Climbing in the mountains is always exciting and challenging, but climbing a volcano is doubly so, because you get to see all the way from the foot to the top and appreciate the difference in elevation and the work it takes to reach your goal. And what could be more exhilarating than looking right into the crater of an active volcano and seeing the smoking fumaroles? Not many places in the world offer such an opportunity, and one such place is on the South American continent in the faraway Peru country.
Here, less than 20 kilometers from the million-city of Arequipa, stands the active but now temporarily dormant volcano El Misti, 5,822 meters above sea level, whose last eruption was recorded in 1985. And next door to it is another older volcano, Chachani, which has not shown signs of life for a long time and is probably one of the most logistically accessible and easy to climb 6,000m high volcanoes on our planet. In our ascent to Peru we will climb both of these volcanoes, having previously received acclimatization to the altitude in another part of the country - near the famous lost city of Machu Picchu, in the ancient Inca capital of Cusco and on the legendary Lake Titicaca.
The basic duration of the program is 14 days. If you wish you can extend your journey through Peru, visiting the oasis of Huacachina and admiring the mysterious lines of the Nazca Desert.
We made the route as interesting as possible. In addition to climbing 2 volcanoes you will find a lot of amazing places!
We live in hotels of the *** level on the basis of 2-3 local accommodation in private rooms. No hostels or dormitories, you will always have a hot shower and private space. Overnight stays in tents only 2 times during the program - at base camps just before climbing volcanoes. You do not need to bring your own equipment - tents and mats are provided by your host.
Our climbs in Peru boast excellent service! You carry only your personal belongings and water with you. Our porters will take everything you need for the night, as well as cooking utensils, fuel and food, to the base camp. The staff of the camp also prepares food for you during the ascent. You should take with you only small snacks for the ascent itself: sweets, protein bars, nuts or dried fruits.
We take seriously the need for gradual acclimatization to altitude and make it as smooth as possible, without sudden drops, which is very likely to help you minimize the unpleasant symptoms of altitude sickness and successfully reach the goal of climbing.
All sightseeing tours guide will lead you in Russian, so you can learn a lot about the history of Peru, as well as ask any questions about the local traditions, cuisine or contemporary realities.
We do not cancel or reschedule groups. If the manager has given permission to buy a ticket, you can buy it with confidence. There will be no cancellation through our fault.
Kuluar experienced teamleaders will accompany the group along the entire route, making your trip as memorable and safe as possible! They have been to South America many times and know the country in detail.
The manager, who will advise you before the trekking, thoroughly knows the route and will tell you about it in detail.
More than 12,000 participants have already gone to the mountains with the Kuluar and 97.8% were satisfied.
The group gathers in Lima, the capital city of Peru. Here we will spend the night in a comfortable hotel to get a good night's sleep and rest after a long international flight. Those who arrive in the morning will have the opportunity to explore the sights of the city or take a walk along the Pacific coast. Over dinner we will get to know the whole team, and teamleader will give a briefing and answer all questions about the future program and the ascent.
In the morning we fly to Cusco, the capital of the ancient Inca Empire. But we don't stay here yet, but go to explore the attractions of the Sacred Valley: the Moray Circles, the salt terraces of Maras, and the city of Ollantaytambo, where we take the train to the main goal of our trip in this part of the country - the ruins of Machu Picchu, lost in the jungle of Peru. We will stay at the hotel from where we will explore the city tomorrow.
We wake up early and, with a small snack, head to the entrance of the archaeological complex at dawn. The entrance gates to Machu Picchu open to visitors at 6 a.m., which is the ideal time to start exploring the city. It is especially important to be at the entrance as early as possible if you want to climb one of the mountains inside the city walls: Huayna Picchu or Montaña Machu Picchu, which you will need to buy tickets for in advance, as they only sell 200 for each day.
But even without climbing the mountains there is plenty to keep us busy: we'll walk along the terraces, explore the streets and buildings, see various blocks of houses, shrines, palaces, and temples, and, if we wish, stroll to the far corners of the city: to the Inca Bridge or the Gate of the Sun. Our time to see the city will last until noon, as the new rules of the complex now limit the time tourists can stay inside. So we descend back to the village of Aguas Calientes and take the train back to Cusco.
Today will be the next stage of our gradual acclimatization to the altitude, which we have already started by visiting Machu Picchu at 2400m above sea level. Cusco is a thousand meters higher, its altitude is 3400m, which means there is less oxygen and the body needs some time to adapt to the new conditions.
But this does not mean that we are going to sit still. On the contrary, our acclimatization will be as active as possible and we will try to cover the most interesting sights of Cuzco and its surroundings. First of all, they are the Muyucmarca Fortress within the Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Complex, the Tambomachay Water Temple, the Kenko Sanctuary and the Puca Pucara Fortress, as well as the Plaza de Armas, Cuzco's main square and the Cathedral, the Coricancha Temple of the Sun and Santo Domingo Cathedral.
