Choferes ebrios intentan abusar sexualmente de guia de turismo en Chivay

por The Colca Specialist

La informalidad,el desorden,la inercia de nuestras autoridades representativas del sector turismo y en especial del Gobierno Regional de Arequipa,Autocolca,Directur y la Municipalidad de la Provincia de Caylloma ha sido la causa principal de toda la crisis en la que se encuentra el sector turismo de Arequipa. En lo que va de esta parte del año la muerte de la turista brasilera Paula Sibov ha causado la consternación del turismo mundial y ahora nos damos cuenta de que la informalidad nos sigue pasando la cuenta.Pero no sólo es la informalidad la que nos pasa la factura sino también el mal comportamiento de algunos malos elementos del sector turismo cuyos comportamientos delincuenciales dañan la imagen del turismo en la provincia de Caylloma.

El dia 30 de julio,La srta R.R.V orientadora turística de la Asociación de Guias de Turismo de la Provincia de Caylloma fue víctima no sólo de acoso sexual y hostigamiento de trabajo por parte de los conductores de la empresa MARCHELO E.I.R.L Y VENEZIA TRAVELS : Rogger Tejada y Richard Chipana, los mismos que acosaron sexualmente a la orientadora turística en una habitación del hotel LOS PORTALES II en la que se encontraban libando licor.

Según las informaciones ,la orientadora turística fue contratada por el operador turístico identificado con el nombre de Ronald Pillco a fin de que le proporcione el servicio de guiado turístico a uno de sus tres grupos.
Según la orientadora turística , en el trayecto, el chofer delincuente Rogger Tejada empezó a acosar sexualmente a la guia de turismo y hacerle propuestas indecentes amenazándo con denunciarla por abandono de grupo y mal servicio de guiado turístico ante el pseudo operador turístico Ronald Pillco.

Una vez en Chivay y después de haberse instalado en el hotel los choferes Rogger Tejada y Richard Chipana compraron licor y junto a dos guias informales de turismo, una de ellas pariente de los propietarios del Hotel Los Portales II Maria y Vilma Taco, hicieron ingreso a la habitación que compartían con la guia de turismo y junto a los conductores empezaron a libar licor y a acosarla sexualmente de forma agresiva.

Al verse en peligro la guia de turismo se escapó de dicho lugar y denunció este hecho ante el secretario de la asociación de guias de Caylloma que se encontraba en Chivay, el mismo que verificó dicha situación.
Al día siguiente Rogger Tejada y Richard Chipana,quienes todavía se encontraban en estado etílico se dirigieron en sus unidades a la Cruz del Cóndor en donde le hicieron un escándalo a la guia de turismo por no haber aceptado sus propuestas sexuales,siendo esta situación presenciada por sus compañeros guias de turismo asi como los turistas presentes en dicha área.
Al llegar a Arequipa, Rogger Tejada amenazó con hacerle daño si lo denunciaba ,hecho que ya es de conocimiento de las autoridades representativas del sector turismo de Arequipa como es el caso del Gobierno Regional de Arequipa, Dircetur,Cámara de Comercio Exterior y Turismo,Autocolca entre otros a fin de que sean las autoridades las mismas que tomen las medidas correpondientes.

Asimismo el Presidente de la Asociación de Guías de Turismo de la Provincia de Caylloma exigió al presidente del Gobierno regional de Arequipa Dr Juan Manuel Guillén Benavides y en especial al gerente de AUTOCOLCA a poner un alto a la terrible informalidad que se vienen dando en el sector turismo de Arequipa, informalidad que ha dado como resultado la muerte de la turista brasilera Paula Sibov quien murió en el Cañón del Colca, víctima de un guía de turismo informal de Arequipa y de la estafa de la agencia de viajes y turismo Southamerican Explorer,la que mandó a la joven turista a la muerte.

También la junta directiva de la Asociación de Guias de Turismo de Caylloma ha solicitado se inicie una investigación a la persona del Sr Ronald Pillco quien como se sabe es un operador turístico informal el mismo que según las autoridades de Dircetur no se encuentra autorizado para la venta ni operación de paseos turísticos entre otros.
Asimismo la Junta Directiva de dicha institución viene solicitando se le otorgen las facultades correspondientes a la Policia Nacional del Perú a fin de fiscalizar a través de operativos relámpago a estos malos conductores y guias informales cuyas borracheras perjudican la imagen del Cañón del Colca como atractivo turístico.

The Colca Specialist

Turista brasilera muere en el Cañón del Colca

Turista Brasilera Paula Sibov muere en el Cañon del Colca

Agencia de Viajes Southamerican Explorer vendió tour a la muerte.

Guia pirata era de Arequipa y es estudiante del Instituto Elmer Faucett de Arequipa

Ciro Castillo ya tiene compañía y esta vez se trata de la turista brasilera Paula Sibov de 24 años de edad la misma que en su país era estudiante de medicina de la Universidad PUC de Campinas la misma que se iba a graduar en el 2014.
Paula Sibov había tomado un tour de trekking de dos días una noche al Cañón del Colca la misma que según sus compañeros no había sido informada adecuadamente por la agencia de viajes en la que compró el paquete acerca del grado de dificultad de este paseo que acabó con su vida.

