TOUR INFORMATION

WHAT TO BRING

• Backpack 50lt
• Sleeping bag (can be hired from our office for US$5.00 usd per day)
• Rain jacket or poncho (December - April)
• Strong comfortable and waterproof footwear
• One complete change of clothing
• Sweater and jacket (something warm)
• Bottle of water 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 for the hot spring in Velinga
• Optional: walking sticks or poles

TOUR INCLUDES

• Private 4x4 from and to Arequipa
• Official English speaking guide
• One night in Hostel in Cotahuasi
• Camping gear (4 season tents - sleeping pads)
• Kitchen and dinning tent
• Horses to carry food, camping gear and your staff
• One horse for emergency
• All mentioned food according the program
• Professional cook and cooking gear
• Guide assistant
• Entrance fee to Toromuerto petroglyhp and Hot springs
• Food and accommodation for our camp staff
• Oxygen bottle and first aid kit for all participants and our camp staff
• Satellite telephone
  

NOT INCLUDE

• Soda and alcoholic drinks
• Sleeping bag can be hired in our office US$5 per day (-15ºC)
• Breakfast on the first day/lunch on the last day
• Tips for guide and camp staff
• Personal horse for ride, can be hired for US$20 per day including a horseman and his food
• and accommodation

FAQs ABOUT THIS TOUR

WHAT IS YOU AVERAGE PARTICIPANT LIKE? 

The average age of participants on our Group Treks is 47 years.  Most are between the late 20s and early 60s, although the range is about 10 to 76.  The gender gap is fairly evenly split with slightly more women than men. About 40% of participants sign up alone, 40% sign up with a partner, and 20% as a family.  Most importantly, however, is this: most people who join us for the first time are nervous about the "group tour" experience but most alumni rate it as one of the best parts of their vacation.  You'll never know until you try.

DO YOU RECOMMEND TRAVEL INSURANCE?

We highly recommend you purchase travel insurance.  This type of insurance is relatively inexpensive, in the range of $60 - $200 depending on the trip you book.  The reason we are so keen on you having travel insurance is because it protects you if you have an unexpected change in travel plans.  Here is an example. Let's assume you are signed up for a trip and hurt your leg a week before you are supposed to leave.  If you have no insurance, you will call us on the telephone and we will be very sad to tell you there is no refund - because our costs are mostly fixed and you might have displaced someone who otherwise could have gone in your place.   You might then be unhappy with us, even though you took the risk of not getting travel insurance!   If you do have travel insurance, you can usually receive your entire airfare and trip cost from the insurance company and can start planning for your next trip!
There are many different companies who offer trip insurance.  Please contact insurance companies directly for information about their plans.  One that our travelers have used successfully is TripInsurance.com, one of the industry leaders.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TRIPS?

Contact us for a detailed itinerary that we can email to you. Or simply ask us the questions you want answers to! We welcome your phone calls or emails (see our contact information click here).

WILL I NEED TO PAY THE ENTRANCE FEE FOR THIS TREK?

Most National Parks require an entrance fee, so be prepared.  The Inca Trail is the most notable trek that requires a permit.  Most treks do not require a permit however.  If you have questions, please contact us

WHAT KIND OF FOOTWEAR DO I NEED?

Take strong, comfortable footwear. Heavy boots are probably not required or advised; all you need is something that you can walk in all day, that gives good traction and which supports the ankle. Lightweight modern hiking boots are probably ideal. Remember to wear your boots in thoroughly before you go and get used to walking in them. Blisters will reduce your enjoyment significantly. Using high quality wool socks, moleskin, and/or duct tape applied to trouble areas on the feet will also help you avoid blisters. Check with your local mountaineering or outdoor gear store for more advice.

HOW FIT SHOULD I BE FOR A TREK?

It depends on how challenging the trek is.  In general, you should be comfortable hiking for about 5 hours. 

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO DO A TREK ?

The dry season is generally the best time to do a trek anywhere in Latin America. In Peru the dry season usually runs from April to November, while the wet season runs from December to March. The Inca Trail is closed in February.
June to September are the most popular months for treks in Peru (plan ahead for treks during these months, especially the Inca Trail which can sell out 6 months in advance). May and October can be great months for trekking, as weather is nice and it is less crowded. Even during the rainy season it doesn't usually rain all day long, and you can have a pleasant, yet damp, trek.

ARE WE MET AT THE AIRPORT?

If you are on the group flights or have pre-arranged this, our travel agency  representative will meet you on arrival and transfer you to your Start Point/Hotel.

WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?

All meals are included on our trips. You will be treated to an extensive variety of fabulous Peruvian cuisine. We choose the finest restaurants in the cities to give you the opportunity to taste a great variety of local delicacies and flavors. In camps our cooks are experts in preparing nourishing wholesome and delicious meals. We will accommodate any special diet requests you may have including vegetarian, please request prior to the trip.

