The Misti volcano may be dormant, but Arequipa wakens every morning amidst a flurry of activity. And although the summit of the volcano is often wreathed by small clouds of smoke, the Arequipa townsfolk -proud of their land- do not fail to invite visitors to stroll through the streets of white stone and traditional squares. The lordly city of Arequipa owes the characteristic hue of its houses and other constructions to the white sillar stone quarried in the region.

Itinerary

Day 01
A private vehicle will pick you up from your hotel and two hours later we will arrive at the base of Misti (3300 mts/10700 ft). The landscape changes dramatically with increasing altitude due to the different stresses on the plant life. We will camp at 4300 mts/14000 ft to acclimatize. The view of Arequipa at night is beautiful with the lights of the city in the distance, the lights of the stars overhead, the light of the camp stove and we promise you will appreciate a warm cup of tea and a cooked meal.
Day 02
An early breakfast including the option of mate de coca (an herbal tea of cocoa leaves that helps with the effects of altitude). After breakfast we will start the 5 to 6-hour climb to the summit. The top is a natural observatory – in the distance you can see the Chachani and Picchu Picchu volcanoes, the national Reserve Aguada Blanca, Salinas Lake, the city of Arequipa, small pueblos, and of course, there’s the crater of Misti itself, unique and beautiful beyond words. All the energy you expended climbing Misti is returned to you on the descent. If you wish, you can run/ski/slide down the mountain side because it is comprised mostly of sand which cushions your steps and allows you to stop easily when you need to. We will break down the campsite and then descend for two more hours to the same place where our transportation dropped us off the day before. We will return to Arequipa by 6 pm.