Las agencias de viajes de Arequipa no se interesan en la seguridad de sus clientes y en muchos casos a fin de vender los paseos mienten a los turistas y no les informan a sus clientes acerca del grado de dificultad de los circuitos de caminatas o de trekking en el Cañón del Colca dando como resultado situaciones lamentables como esta.

Para colmo de males estas agencias tour operadoras de circuitos de trekking como es el caso de Peru Andes no trabajan con guias profesionales a quienes explotan a sus anchas pagándoles salarios miserables,siendo la mayoría de estos jovencitos quienes en su afán de ganar algo de dinero incursionan en el guiado turístico sin tener ningún tipo de conocimientos de primeros auxilios ni nada por el estilo que garantice la seguridad de los turistas ni el éxito de dicho paseo.No sólo explotan a los guias locales,arrieros entre otros sino también a los dueños de albergues en el Cañón del Colca a los que pagan dos soles por cama.

Las agencias de porquería de Arequipa como Peru Andes Expedition ,Andina Travel, Colonial Tours contratan a estos improvisados pseudo guias de turismo a fin de incrementar sus ganancias y abaratar costos. De ahí que un tour al Cañón del Colca le pueda costar la irrisoria suma de 16 dolares (tour convencional) y un tour de trekking le puede costar 90 soles.Lo barato sale caro.Si el tour cuesta tan barato eso significa que el servicio que me darán será una porquería organizada.

Nosotros nos preguntamos ¿Qué hacen las autoridades parásito del sector turismo en Arequipa?¿Qué hace el gerente de AUTOCOLCA? ¿Cuál es la labor del promotor parásito de AUTOCOLCA James Posso? Acaso este delincuente no sabe que primero se necesita poner fin a la informalidad existente para luego promocionar el Cañón del Colca como se debe? ¿Qué hace el bueno para nada de Elmer Cáceres Llica? Al parecer se ha dedicado a promocionar el Cañón del Colca haciendo esculturas de los turistas muertos.

El presidente del directorio de Autocolca Elmer Cáceres Llica ha demostrado una vez más su incapacidad para dirigir a esta institución llamada AUTOCOLCA a la que maneja como le viene en gana, contratando a quien le venga en gana y rodeado de una sarta de peleles sin opinión ni decisión propia.

El hecho de que hasta la fecha no haya podido dar solución a la terrible crisis en la que se encuentra el Cañón del Colca,un destino turístico afectado por la informalidad, cuyas consecuencias lamentables estamos viendo en la actualidad, es un claro indicador de la ineptitud que tiene para ocupar el cargo que tiene dentro de AUTOCOLCA, institución a la que dirige como si estuviera sentado en el baño.

Paula Sibov viajaba con un grupo de turistas con un guia pirata,estudiante del peor instituto de turismo de Arequipa y me refiero al instituto Elmer Faucett de Arequipa.El nombre del guia pirata es Sabino cuyo apellido ignoramos y publicaremos en su momento.. Estos pseudo guias turísticos de medio tiempo no tienen ningún tipo de conocimiento ni la más mínima noción de primeros auxilios entre otros cursos especializados necesarios que puedan garantizar en este caso la seguridad asi como la integridad física de los turistas.

Dado el desinterés por parte de las autoridades es que hasta la fecha vienen dándose sucesos lamentables como este provocados por las agencias de viajes de arequipa y la terrible informalidad que se viene dando en el Cañón del Colca.
Según las investigaciones hechas el accidente ocurrió el segundo día cuando Paula Sibov después de haber pernoctado en Sangalle u Oasis se dirigía por el angosto camino de herradura que va desde Sangalle hasta Cabanaconde.

En el trayecto la turista se encontraba bastante débil y su guia le sugirió montar una mula la misma que se encontraba ya cargada con varios equipos. En el trayecto la mula ,bastante agotada por el esfuerzo y por la excesiva carga que llevaba perdió el equilibrio y se precipitó al vacio con todo lo que llevaba encima incluyendo a la turista que acabó por estrellarse entre las rocas, muriendo instantáneamente.

Mulas de carga sufren maltratos en Cabanaconde

Asimismo se ha podido comprobar que el maltrato a los animales por parte de los arrieros es realmente terrible.
No sólo patean y golpean a los animales sino que también los cargan con cargas cuyo peso es excesivo provocando situaciones lamentables como esta.
Es por esa razón que los turistas que hacen este tipo de actividades deben gozar de una optima condición física y mental para hacer este tipo de travesías para asi poder realizar este tipo de actividades sin problema alguno sin perjudicar a los animales que son víctimas e maltratos por parte de sus propietarios inescrupulosos y de los guias comisionistas de turismo de Arequipa que hacen lo que les viene en gana.

Mula sobrevive milagrosamente a accidente

La mula en la que montaba la turista brasilera Paula Sibov sobrevivió milagrosamente al accidente. Al caer esta se precipitó al vacío cayendo directamente en una parte del camino pero la turista brasilera no tuvo la misma suerte y continuo cayendo estrellándose contra las rocas muriendo debido a las severas lesiones y pérdida de masa encefálica.

