Best Tours to the Origin and source of the Amazon River
The origin of the Amazon River was studied by the first expeditions that arrived in Peru, such as that of Commander Jaques Yves Cousteau, by National Geographic. And also by journalists and researchers from around the world.
The Amazon River is 6785 km long and crosses three South American countries: Peru, Colombia and empties into the Atlantic Ocean in Brazil.
The Amazon River at its widest part is 330km wide.
The Amazon River is one of the largest rivers in the world with an average flow of about 219,000 m²/s and is responsible for one fifth of all the water discharged into the oceans.
The origin of the Amazon River is located in the Arequipa region in the Colca Valley at an altitude of 5182 meters above sea level, near a snow-capped mountain named Mismi. The snow-capped Mismi has a height of 5593m.
Here we offer the best options to discover the amazon river source in 2 and 3 days also in a full day tour.
Tour to the Origin of the Amazon River in one day
| Duration | 1 day |
| Difficulty | Easy + |
This option is for people who do not have much time and want to visit one of the most important places on the entire American continent.
We pick you up from your hotel at 3 am from Arequipa city, with our 4×4 truck we travel to the town of Chivay – Colca Valley.
In this town we have breakfast.
Then we continue in the 4×4 truck towards the upper part of the Colca valley passing through the town of Tuti 3800 meters above sea level and we continue with the same 4×4 until 5182 meters above sea level.
From here we walked about 30 minutes with our guide until we find the official Origin. At this origin are all the commemorative and official plaques of all the expeditions from all over the world that came here to confirm the origin of the Amazon River.
After appreciating and admiring the origin of the fifth part of the planet’s fresh water, we descend with the 4×4 truck to the town of Chivay 3700 meters above sea level.
Here we enjoy the hot springs at a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius (Optional).
Lunch.
Returning to the city of Arequipa we will visit the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve.
We visit the Andes-Patapampa viewpoint located at 4900 meters above sea level. From here we can see the Pacific Ring of Fire, which consists of more than 8 volcanoes and some of them active, and in the distance the Chila mountain range with the snow-capped Mismi saying goodbye to us.
We will also visit the Tocja Pampa wetlands where we can see birds, Alpacas and llamas.
Before arriving to the city of Arequipa we will visit a part of the reserve where we can find wild vicuñas in the middle of their natural environment.
We arrive at 5pm in the city of Arequipa.
Important. – After lunch you can take a connection to the city of Puno.
This tourist bus leaves at 1:00 p.m. and arrives in Puno at 7:30 p.m.
This is at an additional cost and we can organize this for you.
And don’t worry, if you continue to Puno city you wouldn’t miss anything because the tourist bus to Puno makes stops in the national reserve and there is a guide inside the bus.
Included:
- Official guide
- Professional driver
- 4×4 transportation
- Certificate confirming the visit to the origin
- Entrance to the national reserve
- Entrance to the thermal baths
- Breakfast / lunch
Not included:
- Drinks and tips
IMPORTANT. – This tour can be organized from Cabanaconde and we can drop to Arequipa city or to Chivay city to take the connection to Puno.
Tour to the Origin of the Amazon River + Tour to Colca 2 days
| Duration | 2 days |
| Difficulty | Easy + |
Day 1.-
We pick you up from your hotel in the city of Arequipa at 4 am in the city of Arequipa. With our 4×4 truck we travel to the town of Chivay – Colca Valley.
In this town we have breakfast.
Then we continue with the 4×4 truck towards the upper part of the Colca valley passing through the town of Tuti 3800 meters above sea level and we continue with the same 4×4 until 5182 meters above sea level.
From here we walk about 30 minutes with our guide until we find the official Origin. At this origin are all the commemorative and official plaques of all the expeditions from all over the world that came here to confirm the origin of the Amazon River.
After appreciating and admiring the origin of the fifth part of the planet’s fresh water, we descend with the 4×4 truck to the town of Chivay 3700 meters above sea level.
Lunch.
In the afternoon we explore the Colca Valley without tourists.
We explore the Colca Valley from the natural viewpoints of Antahuilque, Mollepunku, Choquetico.
We will appreciate some ceremonial stones and hanging tombs.
Until we reach the Condor Cross.
This day we will have the Condor Cross just for ourselves without tourists, we will have the privilege of enjoying the favorite place where the condors fly.
Then we do the Andes sunset trek, from 3600 meters above sea level to 3287 meters above sea level. This walk lasts 1 hour. We will cross agricultural terraces and we will be able to appreciate the local people in their daily activities. We will also enjoy the sunset until we reach the town of Cabanaconde 3287 meters above sea level.
Night and dinner at our hotel.
Day 2.-
5am, we start of the trek to the Achachihua Viewpoint, from here you can see the trek circuits within the Colca Canyon, an Oasis within the canyon, a waterfall on the other side of the canyon. There is also the possibility of seeing condors.
Duration of the walk 1 hour, flat
Breakfast at the hotel and we continue towards the Cruz del Condor to appreciate the flight of the condor for the second time and to avoid the large masses of tourists we take a walk along the canyon for 1 hour.
We continue with the transportation towards Yanque to enjoy the hot springs that are located next to the Colca River.
On the way we can stop to take photos from the different viewpoints.
Lunch in Chivay.
Returning to the city of Arequipa we will visit the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve.
We visit the Andes-Patapampa viewpoint located at 4900 meters above sea level. From here we can see the Pacific Ring of Fire, which consists of more than 8 volcanoes and some of them active, and in the distance the Chila mountain range with the snow-capped Mismi saying goodbye to us.
We will also visit the Tocja Pampa wetlands, here we can see birds, Alpacas and llamas.
