Travel with us!

We are here to help you to Discover PERU

Our goal is to elaborate programs that allow travelers to enjoy the experience matching their specific travel requirements, interests and passions. Our services include day and multi-day tours, personal assistance and a quick follow-up on all types of requests.

Contact us and start to plan your amazing trip to Peru!

Altitude Mountain sickness Called “Soroche” in Peru is the most common sickness that affects more than 50 percent of people who ascend higher than 8,000 feet (2,400 meters) in a relatively short time span.  It’s caused by the lower levels of oxygen in the air at high elevations; your lungs can’t take in as much oxygen as they’re used to and your heart and lungs have to work harder to keep your blood oxygenated.

Today there are different concepts about entrances when you want to visit Machu Picchu that oft lead to some confusion to our travelers, here we explain you the differences:

The Citadel or Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, are the Inca ruins itself, this is what we see in all pictures, that have made this Peruvian attraction so famous. There are buses from Machu Picchu Pueblo that take you to the entrance of the Sanctuary, where you will check your entrance ticket according to your booked schedule.
The citadel is located to 2.490 meters high and takes the name of the “Mountain” where it is located; in other words, the name of the “citadel itself“ still unknown.

The famous Huayna Picchu peak is one of the mountains that is located in front of Machu Picchu citadel, and which can be climbed using a path that departs from the Citadel itself.
At the top there are some ruins and you will have an amazing view of the citadel and the area and if you want more, there is also another trail up to the temple of the moon.
This mountain is located to 2,720 mts and is only allows the entry of 400 people per day, in two groups of 200 persons (07:00 AM and 10:00 AM). For this reason the tickets must be bought in advance. The ascent takes approximately two hours, and the trail to the temple of the moon, or the Great Cavern, are about 4 hours.

Some facts:

• It is known as the ‘Young Mountain’. Walking along its trails is recognized as one of the most incredible short walks on the planet.
• The trails are steep and narrow. They were built on one side of the mountain. They can be terrifying for people afraid of heights.
• If you suffer from vertigo or acrophobia, it’s best to avoid to walk to this mountain.

Now you know that the “Inca city” is located on the mountain of Machu Picchu at 2,490 meters; but the mountain has an altitude of 3.061 meters. So now you have the possibility to walk to the TOP of the Mountain “Machu Picchu”.
From there the view is also spectacular and has the big advantage that allow 600 persons per day in 2 time schedule 09:00AM and 10:00AM, still not so popular as Huayna Picchu peak so the tickets do not run out so fast; but an incredible view is guaranteed.

Aguas Calientes, currently known as Machu Picchu Pueblo; It is the nearest town to the ruins. This town can only be reached by train or by walking. This is the town where the trains arrive from Cusco or Ollantaytambo for the tour to Machu Picchu, there are hotels for visitors, restaurants and you can do some shopping.
Now! From Machu Picchu Pueblo are the departures of the buses that drive up to Citadel, This drive takes about 20 to 25 minutes. Machu Picchu Pueblo is located at 2,040 meters and its name before (Aguas Calientes = Hot water) comes from the hot springs that are close to the town.

The Colca Canyon is one of the most scenic regions in Peru, a land of imposing snowcapped volcanoes, narrow gorges, artistically terraced agricultural slopes that predate the Incas, arid desert landscapes and vegetation, and remote traditional villages.

Some of Peru’s most recognizable wildlife, including llamas, alpacas, vicuñas are easy to find here. Also the canyon is home to the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus); here you will have the best chance to get of them amazing pictures!

The 120km-long “Cañón del Colca” is set among high volcanoes (6613m-high Coropuna and 6310m-high Ampato are the tallest) and ranges from 1000 mts. to more than 4160 mts. depth. For years there was raging controversy over whether or not this was the world’s deepest canyon with 4,160mts, but recently it ranked as the third one after Kali Gandaki in Nepal with 4,375 mts.

Despite its depth, the Colca canyon is geologically young. The Colca river has cut into beds of mainly volcanic rocks, which were deposited less than 100 million years ago along the line of a major fault in the earth’s crust.

The climate is cool and dry on the plateau and slopes high above the Colca river.

The Colca Canyon is also synonym for extensive biodiversity, with an incredible flora and fauna. This special characteristic of the canyon occurs because Peru is located in the subtropical area of South America and it has a rugged geography, in addition, ocean currents and the air mass movements, create an incomparable ecological, climatic and geological variety.

This is a the reason of the importance of conserving the ecosystems that keep alive the variety of animals and plants that this canyon has, a true natural wonder.

The condors are best seen in the early morning and late afternoon when they are hunting. At this point the canyon floor is 3,960 feet (1,200 m). Also Viscachas (burrowing rodents closely related to chinchillas) are also common around the canyon rim, darting furtively among the rocks.

Cacti dot many slopes and, if they’re in flower, you may be lucky enough to see tiny nectar-eating birds braving the spines to feed. In the depths of the canyon it can be almost tropical, with palm trees, ferns and even orchids in some isolated areas.

The La Calera natural hot springs are located at Chivay, the biggest town in the Colca Canyon. But you can also enjoy others hots springs with less visitors in other towns such as Yanque and Coporaque.
Festivals throughout the year, including the Wititi festival in Chivay, (December 8–11) are a high light. The Wititi has been declared the dance most representative of the Arequipa region, and named as a “cultural heritage” of Peru.

The Colca canyon is also well known for two forms of crafts: goods knitted from 100% baby alpaca fiber (hats, gloves, etc.), and a unique form of embroidery that adorns skirts (polleras), hats, vests, and other items of daily wear and use.

The local people (especially the women) are known for their highly decorative traditional clothing. The women’s dresses and jackets are intricately embroidered, and their hats are distinctive.
In the Chivay area at the east end of the canyon, the white hats are usually woven from straw and are embellished with lace, sequins and medallions. At the west end of the canyon, the hats are of cotton and are painstakingly embroidered.

The women don’t particularly enjoy being photographed, so always ask permission. And those who pose for photographs expect a tip.

Colca canyon Activities:

Fauna and Flora observations, Hiking, short walks, mountain biking, trekking, rafting, horseback riding, fishing, and sightseeing.

Organized tours to this destination have daily departures.

It is a destination for all type of travelers, from those who are looking for some relaxing days with luxury service (hotels 4* and 5 *), adventure lovers (because of the many activities that here can be done); classic travelers and family tours (organized tours with visit to all highlights, and family experiences with locals) to low budget travelers.

Sources: Wikipedia, Lonely Travel, Promperu.