AUTOCOLCA es la responsable de la muerte de la turista brasilera

La Autoridad Autónoma del Colca es la responsable directa de la muerte de la estudiante brasilera ya que es la entidad encargada de la administración directa del circuito turístico ,entidad a la que se le paga un ticket turístico con un costo de 70 soles.
Dado que es la entidad encargada de la administración del circuito turístico son los responsables directos de la presencia de los guías informales en el Cañón del Colca asi como de las agencias piratas que vienen operando este circuito.Se ha comprobado que el guia encargado de dicho grupo de turistas no tenia carnet de guia profesional de turismo,no era guia de montaña y ni siquiera era orientador turístico afiliado a alguna asociación de guias locales.El guia pirata era de Arequipa y en la actualidad estudia en el Instituto Elmer Faucett de Arequipa.

Paula Sibov compró el tour a la muerte en la agencia SOUTHAMERICAN EXPLORER de Arequipa

La turista Paula Sibov de 24 años de edad compró el tour en la agencia Southamerican Explorer de Arequipa ubicada en la calle Jerusalén. La policía de alta montaña encargada de hacer el rescate de la estudiante muerta encontró en uno de sus bolsillos el contrato de la mencionada agencia en donde ella compró el tour.
Curiosamente la policía indico que esta mala agencia de viajes y turismo de Arequipa al igual que las demás agencias de viajes y turismo de Arequipa no le entregó a la turista la boleta de venta o factura como debería ser sino un simple contrato lo que viene a ser una clara muestra de la terrible informalidad de las agencias de viajes y turismo de Arequipa asi como la escandalosa evasión de impuestos en el sector turismo en Arequipa.
Las agencias de viajes evaden impuestos de una forma escandalosa en Arequipa y sólo les entregan boletas o facturas a los turistas peruanos pero con los extranjeros hacen lo que les viene en su regalada gana ante la mirada triste e inútil del presidente del Gobierno Regional Juan Manuel Guillén Benavides.

Southamerican Explorer envió a la muerte a la estudiante Paula Sibov al endosarla aun tour operador mucho más barato a fin de ganar más dinero,enviándola con un guía pirata de Arequipa que debe ser puesto en la cárcel de acuerdo al reglamento vigente por el delito de estafa en contra de la turista Paula Sibov al desempeñar una función que no le correponde además de atentar contra la integridad física de la pasajera.

Culpables de la muerte de Paula Sibov y Ciro Castillo Rojo

Elmer Cáceres Llica- alcalde figuretti de la provincia de Caylloma quien dirige los destinos de AUTOCOLCA como una cantina.Su escasa y minúscula masa encefálica lo hizo promocionar el Cañón del Colca con la escultura de Ciro Castillo Rojo.

James Posso- Promotor delincuente de Autocolca,especialista en el robo a través de libros,revistas y posters sobrevalorados, compartiendo el botin de los robado directamente con el alcalde Elmer Cáceres Llica.
Para la realización del libro de fotos del Cañón del Colca no se ha hecho una convocatoria pública y ha sido designado a dedo por el presidente del directorio de Autocolca Elmer Caceres Llica .
James Posso tienen una serie de denuncias en Espinar Cusco por la estafa realizada con el cuento del Atlas turístico de Espinar entre otros actos de corrupción.
James Posso se ha dedicado en la actualidad a despilfarrar el dinero de AUTOCOLCA en la elaboración de revistas ,afiches y libros sobrevalorados perjudicando a la comunidad cayllomina.
La Asociación de Guias de Turismo de Caylloma ha declarado a los promotores turísticos delincuentes de AUTOCOLCA James Posso y a Raul Gonzales Veliz como “no gratos en la provincia de Caylloma”.
No olvidemos que Raul Gonzales Veliz exigia comisiones a los interesados en publicar libros,revistas y material promocional del Cañón del Colca.El profesor ladrón del instituto burdel Elmer Faucett de Arequipa.

Rocio Cervantes Mansilla-Ex gerente de la cámara de comercio exterior y turismo de Arequipa, enemiga declarada de los orientadores turísticos del Colca. Rocio Cervantes Mansilla organizó una serie de cursos de capacitación para los guias de turismo de Arequipa descartando a los guias locales de la provincia de Caylloma.Se negó a sancionar a las guias de turismo denunciadas por borracheras, prostitución y otros cargos encabezadas por Jeymi Natividad Flores Quicaña debido a que la mencionada guia de turismo era familiar del alcalde corrupto de la provincia de Caylloma Jorge Cueva Tejada. En la actualidad trabaja con una ONG en la provincia de Caylloma.

Ana Pierina Parodi Soto- Funcionaria corrupta del Gobierno Regional de Arequipa,guia de turismo de AGOTUR .Usó su cargo para manipular a la ex gerente de la cámara de comercio exterior y turismo Rocio Cervantes Mansilla a fin de organizar actividades que beneficien únicamente a su asociación de guias de turismo AGOTUR AREQUIPA y a las asociaciones de agencias de viajes y turismo de Arequipa. En la actualidad se viene investigando a los guias de turismo especialmente al guía de turismo Jimmy Arturo Lorenzo Escalante por estar involucrado directamente con el asesinato del estudiante Nathan Sotomayor de Chivay.

