Llama Trek - Incan Travel System is a unique trip where we will show you the real highlands life, passing through high altitude villages (4700m) where farmers practice thousand year old customs, living completely separate from modernization. You can walk like a queen/king on the original ancestral pre-Inca paths connecting the coast with the Andes and the jungle, and experience the Quechua people and culture. You will see flora and fauna, treading upon different ecological layers (up to 5100m) and see the best views of green valleys inside the second deepest canyon in the world, nestled between volcanoes and snowy peaks. If you want an adventurous cultural experience off the beaten path, the Llama Trek is for you.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arequipa - Volcanoes Valley. 6am Pick you up from your hotel and travel to the volcanoes valley in our own private four wheel drive (4x4). On the way will stop in the Majes Valley to visit the Toro Muerto Petroglyphs and pre-Inca burials. Continue driving and passing long green valleys around the Colca canyon, passing small towns like Corire, Aplao, Viraco, Machaguay, and the highest pass over 4800m on the southeast of Coropuna Mountain (6450m). From this point it is possible to look down Andagua Valley surrounded by small volcanoes. 4pm we will arrive to Andagua valley, surrounded by 68 small volcanoes. Here we will stay our first night at small hostel located at over 3200m.
Includes: (B, L, D) and lodge.
Day 2: Volcanoes Valley - Caylloma Town. At 6am before our breakfast we´ll climb some of the small volcanoes and explore this beautiful valley created by hundreds volcanic eruptions. Out 2 hour hike will also include a beautiful waterfall called Shankilay, considered a sacred place by the locals. Back to the town for our breakfast and continue traveling to Caylloma. In our journey we stop at the mining town of Orcopampa (3900m) where we can enjoy a nice lunch of fresh white trout, Alpaca steak and mate de coca (coca leaf tea). Driving up to 4500m we will see groups or Llamas, Alpacas, Vicuñas, Eagles, Flacons, Dear and other animals. 4pm - We will be in Caylloma (4400m) a dry, dusty, windy and cold town, but very peaceful with friendly locals who are very curious to intereact with foreigners. Here we meet our cooks, Llamas and also the llama handlers.
Includes: (B, L, D) and lodge.
Day 3: Caylloma Town - Lorocca Lagoon. 7am after our delicious breakfast we begin our Llama Trek. The animals carry all the gear, and a donkey and mule are available to carry a person if necessary, in case someone gets altitude sickness (Soroche). Hiking up to 4700m we will appreciate groups of Llamas, Alpacas and Vicuñas and a nice view of Mismi volcano from the north face where begins the origin of the Amazon River the most voluminous river in the world. This day will be our test day to see how we will feel at this altitude after 5 to 6 hours of hiking. We will camp around the Lorocca Lagoon (4780m) with different groups of Andean birds living at this lake. This place will be one of the coldest nights.
Includes: (B, L, D) and camping.
Day 4: Lorocca Lagoon - Limapampa Village. This day will be one of our easy days, because will hike 4 hours, hiking mostly level and down to get to our second camping place. The scenery changes every 2 kilometers with high mountains, green places called “Bofedales” and very peaceful places. We´ll observe how the farmers live in this remote part of the Andes of Peru. We will arrive early to Limapampa (4400m) and our cooks will prepare our lunch. Set up our tents and enjoy a free afternoon; you can fishing for trout or teach free lessons to the local children or pass your time with the settlers of this small village.
Includes: (B, L, D) and camping.
Day 5: Village Limapampa - Toccallo Village. At 6am after breakfast we begin our longest day trekking and also will cross the highest point on our Llama Trek called Tuyunilloc (4900m). From here you will appreciate the impressive views of the Chila mountain range and also the best panoramic views of the big rock walls. This is the door to pass into the second deepest canyon in the world (Colca). Stop at this pass for long rest and lunch.
Afterwards, we go down into mountains, descending to the Qeñuales forest (typical trees form the highlands) crossing small rivers, and after 6 to 7 hours arrive to Toccallo village (4000m), surrounded by big green walls over 5000m high and pre-Inca terraces. It is a small village with a basic primary school, some inhabited and abandoned houses, and curious, friendly and free people in the middle of nature and without tourism. This will be our last night of camping. Includes: (B, L, D) and camping.
Day 6: Toccallo Village - Fure Village. In the early morning we will go to participate in a special ceremony to the Pacha Mama, done by our llama handler leader, who knows ancestral secret customs, coming from pre-Inca times. He practices a very interesting ritual, speaking and calling to the most important and highest mountains around this canyon. After an of this unique highland experience we go back to our camping place for our breakfast.
