanaconde, a car will collect the riders and return to Yanque village (2 hours drive) where you will retrieve your luggage and rest in complete comfort at Hotel Tradicion Colca for one final night. Enjoy the Jacuzzi from 6:30 pm to 8:45 pm and a delicious dinner (optional massage availabe upon prior reservation).

Day 11:
Option A - Puno:
The morning is free for rest, with lunch (included) served at midday in the hotel. At 12:45pm we will transfer to Chivay to catch a bus for a 6-hour journey through the Andes with an English-speaking guide. The highest point of the journey is 4910m (16,000 feet) at Patapampa. We will cross the Puna which is inhabited by vizcacha, vicuña and migratory birds such as the world-famous flamingo. We will arrive at the 3-star hotel accommodation at around 7:30pm (dinner not included).

Option B - Cusco:
Breakfast is served at 6:00am before transfer to Chivay to take a tourist bus for a day trip to Cusco with an English-speaking guide (lunch not included). Among other sites, you will see the "Castillos" of Callalli (rocks shaped like castles by years of rain and wind erosion). The highest point of the trek is at 4,700m (15,400 ft) at Condoromama`s dam which irrigates the Majes-Siguas, situated 300km away in the desert west of Arequipà. We will arrive at Cusco around 5:00pm, with transfer to your hotel. You will be accommodated in a 3 star hotel (dinner not included).

Day 12 :
Option A - Puno
Breakfast is served at 7:00am and followed by a boat trip (in group with an English-speaking guide) across Lake Titicaca for a visit to the magnificent Taquile island (lunch not included). From there you will continue your journey across the lake towards the famous floating islands of the Uros, one of the first inhabitants of Peru.
Finally, we will return to Peru around 5:00pm. (hotel and meals not included) It is also possible to travel from Puno to Cusco.

OPTION B: CUSCO Capital of the Incas
Breakfast is included but that marks the end of services.

Note: We suggest you take your return flight (not before 6pm) from Juliaca, which is 1 hour from Puno, in order to make the most of your last day. Return transfer to Arequipa is extra and depending on your departure time you might not be able to visit Lake Titicaca.

-- Itinerary subject to changes --

------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Option B - 8 day ride

Day 1 :
We will pick you up from Arequipa Airport and lead you the hotel downtown. This is a free day, depending to your arrival time, so you may decide to take a tour of the city and visit the convent of “Santa Catalina” with an English-speaking private guide (optional).
Meals are not included on Day 1.
4 star Hotel accommodation at Arequipa.

Day 2 :
Departure around 8:00 am in a tourist vehicle in the direction of Colca Valley, an English-speaking guide will accompany you. You will cross the “Salinas y Aguada Blanca” reserve where alpacas, llamas and vicuñas can be seen. After reaching the spectacular "Mirador de los Volcanes", at an altitude of 4910 meters (16000 ft) above sea level, we descend into the valley which has an average elevation of about 3500 meters (11000 ft). You will settle and lunch at a hotel in Yanque village.
In the afternoon, you will meet our famous Peruvian Paso horses and their “Chalan” (groom and horse guide). Next, you will begin your first horseback ride around the village up to the Colonial Mill and to a Chapel devoted to the Virgin of Chapi. Return to the hotel to enjoy a relaxing 30min massage (included on this day) with free use of the indoor pool.
Dinner is served at the fireside of Hotel Tradicion Colca, where you will then stay the night.

Day 3 :
In the morning, we begin our second ride of 4 -5 hours to Coporaque village and its pre-Inca cemetery where the mummies of Collagua Lords were formerly safeguarded. You will have to dismount and climb a hill for 20min to reach the graves.
The ride continues to the ruins of Uyo-uyo which was the former capital of the Collagua Natives, who once ruled the Valley. Along the way, you will also see the “Colcas”, a kind of hidden granary that gave the name to the river, and the "amphitheater" (farming terraces highly valued by the Incas to improve cultivation of quinoa, corn…). Afterwards, it`s back to Yanque to savour a delicious lunch at Tradicion Colca Hotel.
In the afternoon we will drive you to the Hot Springs for a relaxing swim. At Tradicion Colca Hotel, you can enjoy free use of the indoor pool (optional massage previous reservation), dinner and Stargazing (subject to weather conditions) with our Dobson type Telescope with a diameter of 45cm (18 inches). One of the biggest Telescopes accessible to the public in Peru - installed in an ideal place for observation - permitting you to look at many deep sky objects (globular clusters, nebulae, galaxies…) only visible from the Southern Hemisphere. Before observing the night sky, we screen a short 12min film introducing to the Solar System in our Planetarium.
Overnight stay at Tradicion Colca.