The Colca Specialist es una revista virtual que no está vinculada a ninguna asociación de agencias de viajes y turismo y su único compromiso es con la Verdad duela a quien le duela.
Próximamente desenmascararemos a las agencias de porquería de Arequipa y en especial a las agencias que pertenecen a AVIT y probaremos mediante documentos la realidad del turismo en Arequipa.

The Colca Specialist

Lonely Planet and Trip Advisor suck !

The reality of the recommended travel agencies in Arequipa

By Henry Thorndike

Arequipa is the second most important city in Peru and it is well-known because it is the place where you can find active volcanoes such as Ubinas and of course it is the place where the deepest world canyons: Colca and Cotahuasi are located.

I decided to stay some days in Arequipa because I wanted to do some mountainclimbing in Arequipa and I was really interested to climb Ampato ,the mountain where Juanita “The snowmaiden” was found.

I visited several travel agencies specially those recommended by the Lonely Planet Guidebook and Trip Advisor.

At the beginning I was really confused because of the big difference between the prices but then I realized that the prices are different because there are very good travel agencies and there are others whose quality service is chaotic.

I started with the well-known Carlos Zarate and it was dissapointing for me because when I visited his travel agency the people there couldn´t speak English fluently. ¿How can that be?

The I moved to Ivan Jimenez travel agency called Quechua Explorer which is very popular in Arequipa. The girls there couldn´t speak English . I needed more information and they just show me a piece of paper with very basic information .

I wanted to see the equipment they use for the mountainclimbing and it was terrible.The equipment was really basic and old.For such expeditions a montainclimber has specific needs and as I realized the quality standards here in Arequipa are very poor.

Then I visited Colonial Tours who offer me not just the Colca Canyon Tour but also mountainclimbing. It was notorius that there was not even a backpack in the place,not a piece of equipment of all the tours they offer.

Besides from mountainclimbing they offer river rafting,mountainbiking and I realized that the old lady there is just another travel agency who survives thanks to commsissions!

That is why it is important not to buy adventure tours anywhere! Since adventure sports have a certain degree of risk a traveller has to look for security and guarantee.The worst option is to buy a tour inside hotels don´t ever do that!

I found out that all the travel agencies in Arequipa have very cheap prices because they pool their clients.For example if anybody wants to do mountainbiking everybody offers you DOWNHILL CHACHANI and you travel with a very cheap operator.

If anybody wants to climb a volcano in Arequipa literrally 99% of the travel agencies endorse their clients to Quechua Explorer and this travel agency pays a very high commissions to all the travel agencies which endorse their clients to them!That is why the equipment is terrible! Sustainable tourism in Arequipa? I don´t think so.

All these travel agencies have something in common: POOR QUALITY STANDARDS ,NON ENGLISH SPEAKING TRAVEL AGENTS AND ALL OF THEM ARE RECOMMENDED BY LONELY PLANET and TRIP ADVISOR!

To appear in Lonely Planet it is suppossed that the tourists write letters to the the guidebook so after a specific quantity of recommendations they are visited by a representative of Lonely Planet who invites them to appear in the guidebook and it costs 500 US.

I understand Lonely Planet it is another businness but al least they should qualify the travel agencies of Arequipa according to specific quality standards. How can a travel agency recommended by Lonely Planet not to have people who speaks English? It is a shame!
A written piece of paper with the program doesn ´t mean profesional!

I hope Lonely Planet guys take this advice into consideration because thanks to us tourists you keep your guidebooks in circulation. Do a better job please beause until the moment Lonely Planet sucks and Trip Advisor too!

Tourist raped in Colca Canyon

by the Colca Specialist

This is not the first time that this undesirable situation happens in Colca Canyon. The main problem as we said before is informality: there are lots of uncertified tour guides that are NOT FROM THE AREA but from Arequipa who are trying to make some money in tourism.

That means that there is no safety for you specially if you are traveling alone. Authorities and representatives of travel agencies they just care about their own interests. It is disgusting to see them talking on TV about the hard work done by them in order to improve the security in tourism but they do nothing about it and what is worst is that the avoid the media to publish news about these undesirable situations beause they don´t like the scandals.

There is informality because the travel agencies are hiring informal tour guides because they are cheaper! The don´t have a fixed salary and they travel just for the tips and the commissions they get from restaurants ,pack drivers of mules and handicrafts stores. They have no contracts so when there is a problem they just dissapear and that is all.

The victim cannot stay longer than a week in the place because investigations take very long time so at the end the tourist has to go back home and the criminal comes back in business again looking for other easy prey.Traveling cheap doesn´t mean the best and we have to be responsable travellers.

Going alone with to the mountains with an informal tour guide and to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol with these guys that means you are in trouble. There are a lot of web pages providing safety tips for travellers. To write about this situation is difficult but we have to remember that we are the result of our decisions so our destiny is in our hands. Before buying a tour with a very cheap informal travel agency think it twice.

The Colca Specialist.