To prepare for the upcoming volcano ascent and to get even better used to the thin, high-altitude air, today we will ascend to a new altitude of 5,200 meters above sea level. For this we will take a day hike to one of the most picturesque places in the Peruvian mountains, Cerro Vinicucca, also called the Rainbow Mountain or Rainbow Mountains. It is an unusually beautiful mountain range composed of bright red, orange and yellow rocks. We will also visit the nearby Red Valley, then go back down and rest in Cusco.
On the way to the foot of the volcanoes waiting for us we will make another interesting stop on the shore of Lake Titicaca, which is the largest in South America by fresh water reserves and the second largest after Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela, as well as the highest navigable lake in the world. We will spend the night in a hotel in the small town of Puno at an altitude of 3,900 meters.
In the first half of the day we will explore the main attraction of Lake Titicaca, the floating islands made of reeds by the Uru Indians. We will take the boat to the Indian village, where we will get acquainted with their lifestyle, traditions and crafts, and after the cultural program we will return to Puno and continue to the next point of our journey - the Arequipa city at the foot of the volcanoes El Misti and Chachani.
Our ascent to El Misti volcano in Peru will start at 3500 m where we will be taken by cross-country jeeps with all our gear. Then we take our backpacks with everything we need for the next two days and start the ascent to the base camp at 4550 m. which usually takes about 3-4 hours. Here we pitch tents, have dinner and get ready for the forthcoming night summit assault. Overnight in tents. Height: 4550m.
Distance: 5 km. Climb: 1050m.
We wake up, like all real climbers, long before dawn and after a light breakfast we leave for the ascent. Such early departure is necessary to have enough time to descend in case of slow movement or bad weather. The ascent is not technically difficult and requires only good physical form and acclimatization to the altitude, which we have already gained during the previous trekkings.
We will hike along the frozen lava streams and volcanic ash, and when we reach the summit we will be able to look into the main crater of the volcano and see active fumaroles, sources of hot volcanic gases smouldering there. On the same day we will have to go back to the base camp, pack our things and tents, and go down to the transport waiting for us at the beginning of the road.
Distanse: 11 km. Climb: 1270m, Drop: 2320m.
Today we are resting from climbing, but in order not to lose acclimatization we will go higher again to explore the natural attractions of the Altiplano, the high plains of Peru. We will visit Salinas National Park and Aguada Blanca, where we will have a chance to see the salt flats similar to the world famous Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia, as well as get to know the local fauna: wild vicunas, whiskers and pink flamingos.
After resting in Arequipa we return to the mountains. Today we will go to the base camp of Chachani volcano, one of the most accessible and technically uncomplicated six-thousanders in the world.
Because of the dry climate on the mountain there is relatively little snow and in some years you can climb even without special equipment - crampons and ice axes. But if the snow at the top of the mountain is delayed this season, our guides will give you all the necessary equipment and show how to use it correctly in order to ensure maximum safety on the snowy sections. The base camp will already be at an altitude of over 5 thousand meters. Overnight in tents.
We go on to the top at night, as we did last time, and meet the dawn on the way to the summit. From the slopes of Chachani we will have a view of the other peaks of the massif, the most prominent of which are named Angel and Fatima. And from the top we will see the cone of El Misti volcano, which is less than 20 km away. The way to the summit takes on average about 6 hours, after which a quick descent down to the base camp, where we pack and go to the road, from where the car will take us back to town.
If you wish, you can fly to Lima today, but we recommend continuing the trip for a few more days to see the unique Nazca Lines, whose origin scientists are still puzzling over to this day. From Arequipa we will take a bus to the town of Nazca, where we will stay in a hotel, so that in the morning we can go to the local airfield and take an unforgettable flight over the mystical lines, either created by ancient humans or aliens.
The flight over the Nazca lines takes place in a small plane with a capacity of only 4 people. Thus, each passenger will have a window seat to view the ancient geoglyphs of the Peruvian desert, of which there are currently about thirty, the most famous of which are: a bird, a spider, a monkey, hands and the so-called "astronaut". The size of the drawings is from tens to hundreds of meters and from the plane window they will look just amazing.
After the flight we will have a two-hour drive to the next point of our route, the Oasis of Huacachina, a unique lake in the middle of the sand dunes near the town of Ica. Here we will spend the sunset, and if we wish we can take an extreme ride on a sand "buggy" or ride off the dunes on a sand board.
The express bus will take us to the end point of our journey - back to Lima. In the evening you can go to the fantastic light and music performance Circuito Magico del Agua in the world's largest open-air fountain complex in a park in Lima, and then celebrate the end of the tour in a cozy restaurant with delicious Peruvian food.
