Cotahuasi 4 days
Complite trip to Majes Valley , Cotahuasi valley and visit to the canyon.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Day 1
We leave Arequipa in our 4WD; after 3 hours traveling we will arrive to the Majes Valley near to Corire, we will visit the petrogliphys of Toro Muerto. We have a guided tour in the area. The carvings comprise somewhat crude animal, human, and geometric representations. Although some people estimate claim that there are 6,000 engraved stones at Toro Muerto, after this visit we keep driving till Chuquibamba, here we have a stop for Lunch, here the good highway is finish and starts the dirt road, in our 4wd, we do the pass at 4,900 m, batwing Coropuna (6424 m.) and Solimana (63OO m). At this height, we are able to see some vicugnas, and then start the descend to the Cotahuasi canyon, arriving by sunset to this beautiful town, after dinner we rest in a comfortable hotel.
Day 2
We aalk through the deep canyon crossing hanging bridges and
narrow paths on the river shore. We will reach the Sipia Waterfalls.
From the deepest canyon, we may observe the huge natural parts that form the deepest canyon in the world. We may also observe the
flight of condors, hike to the Catarata de Sipia ( Sipia Falls ). On our 2
hours hike to the falls we should encounter "campesinos" (peasants)
transporting goods on the Inca Road (which is really a trail) using
either llamas or donkeys as pack animals. Picnic Lunch at 63 m. high Sipia
waterfall. After lunch we will follow the Inca trail over the
waterfall until the impressive Judio Pampa cactus forest These are some strange species of cactus that reach up to 13 meters high, which have established a mutual dependence with a kind of bats that belong to the ecosystem. The forest is located at the Quechualla district, but we return before to our car, arriving to Cotahuasi village at 5pm , visit to hot spring and sleep.
Day 3
After breakfast we drive in our car to Tomepampa, Alca and Puica villages, we visit all of them and after that we hike to the arqueological place of Maucallacta and we keep hiking for other arqueological place whith impressive views of the ancient terraces and the canyon, then we return to our car to sleep very closed to the Luicho Hot springs, accommodation and little walk to the hot springs relax and dinner whit fresh trout from the river, return to the hotel, fire, guitar and sleep.
Day 4
Aftery Breakfast, we return to Arequipa stoping in the roud for little hike to Apacheta to appreciate a sacred place in the base of Coropuna mountain(6425m) after we'll stop to enjoy different dishes prepared with "Shrimps of the Majes River ." After we cross the dunes of the Atacama desert (the driest desert in earth) take the Pan-American Hi way to return to Arequipa or we can keep going to Nasca depends of your programe.
Equipment:
- Towel
- Swimming suit
- Mosquito repellent
- Sun block
- Toilet paper
- Boots
- Sandals
- Flash light
- Batteries
- Sun hat
- Sun glasses
- Coins(some change for drinks)
- Book for free time
- Rain jacket
- Sleping bag
- Water purification tablets.
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