The worst tour guides are from Colonial Tours

Tourists complain against Colonial Tours from Arequipa

by the Colca Specialist

I was reading Trip Advisor just few minutes ago and I saw this comments which I consider very useful so I decided to republish them here.

What is happening with travel agencies in Arequipa? It seems that they just care about filling their vans and buses with lots of tourists! What about the service? What about the clients?

It seems to me that these guys from Colonial Tours they just care about making money and not about the tourists.

Tourists are clients. Without them Colonial Tours is nothing.

Tourist are human beings not walking US DOLLARS notes.They are not walking credit cards my friends so it would be better if you recognize that your service is not good.

If you want to continue in this businness better think it twice because if you continue working the same way you will end on the street.

If you have problems with the tour guides is because you are cheap and stingy. Colonial Tours don´t have good tour guides because they are exploited and not well paid. That´s the main problem in Arequipa. Travel agencies don´t work with professional tour guides but with youngsters who need to work.Exploitation is everywhere in Southamerica. Peru in not the exception. Corruption is another disease that affects tourism in Arequipa too.

How good can be a 23 year old tour guide who has NO EXPERIENCE?

How good can be a 23 year old tour guide who is thinking about making a 10 soles commission per passenger?

How good can be a tour guide who is NOT FROM THE AREA who just know local discoteques and touristic restaurants?

To be a tourist doesn´t mean to be stupid!

As tourists we need to be sustainable too. We should NOT travel with companies that are just exploiting their workers!

Besides the voice of tourists should be heard too. Clients in the past they complained and their voices were never heard but thanks to internet the voice of the clients can be heard very loud all around the world. The compalints are a good oportunity to see what is wrong with our service in order to improve it. The decision is in your hands.

I recommend all foreign visitors to read this blog and if you like you can download the information about the Colca Valley and the Colca Canyon which is very useful for those tourists who are seeking for the local culture. Thank you very much for your attention and don´t forget that this virtual magazine is dedicated to all my tourists around the world.

The Colca Specialist

Complaint against Colonial Tours (taken from Trip Advisor)

We booked our 2-day trip to Colca Canyon Through our hotel and the company They Used WAS Colonial Tours. The canyon itself is well worth seeing but I am sure the experience could have been a lot better with a more professional company.

The canyon is well worth seeing Itself But I am sure the experience Could Have Been a Lot Better With A more professional company.

Right from the start it was clear that our guide wasn't going to speak much English, although the tour was supposed to be both in Spanish and English.
Luckily we understood some Spanish but I have to say that even then his commentaries and instructions weren't that clear.

All the way through the trip, he failed to tell us at each stop where we were; how long we were stopping for; what was worth seeing in the place; etc. 

Basically there was a complete lack of communication.During the 2 days, we learned hardly anything about the area.  He only bothered to say something if someone asked a question and even then the question wasn't repeated and the answer very vague.We approached the guide and told him that we felt completely ignored and weren't very happy about the tour.

This made no difference. Colca Canyon was an amazing place and I would definitely return to the area. However, I will never use Colonial Tours again! Esta crítica es la opinión subjetiva de un miembro de TripAdvisor, no de TripAdvisor LLC.

Another complaint taken from Trip Advisor

“Colca Canyon with Colonial Tours - Not recommended”

Our hostal in Arequipa (Colonial House Inn) set up a Colca Canyon tour with Colonial Tours. We had a very negative experience with Colonial Tours and I would not recommend them to anyone. We feel that we wasted our S/65 plus the S/35 required to enter the Chivay area. (Total = S/100 per person.)

Leo, our guide, made us feel like he could not be bothered speaking English since we were two of the few English speakers on the tour. The tour we were sold was supposed to include a 2 hour trek in Coporaque on the first day, which our guide felt was too much effort. (Instead, we stopped no less than 6 times on the way out to Chivay including a 45+ minute stop for snacks and tea at a restaurant. Granted a couple of the stops were decent, such as when we stopped to see Vicunas, but many of them were unnecessary.) Leo seemed much more interested in trying to get us to eat at overpriced (S/25) buffet restaurants for both lunch and dinner and I wouldn't be surprised if he was getting a cut of the profits. We did at least go to the hot springs in the afternoon (which cost another S/10 per person).

Rather than getting our group going at 6am so we could have as much time at the canyon as possible, he moved our start time to 7am. (His rationale was that it was New Year's Eve and some people wanted to stay up till midnight. It was obvious his bias was a later start time and he only seemed willing to listen to the people who agreed with him rather than sticking with the tour schedule that was sold to us.) The later start time made us late arriving at at Cruz del Condor and cut our time there in half. We then returned for another overpriced lunch (S/25) in Chivay.

Of the 4 hours we were most interested in (2 hours trekking and 2 hours at Cruz del Condor), the tour only delivered 1 hour at Colca Canyon itself. We felt ripped off at having to pay a S/35 fee at the entrance to Chivay when 90% of our tour was shelling out money to overpriced restaurants in Chivay itself.

If I were to redo things, I'd head straight for Cabanaconde (dodging the S/35 fee at Chivay) and set up a hiking excursion there. Note that the Colca Canyon at Cruz del Condor is only 1200 meters. Compare that to the 1800 meter depth of the Grand Canyon and you might be a bit disappointed. The deepest part of the Colca Canyon (4160 meters) is near Cabaconde, so I suspect the views from there are more impressive.

