Ride horseback across the high, rugged tablelands between Cusco and Arequipa. We will see mountains, canyons, caverns, hot springs, and get to know the country folk and native animals and ecology of the high plateau. We ride up the geologically disturbed Apurimac River and down the Colca Canyon where we will view condors.

Today we go from Cusco to Espinar (Yauri) and then by horseback to the Hacienda Puente Central.

We follow the River Apurimac upstream into the department of Arequipa. At Angostura we camp and eat alongside hot springs. The altitude is now at 4800 meters.

We ride in the surrounding area to get to know the highlands, where the vegetation is markedly different from the valleys closer to Cusco. Opportunity to fish in one of the high lakes.

Ride to Caylloma, a village on the River Apurimac.

We leave the Apurimac River at its headwaters, the twin llakes of Vilafro and Huarhuarco and pass south, around Mts. Culluncuya and Choquecarao, whose north faces drain into a tributary of the Apurimac. Between Choquecarao and the highlands of Mts. Sabancaya and Huaroncate the Colca canyon cuts its huge impression. Here we rest for the night.

Today we descend into the Colca Canyon. At midday we arrive at Chivay, a small town at the bottom of the world's second deepest canyon. Here there are hot springs and a wonderful hotel to welcome us after the rough descent.

At dawn the Andean Condor rises on thermals wafting up the sides of the canyon and the mists evaporate away. We go to Cruz del Condor, where condors rise near the rock wall and we await for the condors to rise close to us. After lunch we return to Arequipa.