Essential Arequipa And Puno

DAY 1. ARRIVAL IN AREQUIPA

Upon your arrival in Arequipa, you will be transferred to your hotel, conveniently located in the historic center.

Your panoramic city tour of Arequipa begins in the traditional Yanahuara district, just 2 kilometers from the Historic Center, on the right bank of the Chili River.

Stroll through charming narrow streets featuring Spanish-style architecture, picturesque houses, and notable attractions such as the Yanahuara Viewpoint. From here, you will enjoy breathtaking vistas of the Misti, Pichu Pichu, and Chachani volcanoes.

This stunning viewpoint, constructed in the 18th century, stands beside the San Juan Bautista Church and overlooks a tranquil plaza. Its iconic ashlar arches are engraved with quotes from prominent figures of the city.

Your Arequipa city tour continues to the Chilina Valley, where you’ll visit the renowned Carmen Alto Viewpoint. Admire the lush green fields and impressive volcanoes that surround the area. This viewpoint once served as an Astronomical Observatory from 1899 to 1927.

Enjoy privileged views of the pre-Inca and Inca agricultural terraces, which are still cultivated today. You’ll also see flourishing orchards and fruit trees.

Your next stop is the Incalpaca outlet and zoo, a boutique offering high-quality alpaca garments at excellent prices. Alpaca fiber is known for its softness, lightness, and durability. Incalpaca exports their sustainable products to over 50 countries worldwide.

You will also have the chance to visit a small zoo, home to South American camelids such as alpacas, vicuñas, llamas, and guanacos.

The tour continues through the Sachaca district. Take in panoramic views of the 18th-century Goyeneche Palace, a colonial mansion, and see the Tingo aquatic park, a popular summer spot with swimming pools for locals.

Next, visit the Founder’s Mansion, located 12 miles from the historic center. This residence belonged to the city’s founder, Don Garcí Manuel de Carbajal, in 1540. You’ll also explore the Sabandia Mill, a beautiful mill built in 1621 that is still operational.

On your return to the city, you’ll pass by the Paucarpata terraces. The panoramic tour continues to the Plaza de Armas and the Santa Catalina Monastery.

Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. Overnight at your hotel.

DAY 2. SILLAR ROUTE TOUR.

After hotel pickup in the morning, embark on the unique Sillar Route tour.

Travel to Cerro Colorado district and reach the Añashuayco Quarries, located at the base of Chachani Volcano, beside the Chili River. This area features remarkable natural and cultural landscapes. As you walk through the artisan cutters’ zone, you’ll see handmade works of art, including colonial facades and stone carvings.

Visit local workshops to learn about traditional ashlar stonework, watching artisans use ancestral tools. You’ll have the option to purchase local crafts.

Continue to the Culebrillas Quarry and explore this dramatic natural ravine shaped by centuries of water and wind erosion. Ashlar from these quarries was used in the construction of Arequipa’s most significant buildings, earning the city its UNESCO World Heritage status.

At the end of the tour, return to the city center. The rest of the day is yours to relax. Overnight at your hotel.

DAY 3. AREQUIPA / COLCA CANYON.

Depart from Arequipa at 8:30 am for a 160 km drive to Chivay.

Along the way, pass through Yura, a town rich in history with notable monuments, streets, and plazas. Continue on to Pampa de Arrieros and Pampa Cañahuas, where the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve is located. Here, you will have the opportunity to observe wild vicuñas.

The tour continues through more Andean villages, with spectacular volcano views from various viewpoints. Upon arriving in Chivay, you’ll have free time for lunch and relaxation. Later, explore this enchanting Andean town, located at the highest part of the Colca Canyon.

Return to your hotel for overnight.

DAY 4. COLCA CANYON / PUNO.

After an early breakfast, begin your journey at 6:15 am to the renowned Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint. Arrive in time to witness the breathtaking canyon depths and, weather permitting, the majestic flight of the condors.

These awe-inspiring scavenger birds rank among the largest flying birds in the world. Watching them soar above the valley and canyon is a truly magical experience.

On the way back to Chivay, visit the traditional town of Pinchollo and the Antahuilque viewpoint, where you’ll see ancient terraces built by the Collaguas culture over 1,500 years ago, predating the Incas.

After your Colca Valley visit, travel 320 km through beautiful scenery and small Andean villages until you arrive in Puno. You will be transferred to your hotel.

DAY 5. UROS AND TAQUILE ISLANDS.

After breakfast at your Puno hotel, transfer to the lake port to board either a speedboat or regular boat (depending on your preference) to visit the floating Uros Islands.

The Uros Islands are located 4 miles northwest of Puno and are home to an ancestral society living on a series of artificial islands constructed from totora reeds found in the lake. The islands themselves, as well as the Uros’ homes, are woven from these reeds. Cooking is done outdoors to mitigate fire risk.

Lake Titicaca, straddling Peru and Bolivia at 3,812 meters above sea level in the Collao Plateau, is the highest navigable lake in the world and the second largest in South America. While visiting, you’ll spend time with the local Uros people, learning about their daily lives and traditions. More than 200 families inhabit these islands. Your half-day tour of the Uros concludes here.

Continue by boat for an hour and a half to Taquile Island. Unlike other islands in the lake, Taquile is Quechua-speaking and was once part of the Inca Empire, with remnants still visible in its architecture.

Taquile is the second largest island on Lake Titicaca, covering 3.4 miles, and is renowned for its exquisite textiles, recognized as UNESCO heritage. The highest point of the island is 4,050 meters above sea level.

Enjoy a traditional Andean lunch before returning by boat to Puno, where transportation will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Overnight in Puno.

DAY 6. SILLUSTANI AND DEPARTURE FROM PUNO.

You will be picked up from your hotel in Puno for a journey to the archaeological site of Sillustani. This impressive complex is situated atop a peninsula by Lake Umayo, 22.3 miles from both Puno and Lake Titicaca.

The site is home to around 90 funerary towers, or chullpas, built by the Kolla culture—an Aymara society that predated the Inca Empire. Many mummies have been discovered within these towers, including priests, leaders, and nobles. The bodies were mummified and interred in a fetal position, surrounded by belongings such as gold, silver, and ceramics.

The preservation of these burial towers is remarkable, with each constructed from perfectly fitted stones of varying shapes. The advanced engineering and architecture of the Kolla culture is evident, with some towers reaching up to 12 meters high—the Lagarto Chullpa being the tallest and most notable.

The Sillustani tour includes a visit to a local family who raise alpacas. Learn how they prepare their food, weave textiles, and maintain their ancestral traditions.

At the end of your visit, you will be transferred to Juliaca airport for your departure.