Final day of the trip. If your flight is scheduled for the evening or afternoon, you can still visit some of Lima's attractions today, such as the Plaza de Armas with its Cathedral, the catacombs of the San Francisco Monastery with human skeletons, the Gold Museum, the ruins of the pre-Inca pyramids of Huaca Puclana, or the Pachacamac archaeological site. This is where we say goodbye to the wonderful and mysterious country of Peru and fly home.
Depending on the weather conditions, condition and general wishes of the group, teamleader has the right to make changes in the itinerary.
Since our trek is not in the Amazon tropical jungle, it is not necessary to be vaccinated. If you want to, you can do it.
You do not need a visa to Peru. Of the documents you need to have with you only a valid passport.
You must have no illnesses from this list in order to participate in the hike.
After climbing El Misti and Chachani volcanoes, we recommend the following routes:
The flight to Peru from Kiev is possible only with connections in Europe, most often in Paris or Amsterdam. The cost of such an international flight is about $1,200-1,300, but may vary slightly depending on the time of purchase and departure dates. When choosing a flight, keep in mind that with short connections of less than 2 hours there is a high probability of delay of your luggage, which can be delivered only in a couple of days. So try to choose longer connections or prepare in advance all the things you need for the first days in your hand luggage that you will take with you on the plane.
When planning the day of your return flight from Lima, keep in mind that the fountains are not open on Mondays and the Huaca Puclana ruins complex will be closed on Tuesday.
You can use the form below to find the cheapest tickets:
You need good insurance to participate in the program. Please do not neglect this point. It has saved some participants thousands of dollars. Our insurance recommendations can be found here: "Insurance for Kuluar Hikers".
Meals in the cities, during excursions, are not included in the price of the program. Breakfast will usually be included in the price of the hotel, and for dinner we will go to one of the local restaurants, where everyone can choose a dish to their liking. At lunch time we will act according to circumstances - either go to the restaurant or take a pre-prepared snack. Hiking meals during ascents are included in the cost of the program.
For the whole group we book rooms in hotels on the basis of two- or three-bed accommodation, having previously agreed with participants accommodation options and costs. If possible, these will be rooms with private showers and included breakfast. During the ascent we also will stay in tents for 2-3 persons. Mats are issued with the tents, sleeping bags can be brought with you or rented for an additional fee (about $ 20). All the program, except for the two assault days, we live in hotels with hot showers, wi-fi and all the amenities. There are no facilities at the campsites of the base camps, but we won't spend much time there.
It can be quite hot during the day, even at altitude. The Cusco region is characterized by frequent but brief rains. Therefore, be sure to take a good membrane jacket and pants, and do not forget the sunscreen. In the evening at altitude it gets cold, night frosts can reach temperatures down to -15C, so do not forget the warm fleece and thermal underwear. For ascending to heights you must have down jacket or warm jacket with synthetic filling, as well as good wind-protective layer on all parts of the body - windproof jacket and pants, hat, gloves. Boots can be single, but definitely not too tight, so you can wear a few pairs or one pair of thick warm socks.
The cost depends on the number of participants in the group:
The cost of the additional program (days 13-16):
Total additional expenses not included could be $1,900-$2,400 + airfare to Peru. Of these:
Domestic flights Lima-Cusco and Arequipa-Lima: $100-$200. You buy your own tickets for the domestic flights on the dates and flights that our manager will tell you, so that the whole group will fly together on the same flight. The final price of tickets will depend on the carrier's price at the time of purchase. Naturally, the earlier you buy the lower the price, so we advise you not to procrastinate with booking.
Additional mandatory costs for the main program: $1,400
The cost of the additional program includes:
Optional extras (optional): $0-$100
We advise you to exchange about $500-600 in local currency (Peruvian soles, PEN) before your trek. This money will be used for meals in the cafes in the cities, tips for the accompanying crew, and other small expenses in the area. Note that in Peru, because of frequent counterfeiting, dollar bills of the CB series are not accepted. Card payment is possible in cities, but not everywhere. VISA cards are most commonly accepted. ATM cash withdrawals are limited to the equivalent of $200 per transaction and are subject to a fee.
*Please, pay your attention: it's not the manager's task to choose a flight for each participant. The manager gives general recommendations, based on his experience and shares the flights of other participants, so you can fly together. It's up to the participant to select and purchase his own convenient airfare. If you want the manager to buy you a ticket, book a hotel or an additional excursion, read the terms and conditions on the page: additional services.
To reserve a place in the group, you need to make an advance payment of $500 in a convenient way for you. It is after the prepayment and the purchase of tickets that you will be booked in the group. The remainder of the amount should be handed over to teamleader on the first day of the program in cash dollars. In the case of leaving the route, the money is not refundable.