The worst tour guides are from Colonial Tours

Tourists complain against Colonial Tours from Arequipa

by the Colca Specialist

I was reading Trip Advisor just few minutes ago and I saw this comments which I consider very useful so I decided to republish them here.

What is happening with travel agencies in Arequipa? It seems that they just care about filling their vans and buses with lots of tourists! What about the service? What about the clients?

It seems to me that these guys from Colonial Tours they just care about making money and not about the tourists.

Tourists are clients. Without them Colonial Tours is nothing.

Tourist are human beings not walking US DOLLARS notes.They are not walking credit cards my friends so it would be better if you recognize that your service is not good.

If you want to continue in this businness better think it twice because if you continue working the same way you will end on the street.

If you have problems with the tour guides is because you are cheap and stingy. Colonial Tours don´t have good tour guides because they are exploited and not well paid. That´s the main problem in Arequipa. Travel agencies don´t work with professional tour guides but with youngsters who need to work.Exploitation is everywhere in Southamerica. Peru in not the exception. Corruption is another disease that affects tourism in Arequipa too.

How good can be a 23 year old tour guide who has NO EXPERIENCE?

How good can be a 23 year old tour guide who is thinking about making a 10 soles commission per passenger?

How good can be a tour guide who is NOT FROM THE AREA who just know local discoteques and touristic restaurants?

To be a tourist doesn´t mean to be stupid!

As tourists we need to be sustainable too. We should NOT travel with companies that are just exploiting their workers!

Besides the voice of tourists should be heard too. Clients in the past they complained and their voices were never heard but thanks to internet the voice of the clients can be heard very loud all around the world. The compalints are a good oportunity to see what is wrong with our service in order to improve it. The decision is in your hands.

I recommend all foreign visitors to read this blog and if you like you can download the information about the Colca Valley and the Colca Canyon which is very useful for those tourists who are seeking for the local culture. Thank you very much for your attention and don´t forget that this virtual magazine is dedicated to all my tourists around the world.

The Colca Specialist

Complaint against Colonial Tours (taken from Trip Advisor)

We booked our 2-day trip to Colca Canyon Through our hotel and the company They Used WAS Colonial Tours. The canyon itself is well worth seeing but I am sure the experience could have been a lot better with a more professional company.

The canyon is well worth seeing Itself But I am sure the experience Could Have Been a Lot Better With A more professional company.

Right from the start it was clear that our guide wasn't going to speak much English, although the tour was supposed to be both in Spanish and English. Right from the start it WAS clear That Was not going to guide our much speak Español, although the tour WAS supposed to be in Spanish and Español Both.

Luckily we understood some Spanish but I have to say that even then his commentaries and instructions weren't that clear. Some Spanish luckily we Understood But I Have to Say That Even historical commentaries and instructions Then That Were not clear.

All the way through the trip, he failed to tell us at each stop where we were; how long we were stopping for; what was worth seeing in the place; etc. All the way Through the trip, I failed to tell us at Where We Were Each stop, how long stopping for We Were, What Was worth seeing in the place, and so on.

Basically there was a complete lack of communication. Basically There Was a complete LACK of communication. During the 2 days, we learned hardly anything about the area. During The 2 days, Hardly anything we Learned About the area. He only bothered to say something if someone asked a question and even then the question wasn't repeated and the answer very vague.

I only bothered to say something if someone Asked a question and Even Then the question and the answer wasn'ta Repeated very vague. We approached the guide and told him that we felt completely ignored and weren't very happy about the tour.

We approach the guide and Told him Completely Ignored Felt That We Were not very happy and About the tour. This made no difference. This made no difference. Colca Canyon was an amazing place and I would definitely return to the area. Colca Canyon Was an amazing place and I would definitely return to the area. However, I will never use Colonial Tours again! Howeve, I will never use Colonial Tours again! Esta crítica es la opinión subjetiva de un miembro de TripAdvisor, no de TripAdvisor LLC.

A quite good place to seat and write in Chivay

by the Colca Specialist

One of my favorite places to drink coffee is a place called Innkas which is located in the main square of Chivay.The service is quite good and you are far away from the noisy groups of tourists.

Once there, one of the things the Colca Specialist loves to do is to sit and to enjoy a cup of coffee good for the cold weather of Chivay.The inspiration comes and I take advantage to write the articles my readers like.

The restaurant is one of the old houses of Chivay who was restored by the owners of Innkas and it is a nice place to visit.

Marco and Ximena are very helpful specially if you need information about the area and they are very kind persons.

They prepare different kind of dishes and snacks too and the service is very good!

Thank you very much Marco and Ximena for your kind attention! Be sure that the Colca Specialist is coming back soon to enjoy the taste of a good Pisco Sour!

Your friend the Colca Specialist.

This is a picture of Innkas which is located in the main square of Chivay.


If you like to play pool the best pool table is awaiting for you!


The Innkas is a good place for having dinner and some drinks too!



Ximena the owner of Innkas showing the Colca Specialist her skills in the art of playing pool!



