Journey through Arequipa’s dramatic landscapes on this full-day adventure. Explore the ghost town of Pampa de Arrieros, spot vicunas in the Salinas and Aguada Blanca Reserve, hike to the beautiful Pillones Waterfall, and discover the surreal Pillones Stone Forest.
Suitable for all ages.
Two small entrance fees in cash and in soles: S/ 2 at the waterfall and S/ 3 at the Pillones Stone Forest. Bring more than that in small notes for drinks and the toilets along the route, since there is nowhere to pay by card once you leave the city.
Yes. Breakfast and lunch at a local restaurant along the route are both part of the tour price, which matters on a twelve-hour day where there is nowhere else to eat once you leave Arequipa. Drinks are not included. Vegetarian meals and other special diets can be arranged if you tell us when you book.
Well above 4,000 m. You climb from Arequipa at 2,335 m up across the Salinas and Aguada Blanca reserve and the high puna, which is a big change in a single morning. Take it slowly at the stops, drink water throughout, and give yourself a day or two in Arequipa before doing this one rather than making it your first outing.
Short but not flat. The walk down to the Pillones waterfall takes around twenty minutes each way on a rocky path with uneven footing, and the way back up is where the altitude makes itself felt. There is no technical section and you can turn back at any point, but shoes with grip are important.
Volcanic rock formations shaped by centuries of wind and frost. The Pillones Stone Forest is a field of tall standing rocks that look carved rather than eroded, and the Castillos de Puruna are cliff formations that resemble ruined towers and battlements. Together with the ghost town of Pampa de Arrieros, an abandoned railway station on the old line, they are the reason this tour is more than a waterfall.
Layers. Pickup is at 06:00 and the puna is cold and windy at that hour, then the sun becomes intense by midday at over 4,000 m. Bring a warm jacket, hat and gloves for the early part, sunglasses and strong sunscreen for later, and shoes with grip for the waterfall path. The day ends back in Arequipa around 17:30.