9am - We start to go down to the bottom of the Colca canyon, descending 900m to the next village, where we will stay our sixth night. On the way down we will see another canyon called Llatica containing Fure village (3100m) a nice place to stay in a family lodge, between terraces and cascades, in the middle of the cactus jungle and a variety of vegetation around the Llatica river.
After 4 hours trekking we will get nice weather (22 Cº), accommodation in the bungalows, lunch and a free afternoon to explore or to spend time with local families.
Includes: (B, L, D) and lodge.
Day 7: Fure Village - Llahuar Lodge. Before breakfast we will do a short trek to a nice waterfall of Waruro (80m high). It is a hike on the right bank of the Llatica river, following a small path in the middle of the cactuses, walking over the cliffs and after one hour arriving to the powerful waterfall, thundering in a completely green place.
At 9am breakfast in our lodge and continue trekking going down to Llatica village and cross the river by a hanging bridge, with a little time to explore this quite place.
2pm - We will arrive to the deepest area of the Colca Canyon. Llahuar (2100m) is a nice place located between Colca and Llatica rivers, one of the best places to have our lunch with nice views of both canyons. The afternoon is free to enjoy and use the thermal pools (hot springs) around the rivers.
Includes: (B, L, D) and lodge.
Day 8: Llahuar Lodge - Arequipa. At 5am we will eat breakfast and trek on the left bank of the Colca river, crossing abandoned terraces completely cover by cactus. This small valley is called Soro (2050m) and from here we´ll cross a suspension bridge over the Colca river to the other side and meet the 4x4.
We´ll travel up to Cabanaconde (3285m) by abandoned dirt track that is 1 hour in our four wheel drive.
At 8am we will be at the famous Condor Cross (3600m) and wait a maximum of 2 hours to see the flight of the Andean Condor, the biggest birds in the world. We continue travelling by 4x4 visiting different villages like Achoma, Maca, Achoma, Yanque and Chivay, all of them located on the left rim of the Colca Canyon, with nice lookouts, colonial churches, and souvenirs markets, etc.
At 12pm we will have our lunch in a good typical restaurant in Chivay (3600m) and then travel back to Arequipa (4 hours).
5pm Arrival to Arequipa and conclude our Llama Trek experience. Includes: (B, L) and canyon entrance.
Price Includes:
- Private 4WD (Round trip)
- Experienced English speaking guide
- Camping gear (4 season tent and mattress)
- 3 nights in lodges, according the program
- All food mentioned according the trek
- Llamas to carry all camping equipment, food and backpacks
- Horses for emergency
- Dinning tent with camp tables and chairs
- Kitchen tent
- Guide assistant
- Cook and assistant
- Bottles of water on all the trip
- Oxygen bottle and first aid kit
- Satellite telephone for emergency
- All the entrances
- Camping gear and food for our camp staff
- Entrance to the Colca canyon (last day)
Price Excludes:
- Sleeping bag -15Cº (Can be hired in our local office US$5 per day)
- Binoculars
- Breakfast on the first day
- Tips for guide and camp staff
- US$4 entrance for hot spring La Calera in Chivay (last day)
- Alcoholic drinks
- Personal horse to ride (Can be hired for US$20 per day)
What You Need to Bring/Carry:
- Sleeping bag -15Cº (Can be hired in our local office US$5 per day)
- Small backpack (65lt)
- Rain jacket or poncho, plastic ponchos can be purchased in Arequipa (just in the rain season Dec - April)
- Strong comfortable and waterproof footwear
- Sweater and jacket (something warm)
- Bottle of water and purification tablets and purification tablets (Micropur are recommended and can be bought in local pharmacies in Arequipa)
- Flashlight and batteries
- Hat or cap to protect you from the sun
- Sun block (sun protection cream)
- Insect repellent
- Toiletries, towel and toilet paper
- Selection of small snacks, chocolate, dried fruit, biscuits etc
- Camera, plenty of film and spare batteries
- Swimsuit (you can swim in the hot springs - Chivay)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Private VIP service (private van):
2 participants US$976each
3-4 participants US$936 each
5 to more participants US$896 each
Discount 5%: South American Explorers Club Members
Discount 10%: Tour Operators or Travel Agencies Only
Students: US$5 discount only with valid green ISIC card
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Peru
Llama Trekking
Hiking & Trekking
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