If you like to seat outside this is the right place for you!

A quite good place to seat and write in Chivay

by the Colca Specialist

One of my favorite places to drink coffee is a place called Innkas which is located in the main square of Chivay.The service is quite good and you are far away from the noisy groups of tourists.

Once there, one of the things the Colca Specialist loves to do is to sit and to enjoy a cup of coffee good for the cold weather of Chivay.The inspiration comes and I take advantage to write the articles my readers like.

The restaurant is one of the old houses of Chivay who was restored by the owners of Innkas and it is a nice place to visit.

Marco and Ximena are very helpful specially if you need information about the area and they are very kind persons.

They prepare different kind of dishes and snacks too and the service is very good!

Thank you very much Marco and Ximena for your kind attention! Be sure that the Colca Specialist is coming back soon to enjoy the taste of a good Pisco Sour!

Your friend the Colca Specialist.

This is a picture of Innkas which is located in the main square of Chivay.


If you like to play pool the best pool table is awaiting for you!


The Innkas is a good place for having dinner and some drinks too!



Ximena the owner of Innkas showing the Colca Specialist her skills in the art of playing pool!



If you like to seat outside this is the right place for you!

The worst one day tour to Colca Canyon

by Lisa Cooper

Finland

COLONIAL TOURS AREQUIPA

The other day I had the opportunity of taking a one-day tour with Colonial Tours wich is much recommended by Trip Advisor . We were picked up at 03:00 am in the morning for a one day tour to the Colca Canyon. The van was OK and the driver too. But the tour guide is the reason of this article.

The tour guide we had was a complete disaster and the English he spoke was really bad and we didn´t understand anything of the things he said.

How can be Colonial Tours be recommended by Trip Advisor? Colonial Tours service is terrible. The guide was not a professional guide because a professional guide introduces himself at the beginning of the tour. After that he should give a briefing of the tour and that never happened.
Hopefully we didn´t took the two day tour to the Colca Canyon. Two days with the same guide would have been terrible.

When we arrive to Chivay we were taken to a restaurant to have breakfast and then we continued with the tour.

He started to talk about the terraces in Colca Valley and he said that terraces “were carved” on the walls of the Colca Valley! Carved? Oh my God! Where did he study to be a tour guide? Then he continue talking about the wonderful terraces in Cusco area and how they were built. I don´t know if he realized that we were in Colca Valley and we wanted to know more about the place. His way of speaking English made me thought in some moments that he was drunk!

Then he stopped explaining and he started saying that he was a shaman and that he was not married. Those were the most dumb comments we ever heard during the tour.Another tour guide playing the inca game to call attention of the gringos.

We met other tour guides who were explaining their groups about the people, about their culture and traditions,etc and the one we had just spoke about the terraces of Cusco area and lots of nonsense about the condors. Does a condor live 80 years?

I don´t plan to recommend Colonial Tours in Arequipa because the service given was very low quality. I came to Peru because my main interest was to know more about the inca and preinca Peruvian cultures. Colca Valley and Colca Canyon are very interesting, but because of that terrible tour guide I feel that my holidays in Colca Canyon were just a waste of time.

I would like to thank the Colca Specialist for the wonderful free information published about Colca Valley and Colca Canyon and the next time if I come back to Colca Canyon I am planning to print the information in order to have a good cultural background of Colca Canyon.

Lisa Cooper
Finland.

Accident in Colca Canyon sends three tourists to the hospital

by the Colca Specialist

Colca Canyon is literally the main attraction in Arequipa. Many visitors from all around the world come to visit the condors realm,but not everything is perfect.

Yesterday the travel agency Peru Andes, a trekking operator travel agency from Arequipa who operates Colca Canyon circuit had a terrible accident, when one of his buses was coming back to Arequipa from a tour in Colca Canyon. The result was a tour guide severely injured and three tourists whose holidays will be inside the hospital.

The fog and the heavy rains in this season make this circuit dangerous in this season. There are many landslides in places like Cabanaconde for example because of the heavy rains.

Long time ago, because of several accidents on the road, the local authorities recommended the visitors not to take the one day tour to Colca Canyon because it is not safe for the visitors. But as it seems travel agencies don´t care a bit about safety and now we see the results.

The tours depart everyday at 03:30 am from Arequipa and then they go straight to the condor cross to see the condors and then back to Chivay at Midday for lunch and hotsprings.After this they go back to Arequipa to arrive to the white city at 05:30 pm aproximatedly.

If we calculate the driver has to drive 13 to 14 hours aproximatedly.That is too much. And it is against the laws ,but don´t forget that in Southamerica the law is just a word that is not put into practice. There is just one driver during all the tour and that is dangerous. There is no a substitute driver.

After the hot springs and lunch the poor driver is sleeping on the steering wheel and that provokes accidents.

On the way back to Arequipa, 90 percent of the drivers chew Coca leaves to avoid falling asleep. But, let me tell you something, Coca leaves don´t do miracles. If that driver is falling asleep, it is because he was doing several tours the same week ,and be sure that that tour van is a candidate to win the last ride prize. If you see your driver chewing Coca leaves on the way back to Arequipa, it means that that driver is about to fall asleep.

