“Explore the Pillones Waterfalls and the Imata Stone Forest, two fascinating tourist attractions, as we depart from the city of Arequipa. We will drive along the Chachani Volcano, passing through a ghost town called ‘Pampa de Arrieros’, which was well known in the early 20th century (during the era of the train). This town used to be a supply hub for muleteers, travellers, and merchants.
On this tour, you will also visit the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, renowned for its rock formations, as well as the unique flora and fauna of the Peruvian Andes.”
HIGHLIGHTS
Meeting place around 6:00
We will pick you up at your hotel—this applies only to hotels located in the historic centre; if your hotel is outside this area, we will arrange another meeting point that suits you.
Pampa de Arrieros
Discover this ghost town, once used by muleteers and merchants in the early 20th century as a supply hub and train station. Please note that visiting this site is optional and will depend on factors such as traffic, fog, and the preferences of the guide and driver. If this location is not visited, you will instead head to the Pampa de Cañahuas to observe vicuñas.
Breakfast at Patahuasi Cañahuas
You will enjoy a delicious local breakfast in Patahuasi, a small village located at 3,400 mamsl.
Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve
After a hearty breakfast, you will continue your journey by bus, making a brief stop at the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve to spot some Andean wildlife and flora. Then, you’ll continue on to the Imata Stone Forest.
Imata Stone Forest
The bus won’t be able to drop you at the edge of the forest, so you will need to take a walk of approximately [insert time or distance] to reach the Imata Stone Forest.
This forest is filled with volcanic rock formations, featuring fascinating and unique silhouettes sculpted by erosion over millions of years
Pillones Waterfall
After visiting Imata, you will continue your journey by bus until you reach the Pillones Waterfall, located at 4,200 m a.s.l. This attraction is renowned for its stunning waterfall, which cascades more than 10 meters in height.
Lunch in Patahuasi
Upon returning to Patahuasi, you will enjoy a simple yet protein-rich local lunch. Please note that lunch is not included in this package.
Ending place around 16:30
This excursion ends in the historic centre of Arequipa, just three blocks from the main square (Plaza de Armas). The tour does not end at your hotel unless you have booked a private tour.
PRICE
The prices shown in the table are:
- Per person in US dollars ($).
- Pple. = people.
- Group = group service, shared.
| Pple. | Type of tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Private | |
| 1 | $30 | $220 |
| 2 | $30 | $110 |
| 3 | $30 | $90 |
| 4 | $30 | $80 |
| 5 | $30 | $70 |
DETAILS
| Details | Type of tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Private | |
| Schedule | 6:00 to16:30 | You decide |
| Days | Every day | Every day |
| Language | es/en simultaneously | en or es |
| Size | 6 to 15 pax | You and your friends |
| Included | Type of tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Private | |
| Pick up from your hotel | ✅ | ✅ |
| Breakfast | ✅ | ✅ |
| Lunch | ❌ | ❌ |
| Professional guide-driver | ✅ | ✅ |
| Tourist vehicle | ✅ | ✅ |
| Tickets for the Pillones Waterfall: 5 soles pp | ❌ | ❌ |
| Personalized service | ❌ | ✅ |
| Drop off at your hotel | ❌ | ✅ |
Accessibility: This tour is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
What do I bring?
- Sweaters or jackets.
- Anti-slip shoes.
- Raincoats.
- Caps or hats.
- Sunscreen.
- Sunglasses.
- A bottle of water.
- Local currency for your entrance tickets.
WhatsApp:
NOTES
Pick-ups and timings
Group tours:
- All pick-ups and tour ending times are approximate.
- Pick-ups apply only for hotels located in the historic center.
- Your pick-up time will depend on your hotel location.
- If you are out of the historic center, we’ll arrange a meeting point.
- If it’s hard for the vehicle to make it to your hotel, we’ll arrange a meeting point.
- We don’t do pick-ups if there are festivals, strikes and car trafic.
- We’ll arrange all pick-ups and meeting points one day prior your tour.
Private tours:
- Pick-ups are sharp on time.
- Pick-ups apply for all Arequipa city.
- We’ll arrange all pick-ups one day prior your tour.
- The tour ending time is still aprox; but, we’ll do our best to finish the tour as scheduled.
Vehicle type and seats
Vehicles:
- Authorized by the Ministry of Transportation of Peru.
- Clean and modern ones.
- Sedan looking auto, 4×4, H1, Van, Renault and Mercedez Benz (it will depend on the group size).
Seats – group tours:
- You reserve a seat in the bus, not a specific number of seat.
- If you get picked-up first, then you can choose some seats (your pick-up time will depend on your hotel location).
- Couples seat together to 95%; however, we can’t warranty this will happen to 100%.
Road
- Paved track.
- The last part of the road is compacted dirt.
- The road is bumpy sometimes.
- Dust sometimes enters vehicles.
Guide
Authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism. This tour is focused on trekking, not history.
Group tours:
- He goes as a companion to show the way.
- Intermediate English.
- There is not much explanation during the tour.
Private tours:
- He will always be at your disposal.
- Intermediate-advanced English.
- There is plenty of explanation during the tour.
Driver
- The driver sometimes drives fast due to distance and time constraints.
- If you book a private tour, the driver will drive at a normal speed.
- The driver sometimes listens to music to stay awake.
Entrance ticket discounts
Kids, minors, students and Peruvians may have discounts but an official ID is required to show:
- Kids and minors: Bring their official passaports to prove their age.
- Students: Bring your offficial passport and goverment issued ID.
- Peruvians: Bring your oficial ID.
Operability and itinerary
This tour is subject to variation without any prior notice, due to weather conditions, strikes and any other event that doesn’t allow the normal tour operation. See also our terms.
CANCELLATIONS
Cancellation of the tour is free as long as you do so at least 48 hours in advance, otherwise we will charge 100% of the tour price. See also our terms.
REVIEWS
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REVIEWS
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