WHAT ABOUT TRIP LEADERS AND TOUR GUIDES?.

Our experienced local bilingual trip leaders/guides are the key to making each trip a unique adventure and we provide the very best. They have in-depth knowledge of the language, customs, culture and history. They take great pleasure in sharing their insights and expertise and will make your adventure an unforgettable experience. Leaders are detail oriented, making sure everything runs safely and smoothly.

WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE?

Our trekking and tour groups in all Peru, including Inca Trail are always small - 7 to 16 participants maximum.
What is the best thing to do in the event of altitude sickness? Wherever possible "go down". But, if you are staying in Cusco, you may still feel the effects. The best advice is to sleep, take plenty of fluids and you could also try coca tea. The porters chew coca leaves wrapped around a black resin called llipta. When you are actually walking and active (especially on day two of the trail), this may help since it dilates vessels to increase the blood flow to the parts of the body that need it.

WHAT TIPE OF TRANSPORTATION IS USED?

Our escorted tours utilize a variety of transportation including private vans/ cars, comfortable tourist buses, flights, canoes, etc. We use a private transportation to provide travelers with the safest and most efficient transportation in each area

HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD I TAKE?

Please review what is included in your trek in order to estimate what you should take. Along the way you can buy snacks and souvenirs, mostly of a non expensive nature.

TREKKING TO COTAHUASI 5D/4N

First day: Arequipa - Chuquibamba

We will pick you up very early in the morning (5.00am) at your hotel in Arequipa. With our 4x4 private car we make fot the Corire and Aplao Valley where we will eat breakfast (ca 7.30am). The trip takes about 178 km.

During our trip we can visit the famous PETROGLIFOS DE TORO MUERTO and the MAJES VALLEY. We also have time to visit the HUELLAS DE DINOSAURIOS and the PERFIL DE CRISTO which are very impressive attractions as well. We continue and visit the traditional villages of Corire and Aplao. We are going to have lunch in the village of Aplao which is located in the Majes Valley as well. After lunch we are continuing to Chuquibamba, where we are going to see the famous CASTILLA CASTLE. It is a big rock that looks like an immense castle. We also have a lot of time to walk to the castle and spend a while there.

After the visit we are going to Chuquibamba where we will spend the first night in a hotel.

Second day: Chuquibamba - Cotahuasi

The next day we are going to leave between 4.00 am and 6.00am to Cotahuasi. We have the opportunity to visit the Pallarcocha Laguna from where we can also see the top of the Corpuna Mountain which is set at 6'425 m high. We can also see the whole mountain chain of the Andes and its volcanoes. We will then pass the BOSQUE DE LOS YARETALES (an extinct plant in Peru) and we will also get the chance to observe alpacas, lamas and vicuñas. At around 11.00am we will reach the cruz where we will go for a walk for about forty minutes to the BAÑADERO DE LOS CONDORES. With a bit of luck we can observe different types of condors. We are also going to have lunch here in the nature (lunch box) and then turn back to Allahuay where our car is waiting for us. From this point we can also see the whole Cotahuasi Valley, from the highest to the deepest point. We reach the village of Allahuay, a holy place where they had a lot of sacrifices and where they punished people who didn’t obey to the superiors. After receiving a lot of history of these villages we continue our trip to Cotahuasi where we will arrive at around 5.00pm. We are going to have dinner and will spend the night in a hotel.

Third day: Cotahuasi - village of Alca

We leave again early in the morning (6.00am) and go to the Sipia Waterfalls. At 7.30am we begin with the trekking part for about fifty minutes before we reach the falls. They are 150 meters hich. The way is very impressive with all the huge rocks and stones that form the Canyon. We also cross rope bridges and can enjoy the mild climate and admire the lovely landscape. We afterwards turn back to Cotahuasi where we will take our well deserved lunch. In the afternoon we are going to visit the villages of Tomepampa and Alca, villages that still have their old traditions and lifestyle. We will then visit the Hot Springs in Luicho before we continue to the village of Alca where we have some time to hang around, then eat dinner and eventually spend the second night there.

Fourth day: village of Alca - Cotahuasi

Alter having breakfast we are visiting the village of Puyca. The landscape and the views are just incredibly beautiful. There are still tombs (chullpas) and terraces (for the agriculture) from the pre Inca times, from the Waris and Incas. Outstanding of the whole day are the ruins of Maukallacta, but also the extinct plants called Puyas that only still exist in the higher zones of the Andes. After our very interesting trip we are going back to Cotahuasi. We have time to visit the Hot Springs one more time and then have dinner and then spend the night in a hotel.

Fifth day: Cotahuasi - Arequipa

Early again we are having breakfast and then drive back direction Arequipa. During our trip back we have the opportunity to stop and take pictures. We are also going to have lunch and arrive later in the afternoon in Arequipa. The guide is bringing you back to your hotel.

*Price per person (2010): US$350. Click here to book the Tour