The "Misti" Volcano in Arequipa 2d/1n

The Volcano “El Misti” is a glorious sight to behold when visiting the City of Arequipa, the 2nd largest city in Peru. Looming at an incredible 5830 meters (19,101 feet), this magnificent stratovolcano, whose name means “Gentleman” in Quechua, stands guard over the inhabitants of Arequipa. Although technically still an active volcano, Misti has only erupted four times in the past 500 years with the last major occurrence in 1870. This unforgettable two-day climb takes you to the top of the volcano and into the crater, and then back again – all the while accompanied by splendid views of the surrounding desert terrain.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Arequipa – Eagle’s Nest

You will be picked up from your hotel or hostel in Arequipa at 8 AM and we will travel approximately 1 ½ hours in a 4x4 to the western part of the base of the volcano. From the base, we will ascend another ½ hour in the 4x4 to our starting point of “Los Pastores.” From here, we begin a steep ascend of six to eight hours to our first base camp, aptly named “the Eagle’s Nest.” Here, we will enjoy a nice dinner prepared by our cooks, set up camp, and get to bed for an early wakeup. The hiking is characterized by being sandy and slippery, but not technical. You should be relatively fit and acclimatized to the altitude in order to have an enjoyable experience.

Day 2
Eagle's Nest – Summit – Volcano Crater – Downhill – Arequipa

We will get up early (usually around 4 AM) and eat a quick breakfast and get on our way. While summiting Misit, we will enjoy expansive views of the desert landscape far below. After about 4 to 6 hours, we will enter the snowcap area of the volcano (depending on the season) and adjust our equipment if necessary.  We will carry light snacks, ample water, sack lunches and first-aid gear for our ascent and leave all unnecessary items at base camp in order to cut down our weight. We usually reach the cross at the summit around 10 AM, at which point we will have 2 hours to walk around the rim of the volcano and snap some pictures or descend into the crater to get a closer look at the inner workings of an active volcano. We will enjoy great views of the nearby (and slightly higher) volcanoes of Chachani and Pichu Pichu. At 12 pm, we will start back towards the base camp, which will take approximately 2 ½ hours.  We will have a quick lunch, pack up, and head back to the starting point of the trail where our 4x4 will be waiting to take us back to Arequipa. Ascent times depend on the physical condition of each climber, so if you are a fast hiker you may want to consider a private tour if you are also hoping to visit the deep crater of the volcano.