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Tours of Arequipa and around
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Taking a guided tour is the easiest way to get around this otherwise quite difficult region. All operators tend to offer similar packages.
City tours
last around three hours, cost $10-20 and usually include the Santa Catalina Monastery, La Compania, the Cathedral, San Augustin and the Yanahuara
mirador.
Countryside tours
(
tur de campina)
usually consist of a three-hour trip or so to the rural churches of Cayma and Sachaca, the old mill at Sabandia, Tingo lagoon and local
miradors
for $10-30. Most companies offer one- to three-day trips out to the
Colca Canyon
for $20-80 (sometimes with
very
early morning starts) or to the petroglyphs at
Toro Muerto
for $20-40. Trips to the
Valley of the Volcanos
and the
Cotahuasi Canyon
are only offered by a few companies. Specialist adventure activities, eg rafting in the Colca Canyon, can cost up to $120 for a three-day outing.
Competition between companies is high, so check out all the options and determine exactly what you're getting - from the quality of your guide to the standard of transport and accommodation to the quality of equipment used for adventure activities, and whether there may be any supplemental charges (for entry to musuems and so on). Because of the dangers of mountain sickness, also check whether oxygen is provided - even a bus trip to Chivay can bring on soroche if you've only recently arrived from sea level. Campamento Base , Jerusalen 401b (tel 054/424223 or 202768). A good camping shop who also have excellent guides for the Colca Canyon and more adventurous treks, including Cananaconde, Tapay and Cotahuasi areas. EcoAventur , Santa Catalina 114 (tel & fax 054/231648, ecoadventure@latinmail.com.pe). Good guides (English spoken) and excellent treks and canoeing trips to the Colca Canyon, the Rio Chili, as well as to the Toro Muerto petroglyphs and the Laguna Salinas area. Will take oxygen on treks if requested to. Giardino Agencia de Viajes , Jerusalen 606a (tel 054/221345, fax 242761, giardinotours@ chasqui.LaRed.net.pe or lperezwi@ucsm.edu.pe). A well-organized outfit with excellent two-day tours to Colca, including an overnight stay in a hotel in Chivay, trekking and climbing trips, plus the usual city and countryside trips. Gold Tours , Jerusalen 206-B (tel 054/238270). City and countryside tours and one-day trips to Colca, some with English-speaking guides. Hilton Travel Tour , Santa Catalina 102 (tel 054/227297, fax 427787, hiltontravel@ wayna.rcp.net.pe). Treks to Colca, plus a 24-hour trip up El Misti and frequent rides to Toro Muerto. Also offer a five-day adventure tour to Cotahuasi Canyon. Illary Tour , Santa Catalina 205 (tel 054/220844). A friendly and professional outfit with English-speaking guides who take enjoyable trips of 2 days and more in the Colca Canyon. They take oxygen, first-aid kits and provide accommodation, folk music and transport. Invertur , San Juan de Dios 113 (tel 054/213585, fax 219526). City and countryside tours, but its speciality is an all-inclusive two-day trip to Colca. Good English-speaking guides are available. Peru Expeditions , Avenida Arequipa 5241-504, Miraflores, Lima (tel 01/447-2057, peruexpe@amauta.rcp.net.pe, w ww.peru-expeditions.com). Highly professional and helpful Lima based company, offering environmentally sound adventure travel in the Arequipa region, including the Colca Canyon and Majes Valley.
Santa Catalina Tours
, Santa Catlina 223 (tel & fax 054/216994,
santacatalina@ rh.com.pe).
City tours, local and Colca Canyon trips, plus ascents up El Misti and occasional rafting on the Rio Chili, all at reasonable prices. Good, reliable guides. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Peru,
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