At 08:00 a.m., we’ll collect you from your hotel in Arequipa (2335 m a.s.l.) and take you by tourist transport to Pampa Cañahuas. Estimated travel time: 2 hours.

You’ll find more information in the Details and Notes tab.

Time for a break. A short stop to take in the high Andean landscape from the Pampas Cañahuas viewpoint (over 4000 m a.s.l.). From here, you’ll see the majestic Misti volcano, Arequipa’s guardian peak.

But that’s not the only unforgettable sight. Pampas Cañahuas is also home to South American camelids (llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos). If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of them all.

Back on the road. Your next stop is Patahuasi, just 10 minutes away.

New vistas and breathtaking high-altitude views await you at Patahuasi (4200 m a.s.l.), where you’ll take in the snow-capped peaks of Ampato, Sabancaya, Hualca Hualca, and Mismi, as well as the mighty summits of the Chila mountain range.

The stunning views are often complemented by sightings of alpaca herds and wild vicuñas, prized for having one of the finest fibres in the world. This elegant animal even appears on Peru’s national coat of arms.

While at the viewpoint, we recommend grabbing a hot drink from the nearby restaurants. A traditional coca leaf tea is a great way to ease symptoms of altitude sickness.

It’s time to continue. Your next destination: the ghost town of Sumbay and its train cemetery.

They left. One by one. A slow abandonment. One family this week, another the next. Eventually, Sumbay was left without inhabitants — becoming a true ghost town.

This now-abandoned village dates back to the late 19th century, when a railway station was built to connect Arequipa with Puno and Cusco across the high plains.

The station played a key role in transporting goods and people well into the 20th century. But that golden age is long gone. Today, all that remains are broken-down wagons and rusting engines.

At its peak, the ghost town was home to up to 200 persons (Approximately 1,000 residents), many of whom worked in commerce and mining.

However, the economic crisis of the 1990s forced many families to leave. They migrated to Arequipa, seeking a better life — one filled with struggle, but also hope.

After exploring this ghostly place, you’ll take a 20-minute walk to reach the highlight of the tour: the Sumbay rock art caves.

Thousands of years ago, nomadic groups who wandered the high Andean plains painted more than 500 images on the inner walls of a protective cave at 4127 m a.s.l.

The Sumbay caves are among the oldest and most valuable rock art sites in South America, dating back between 8000 and 6000 BC. What makes them unique is that they go beyond just depicting hunting scenes.

In Sumbay, you’ll see anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figures—camelids, deer, pumas and ñandús (the Andean ostrich)—as well as scenes of daily life and possible rituals from early agrarian societies.

A fascinating detail is the depiction of camelids at rest, suggesting the artwork may reflect the beginnings of animal domestication and agriculture in the Andes and Altiplano.

This marks a historic moment, a major social and cultural shift that laid the foundations for sedentary life and the development of pre-Hispanic civilisations. That is the true significance of Sumbay, the extraordinary destination you’re exploring.

After this journey back to prehistory, get ready for lunch in Patahuasi, where we’ll take you by tourist vehicle.

Time for a well-deserved break and a high-altitude lunch in Patahuasi (4200 m a.s.l.), where a varied menu with local flavour awaits you, including vegetarian options and hot drinks to warm you up.

Patahuasi is known for being one of the coldest areas in Arequipa. In winter, temperatures can drop as low as -18°C! But don’t worry — by lunchtime the weather is usually much milder.

Take advantage of the break to browse for handicrafts and souvenirs. Buying locally helps support the economy of Patahuasi’s residents, many of whom are Quechua-speaking farmers.

Once you’ve finished lunch and shopping, we’ll return to the city of Arequipa in our tourist vehicle.

The Sumbay Caves Tour ends at around 16:00, when we’ll drop you off at your hotel in Arequipa.