Day 4 :
We leave at 9:00am for a 5 hour ride along the right side of Colca River, passing through beautiful landscapes as you go. Native people achieved a great feat in creating arable lands on the mountain. They did so by inventing terrace cultivation and irrigating those terraces with an ingenious system of water channels. We will cross the villages of Ichupampa and Lari and eat a packed lunch on the way. Having reached Madrigal in the afternoon, our horses and their Chalan will stay there while a vehicle will drives you and your English-speaking guide back to Yanque. After about one hour by car, you will enjoy the pool, dinner and overnight stay at Tradicion Colca Hotel (optional massage previous booking).

Day 5 :
This is the start of the itinerant ride, for which you will need 2 days of bare necessities. After an early breakfast at 5:30 am, we will drive you by car for one hour to Madrigal. Having hiked up Chimpa's Hill for two hours, at the top you will find on the restored ruins of an ancient and unassailable Fortress of the Collagua Nation. From that vantage point you will enjoy breathtaking views at the only place where one can see both sides of the canyon. With luck, you might even see the majestic Condor in flight.
After a descent of around an hour and a half , you will finally get on your horse and ride for four hours to Pinchollo's Village after having crossed the Colca river across a lovely bridge.
Dinner and overnight stay in a fully catered adventure hostel at Pinchollo (Optional 3 star Hotel accommodation: 30 usd)

Day 6 :
Breakfast at 7:00am sets you up for a 5 hour horseback ride to Pinchollo's Geyser. Climbing a hill, we will reach an elevation of 4450 meters (14600 ft) and there be amazed by incredible views: high snowy volcanos, waterfalls, and most importantly the "Hatun Infiernillo" Geyser which is active all year round. Having ridden back to Pinchollo, you will leave the horses and a car will pick you up to take you back to Yanque and the welcome comfort of Hotel Tradicion Colca. You will have free time in the afternoon to rest and enjoy lunch, the indoor pool and Jacuzzi, dinner and a night at Hotel Tradicion Colca (optional massage available with previous booking).

Day 7 :
Option A - Puno:
The morning is free for rest, with lunch (included) served at midday in the hotel. At 12:45pm we will transfer to Chivay to catch a bus for a 6-hour journey through the Andes with an English-speaking guide. The highest point of the journey is 4910m (16,000 feet) at Patapampa. We will cross the Puna which is inhabited by vizcacha, vicuña and migratory birds such as the world-famous flamingo. We will arrive at the 3-star hotel accommodation at around 7:30pm (dinner not included).

Option B - Cusco:
Breakfast is served at 6:00am before transfer to Chivay to take a tourist bus for a day trip to Cusco with an English-speaking guide (lunch not included). Among other sites, you will see the "Castillos" of Callalli (rocks shaped like castles by years of rain and wind erosion). The highest point of the trek is at 4,700m (15,400 ft) at Condoromama`s dam which irrigates the Majes-Siguas, situated 300km away in the desert west of Arequipà. We will arrive at Cusco around 5:00pm, with transfer to your hotel. You will be accommodated in a 3 star hotel (dinner not included).

Day 8 :
Option A - Puno
Breakfast is served at 7:00am and followed by a boat trip (in group with an English-speaking guide) across Lake Titicaca for a visit to the magnificent Taquile island (lunch not included). From there you will continue your journey across the lake towards the famous floating islands of the Uros, one of the first inhabitants of Peru.
Finally, we will return to Peru around 5:00pm. (hotel and meals not included) It is also possible to travel from Puno to Cusco.

OPTION B: CUSCO Capital of the Incas
Breakfast is included but that marks the end of services.
(Hotel and meals not included)

--Subject to changes--

--------------------------------------------------------

AVAILABLE EXTENSIONS and visits of Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu :

EXTENSION PUNO / CUSCO / MACHU PICCHU - 6 DAYS /5 NIGHTS
-diverse kind of services grouped/private/free including entrance fees, visits and 3 stars hotel accommodation:
Day 1: Hotel at Puno
Day 2: Transfer Puno-Cusco and visits (grouped in tourist bus)
Day 3: City tour of Cusco (private)
Day 4: Visit of the Sacred Valley (private)
Day 5: Free day, visit of Machu Picchu (this day must be organized independently. Transport, guides and meals are not included. Only includes: round trip train journey, Machu Picchu entrance fee, and the last Hotel night at Cusco)
Day 6: end of services after breakfast (possible transfer to the airport 45 usd).

EXTENSION CUSCO / MACHU PICCHU – 4 DAYS /3 NIGHTS
–diverse kind of services grouped/private/free including entrance fees, visits and 3 stars hotel accommodation:
Day 1: City tour of Cusco (private)
Day 2: Visit of the Sacred Valley (private)
Day 3: Free day, visit of Machu Picchu (this day must be organized independently. Transport, guides and meals are not included. Only includes: round trip train journey, Machu Picchu entrance fee, and the last Hotel night at Cusco)
Day 4: end of services after breakfast (possible transfer to the airport 45 usd).