COTAHUASI TREK - COTAHUASI CANYON HIKE - AREQUIPA TREKS
IKING IN THE DEEPEST CANYON IN THE WORLD
7 Days / 6 Nights
13 Hrs. Arrival to the agricultural town of Chuquibamba, located over 3000 meters where we will be able to have lunch. Continuing with the 4x4 off road we will get the highest part of all the trip, 4700 meters, between the snow-caps of Coropuna (6450 meters) and Solimana (6325 meters). After 3 hours travelling over 4000 meters of height, we begin to descend to the canyon, until arriving at the colorful town of Cotahuasi (2600 meters). The town is surrounded by much flora and fauna. Hotel or camping at the border of Cotahuasi river.
DAY 2 COTAHUASI - VELINGA VILLAGE 07 Hrs. After our breakfast, we´ll encounter the rest of our team (carriers + cooker + mules), and begin to descend to the canyon and pass by the small village of Piro, bordering the river to arrive Cuyao bridge. We will follow the border on the right bank till we get to the suspension bridge of Toro. From here is a short hike to Sipia waterfall (1900 meters of height).
13 Hrs. After visiting the waterfall of Sipia, we cross a natural tunnel, continuing to Chaupo valley, located in the left margin of the canyon. Our lunch will be waiting for us in the middle of this oasis. We continuing walking by the left margin until arriving at an immense cactus forest, where we will have a rest and therapy with the wind crossing this nice place.
17 Hrs. We arrive at the valley of Velinga (1400 meters), a very beautiful place, surrounded by the immense walls of this canyon, with many varieties of fruit trees, bordered by the river, where we have the opportunity to practice fishing for trout and to enjoy thermal hot springs. Supper and camping.
DAY 3 VELINGA VALLEY - HUACHUY VILLAGE This day we will walk from Velinga to the valley of Quechualla (1300 meters), located near the deepest part of this canyon, 4 hours walk crossing to both margins. We will cross a second group of cactus, immense rock walls in both sides, discovering old agricultural terraces in good conditions of conservation completely abandoned for hundreds of years, constituting a great part of Inca way, formerly connecting the Pacific with the Cusco empire.
12 Hrs. Arrival to the small village of Quechualla, a beautiful valley, plenty of fruits trees, in the heat of desert, with very friendly and cosy settlers. Rest and visit the very old church. It is here where we have our lunch accompanied by delicious local fruits and red wine prepared by the settlers. After lunch, we will continue a long walk between small agricultural valleys, until reaching Huachuy town (3000 meters), located on the left wall of this canyon. This will be our highest camping point of all our adventure trek.
DAY 4 HUACHUY - MARPA VALLEY 06 Hrs. After a good breakfast we begin to walk the slopes of this Deepest canyon. This day we go down to the deepest part of this canyon, located between Solimana (Arequipa) and the Sara Sara (Ayacucho) ranges. After descending 5 to 6 hours by Inca trail, constructed 1200 years ago, we will arrive at the bottom, a very impressive and barren place of almost vertical walls, where exists a vineyard paradise called Marpa (1050 meters), surrounded by left terraces and pre-Inca tombs, leave us evidence of the presence of the Wari culture in this zone of old Peru.
13 Hrs. Before getting to our campsite, we will have a test of courage, cross the river Cotahuasi in a cable system, 50 meters in length. Lunch, fishing of trout, supper and camping.
DAY 5 MARPA VALLEY - YACHAU AOSIS 07 Hrs. After our breakfast, continuing along the right margin of the Cotahuasi River, We`ll discover abandoned old trails, old terraces, Inca cemeteries, forests of cactus, old spanish houses, gold mines of the Spaniards and Incas, all of them in the solitude and silence of this impressive geographic depth, with a 25 - 28 Cº of temperature. Also this day we will have another opportunity to cross the Cotahuasi in cable again, but this time of smaller distance.
13 Hrs. Arrival at the beautiful Yachau Oasis (800 meters). Oasis of grape plantations and variety of fruit trees in the middle of nowhere and bordered by the river. This day we will have the afternoon to fish trout, shrimp or simply to enjoy the wild nature of this place. Lunch, supper and camping.
DAY 6 YACHAU OASIS - CHAUCALLA VALLEY 05 Hrs. Beginning to walk early to avoid the high temperatures of the day, is a slight long walk on borders of the river, discovering small valleys used temporarily, it is possible to appreciate gold explorers, extracting minerals from the borders of waters. Breakfast and lunch on the half way.
14 Hrs. After walking 7 to 8 hours we will arrive at the agricultural town of Chaucalla (650 meters). Visit the local school, coexist with the settlers, exhibition of shrimp fishing, rest, supper and camping.
DAY 7 CHAUCALLA TOWN - AREQUIPA 04 Hrs. We will start to walk early, to avoid the high temperatures, it is a long walk in the desert and accompanied by the Cotahuasi going to the Pacific Ocean. This day will be the hardest last long distance trek, but we will also have our horses to ride great part of the route. Breakfast and lunch on the half way.
14 Hrs. We will arrive at the point where our 4x4 will be waiting for us, near the town La Barrera. From here we initiate our trip back to Arequipa, passing Iquipi town, Ocoña and Camana city.
22 Hrs. After travelling 6 hours by the Panamerica Highway in the south coast of Peru and then ascending to Arequipa, we go directly to your hotel and ending our adventure in the deepest and impressive canyon in the world.
INCLUDES: Private 4x4 from and to Arequipa (R/T) + Expert English speaking guide + Hotel in Cotahuasi + Camping gear + Horses for food and camping gear + One horse for riding + Meals (Breakfast day 2 thru Lunch day 7) + Cook + Assistant + Entrance fees + First aid kit + Satellite telephone.
Contact us info@peruadventurestours.com
