Climbing Misti Volcano

El Misti Volcano rises behind the White City of Arequipa, and has become an iconic symbol of the city and its unique culture. If you find the volcano beckoning to you during your visit to the city, you’ll be glad to know that there are two different excursions you can take to El Misti. One is to arrange a downhill biking trip that begins on its slope and ends back in Arequipa city proper, and the other is to arrange a hiking trip to the Volcano’s summit.

Climbing is an excellent option because it’s the only way to actually see the volcano’s crater. This option takes two days, with tours beginning in Arequipa. You’re picked up at your hotel or hostel and taken to the volcano in a 4×4.

You’ll be taken as far as possible in the jeep, although you’ll still need to hike a bit to reach base camp, which will be set up at 4,700 meters above sea level. There, dinner will be prepared for you, which you can enjoy while learning about the history of El Misti Volcano and the legends which surround it. Most famously, an expedition in 1998 found 6 Incan mummies, sacrificed youths, near the crater. You’ll be able to see Arequipa in the distance, and on most nights the sky is astonishingly full of stars. It does get very cold at night, so you’ll want to pack warm layers in order to sleep comfortably.

On the second day, you’ll need to rise very, very early in order to undertake the ascent to the volcano’s summit. The goal is to avoid climbing during the strong sun and to enjoy wonderful views of the sunrise. It will take about 6 hours to reach the top. During the time, you’ll be able to increasingly more expansive views of the surrounding landscape. From the summit, you’ll be able to see the volcano’s crater at close-range, and further in the distance, the large peaks of the Chachani and Picchu Picchu volcanoes loom high. You’ll see the high-altitude Salinas Lake, the wetlands of Aguada Blanca Reserve. At the correct time, you’ll even see the shadow of El Misti as it reaches and falls over Arequipa city. And, on a clear day in the summertime, you can see as far as the Pacific Ocean.

After the longer climb up El Misti Volcano, the descent is very quick. After packing up base camp, we’ll head back to Arequipa, and will arrive at the city by around 4pm.

Back in the city, visit us at Pirwa Arequipa for affordable lodging in the historic center of the city, just 4 blocks from the main square!