Before arriving to the city of Arequipa we will visit a part of the reserve where we can find wild vicuñas in the middle of their natural environment.
We arrive at 5pm in the city of Arequipa.
Important. – After lunch you can take a connection to the city of Puno.
This tourist bus leaves at 1:00 p.m. and arrives in Puno at 7:30 p.m. This is at an additional cost and we can organize this for you.
And don’t worry, if you continue to Puno city you wouldn’t miss anything because the tourist bus to Puno makes stops in the national reserve and there is a guide inside the bus.
Includes:
- Official guide
- Professional driver
- 4×4 transportation
- Certificate confirming the visit to the origin
- Entrance to the thermal baths
- Entrance to the national reserve
- 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and one dinner
- Night in our hotel in a private room, with private bathroom and showers
Does not include
- Drinks and tips
Tour to the Origin of the Amazon River - Mismi Summit - Colca valley and canyon 3 days
| Duration | 3 days |
| Difficulty | Medium |
Duration: 3 days
First day. - AREQUIPA -CHIVAY-TUTI
At 6:00am we pick you up from your hotel in a comfortable and safe transport. After 2 hours of travel, we find the main road that goes to the Colca Valley. In this sector called Pampas Cañahuas we can observe the vicuñas, which are non-domesticated camelids that live freely within the Aguada Blanca and Salinas National Reserve.
On this tour you can take advantage of the opportunity to use the toilets and bathrooms located in the Chasqui Pampa sector. Then we will continue towards the Tojra Pampa wetlands where we can observe different birds such as: the booby bird, the black ibis, the Andean duck, guayatas, Andean gulls, etc.
Near this sector we can find herds of llamas and alpacas.
On this trip you pass through a height of 4850 meters above sea level. (Mirador de los volcanes-Patapampa), where it is possible to see the different volcanoes or called the volcanic belt of southern Peru, you can also see the central Andes Mountain range.
After approximately 4-5 hours of travel and visits we arrive at the Colca Valley to the town of Chivay 3600 meters above sea level.
We had lunch in the town of Chivay
After lunch we do our acclimatization trek.
From 3600 to 3800 meters above sea level
The name of this hike is TREK IN THE CANOCOTA CANYON.
We start walking from Chivay hot springs and continue upstream, in the first part we skirt the river bank where you can progressively see the formation of this small canyon full of nature, geological formations and very good views.
On this trek we will only find local people.
At the end of the trek, the transport picks us up in the town of Canocota to go to the town of Tuti 3800 meters above sea level, to spend the night at the locals’ house.
Dinner in a home stay.
Second day.- TUTI - MISMI SUMMIT - ORIGIN OF THE AMAZON RIVER - COLCA VALLEY - CABANACONDE
This day it is recommended to leave early, because it is our main day where we walk to the summit of the snow-capped Mismi and visit the origin of the Amazon River.
After breakfast we leave at 06:00 am in our truck, we climb progressively until we reach 5250 meters above sea level. We arrive at approximately 08:00am and began the walk.
From this height we begin to climb to the summit of the snow-capped Mismi 5597 meters above sea level, 2-3 hours depending on your physical condition.
Is not technical is just a trek.
Then we descend for 1 hour until we reach the origin of the Amazon River 5182 meters above sea level.
Here our truck awaits us to descend to Chivay, 3700 meters above sea level.
Lunch.
In the afternoon we explore the Colca Valley without tourists because all tourists stay in the town of Chivay or Yanque.
We explore the Colca Valley from the natural viewpoints of Antahuilque, Mollepunku, Choquetico.
We appreciate some ceremonial stones and hanging tombs until we reach the condor cross, this day we have the condor cross just for ourselves without tourists, we have the privilege of enjoying the favorite place where the condors fly.
Then we continue with the transportation to the town of Cabanaconde 3287 meters above sea level, where we have dinner and spend the night at the hotel.
Third day. -CRUZ DEL CONDOR -CHIVAY-HOT SPRINGS - AREQUIPA
5am, we start of the walk to the Achachihua Viewpoint, from here you can see the trek circuits within the Colca Canyon, an Oasis within the canyon, a waterfall on the other side of the canyon. There is also the possibility of seeing condors.
Duration of the walk 1 hour flat
Breakfast at the hotel and we continue towards the Cruz del Condor to appreciate the flight of the condor for the second time and to avoid the large masses of tourists we take a walk along the canyon for 1 hour.
We continue with the transportation towards Yanque to enjoy the hot springs that are located next to the Colca River.
On the way, we can stop to take photos from the different viewpoints.
Lunch in Chivay.
Returning to the city of Arequipa we will visit the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve.
We visit the Andes-Patapampa viewpoint located at 4900 meters above sea level. From here we can see the Pacific Ring of Fire, which consists of more than 8 volcanoes and some of them active, and in the distance the Chila mountain range with the snow-capped Mismi saying goodbye to us.
We visit the Tocja Pampa wetlands where we can see birds, Alpacas and llamas.
Before arriving to the city of Arequipa we visit a part of the reserve where we can find wild vicuñas in the middle of their natural environment.
We arrive at 5pm in the city of Arequipa.
Important. – After lunch you can take a connection to the city of Puno.
This tourist bus leaves at 1:00 p.m. and arrives in Puno at 7:30 p.m. This is at an additional cost and we can organize this for you.
And don’t worry, if you continue to Puno city you wouldn’t miss anything because the tourist bus to Puno makes stops in the national reserve and there is a guide inside the bus.
Our office in Arequipa City
Information: +51 958962369 / 941414048 lacasadesantiago@hotmail.com
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