On the way back to Arequipa everybody goes sleeping and as everybody knows sleeping is contagious.

One day tours are not recommended in Colca Canyon because of these situations. The other problem is that there are very cheap tours in Arequipa and those are the ones who are provoking the accidents. We have free market. The laws don´t regulate prices and there are tours that are expensive and others that are very cheap. Travel agencies don´t have a quality certification eventhough some owners of travel agencies say they do.

The driver comes back to Arequipa after a tour and the next day the same driver is travelling again and that is dangerous for the tourists.

One day tours are not recommended. Many accidents happen in Arequipa specifically in Colca Canyon circuit, accidents that are hidden from the eyesight of the press. Scandals are not good in tourism, because it means no sales, so that is why we have to be very careful before buying a tour. Visitors should check the weather news and it is irresponsible not to be well informed about the areas where we are planning to spend our holidays.

Speed excess is another problem, tour vans have a reputation of being the fastest, but come on guys we don’t need speed but safety.

The roads in this season are very foggy and rainy so it is better to be very careful and to avoid travelling to places in the highlands that in this season cannot be really appreciated because of the heavy rains and the fog.

There are many trails in Peru that get closed during the rainy season because of safety reasons.
The Colca specialist will keep you informed about all the aspects that deal with the condors realm Colca Canyon. Thank you for your attention and good luck.

The Colca Specialist.

Trip Advisor: Is it reliable?

by the Colca Specialist

Trip Advisor is a web site whose main goal is to offer information to travelers from all around the world.On the net, there are many travellers blogs who share their traveling experiences on them,but most of the travellers before making a decision they check the information of a web site like Trip Advisor.

Many visitors don´t trust much the travellers blogs because many comments and suggestions are relative. In the case of those web sites specialized in traveling, the comments and the suggestions are going to be done according to a specific criteria,mainly based on an analysis of the services provided by those travel agencies, tour guides, or hotels.

Of course, travellers blogs are gaining terrain specially in the last years because many of them are written by people who have experience in this field of tourism.

The other problem with travel agencies web sites is that “all of them are very good” on the net. Most of them exaggerate about the quality of their services and when the traveller comes to Arequipa and books for a tour to Colca Canyon realises of the real situation: many travel agencies are not good even though that they are recommended in Trip Advisor.

As a specialist in organized trips in Arequipa and Colca Canyon, I checked many different forums about trips in Colca Canyon and Arequipa. I checked Trip Advisor forum too and I discovered that many travel agencies are becoming members of Trip Advisor with a specific interest: to write wonderful comments about their services provided.

Comments of backpackers are not reliable too. Most of them are looking for discounts and discounts are offered if they write “good comments” about the services provided by the travel agency they are traveling with.

If you check the comments about trekking tours in Colca Canyon it is incredible to see the quantity of exaggerated comments about tour guides, travel agencies whose services don´t really deserve those comments!

Because of Informality in Arequipa, a law was published recently. It says that all tour guides have to be professional or specialists in their areas. Travel agencies have to be formal.

All guides that do the conventional tour to Colca Canyon are registered and professional, but in the case of trekking in Colca Canyon 90% of the guides are ilegal and informal. They don´t speak english fluently ,just a few do it and their knowledge about the area is very poor.

The authorities are taking measures now to solve this problem.

Going back to the point, we cannot trust on comments that say that the services provided were really great. If I pay for a tour guide it is because I want to be given information about the area I am visiting.But if the guide doesn´t speak english fluently what kind of tour I am going to have?

Most of the trekking tour guides in Colca Canyon are charismatic. If you ask questions about the origin of the Colca Canyon for example, they are going to smile because they are not going to be able to answer your question.

Many tourists are not happy with the tour they took, but because it was so cheap and the guide was so friendly they feel compromised and don´t complain, because they payed 100 soles or 30 US for a 2 day trekking tour in the Colca Canyon that includes hotel, transportation, tour guide, all meals included. What kind of service I am going to have for that price? The worst.

If you check travel agencies in Arequipa, they have very nice offices, but when you take the tour you can easily realize that the “tour guide” who is not professional is not making it good. Unemployment rate in Arequipa is 46% so you can imagine.Easy to realize.

That is why the tour guides and the bus drivers are so eager to take you to eat to specific restaurants in order to get “comissions” . Restaurants give them from 5 to 7 soles per person and that is not really honest. Travel agencies make it good. The most affected are the tourists who are cheated all time. This topic is very delicate in Colca Canyon and if you ask the locals about what they think about tour guides you will realize that they are very unpopular in Colca Canyon and Colca Valley because of their abusive commisions.

If you want to check if a travel agency is good, just check different travel guidebooks.
For example, just a few ones were awarded by the Ministery of tourism o Arequipa. If one is awarded by the major of Arequipa or by the major of Colca Canyon you have an ace in your hands! Those are the ones that don´t really need exaggerated comments in trip advisor forums because they are very well known in Arequipa.

In my case I love travellers blogs because they are more personal .I like Trip Advisor too but we have to be very careful with those exaggerated comments...Thank you for your kind attention and good luck...