Early in the morning, you will travel to the Mirador de la Cruz del Cóndor (Condor Cross Lookout). With its incredibly vast and breath-taking expanses, it is considered to be the best spot in the world to see the majestic Andean Condor in flight. Be on the lookout for the sudden appearance of this emblematic bird on the verge of extinction. With a little luck, you will enjoy a truly awe-inspiring experience as you watch this awesome bird soar, almost magically, ever higher into the infinite blue sky. From this vantage point, you will be able to look out across one of the world's deepest canyons (13,650 feet [4,160 m] deep at the northern end and 11,800 feet [3,600 m] deep on its southern end).
After lunch, you will experience an awe-inspiring trip of about six hours through the unique landscapes of the high mountain plain.
The trip will begin in Colca Valley, and shortly thereafter you will reach the Mirador de los Andes (Lookout Point of the Andes) in Patapampa. Here you will be able to view a landscape covered with yaretas, a local type of cactus that has adapted to the high altitude, and you will see the snow-capped peaks of the various volcanos that surround Arequipa, among them the Hualca Calca, the Sabancaya, and the Ampato.
Continuing the trip, you will circle along the base of the Chucura volcano as you make your way towards Pampa Cañahuas, a rugged plain that belongs to the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, a place where guanacos, alpacas, and vicuñas freely roam. The pastoral countryside of Pampa Cañahuas, covered with ichu grass and yareta cacti, reveals a unique flora capable of surviving at extreme altitudes and temperatures. A few miles away, you will be able to see the grand Bosque de Piedras de Imata (Imata Stone Forest) in the distance. You will then arrive in Lagunillas, which sits at 13,684 ft. (4,171 m) above sea level. Here you will observe numerous species of migratory and Andean birds, among them Andean flamingos and crakes. You will end your trip in the legendary city of Puno, built on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
Overnight in Puno