The road from Chivay to Arequipa has its peak apparently at 4,910 meters / 16,110 ft.
Photos on the internet show the nameless pass summit with a stone sign indicating this altitude and Google Earth/Maps confirms an elevation of some 4,860 meters – higher than Ticlio-Pass. From Arequipa there are two routes to Chivay, the first village on the edge of the Canyon: the old route, via the suburb of Cayma, and the new route following the railway, through Yura, which is longer but quicker. It can be cold, reaching 4825 m on the Pata Pampa pass, north of Cañahuas, but the views are worth it. Cyclists should use the Yura road, as it’s in better condition and has less of a climb at the start.
The old dirt route runs north from Arequipa, over the altiplano. About an hour out of Arequipa is the Aguada Blanca National Vicuña Reserve. If you’re lucky, you can see herds of these rare and timid camelids near the road. If taking a bus to the reserve to vicuña-watch, there should be enough traffic on the road to be able to hitch a ride back to Arequipa in the evening. This route affords fine views of the volcanoes Misti, Chachani, Ampato and the active Sabancaya.
From Chivay, a road heads northeast to Tuti, where there is a small handicrafts shop, and Sibayo, with a pensión and grocery store. A long circuit back to Arequipa heads south from Sibayo, passing through Puente Callalli (where Arequipa buses can sometimes be caught for Cuzco), Chullo and Sumbay. This is a little-travelled road, but the views of fine landscapes with vicuña, llamas, alpacas and Andean duck are superb. Another road from Sibayo goes northwest, following the northern side of the Colca mountain range to Cailloma, Orcopampa and Andagua. Water from the Colca river has been diverted through a series of tunnels and canals to the desert between Repartición and Camaná, to irrigate the Majes pampa.
