By: Ricardo Santander. Gold Tour & Expeditions (
www.goldtourperu.com/). From 1.994, we have raised the Summit of the Snow covered Mismi and gone several times with expeditions to Carhuasanta: The Origin of the Amazonas river, Mismi Mt. is 195 Km. far from Arequipa city, it is 5,597 meters high (18,470 ft.), part of the Chila mountain range between Quehuisha, Huilcayo and Choquecorao Mountains. Their defrostings form a small lagoon near the summit with the name of the discoverer of the Amazon Effect, Mr. Loren Mc Intyre, although its true name is Laguna INTI COCHA. 1: Frozen lagoon close to the summit. Some meters below, the filtrations of the waters spurt between the cracks of the vertical rocks. (Illustration 2: )
, this place is called Carhuasanta, Here is where the Amazon river is born, that is the most distant point from its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean.
Originally there was a metallic cross left by Mc Intyre that “disappeared” and now there is one single made of Wood that was again placed like tribute and signal of the place. In The same place there are two more plates from Brazilian and Spanish expeditions.
In the summit of Mismi it happens a "Divortium aquarium": The waters of their defrostings are divided and take two-way traffic: On the one hand they go away towards the Pacific Ocean (Through river Colca, Majes and Camaná) and by the other side towards the Atlantic Ocean (Through river Apurimac, Ene, Ucayali and Amazonas). Quebrada Carhuasanta is at 4.900 meters high ( 16,170 ft.) ; In the beggining the small river is called Lloqueta, then Challamayo and finally Hornillos river (This we can see it in the road to Caylloma); after few kilometers Hornillos join its waters in “La Angostura” with Apurimac river (or Caylloma that comes from Vilafro lagoon). (Illustration 3.) (Place where the greatest dam of Peru would be constructed). In its route the Apurimac receives waters of many tributary rivers that contribute to increase considerably their volume more and more impressive. When joining itself with the Apurimac in La Angostura and being a greater river goes towards Cusco, soon will cross the departments of Apurimac, Ayacucho, and part of Junin until arriving in Loreto to continue his fabulous trip towards Brazil.
ROUTES: To get to the Mismi it is necessary to approach in the car most possible and then make a trekking that can take from 4 to 7 hours depending on the route. There are several: First, arrive to the Colca Valley (On the way slope down to Chivay it is possibel to observe all the summit). Then we have to continue to the village of Tuti, to raise Mismi by Akenta, other is through Coporaque village, another by Ichupampa and another one by Caylloma, this is the longest but probably the most interesting for vehicles 4 x 4, will be necessary to overcome some streams (During rainy season, better not to dare), and close to the lagoons of Huarhuarco and Parihuana ( Where you can see hundreds of flamingoes, birds, ducks, andean goose, etc, etc ). The most well-known route is the one than it raises from Tuti by the Granpampa, Ran Ran and from there trekking to Carhuasanta with camping at an altitude of more than 4,800m. ( 15,840 ft.) If one wishes to raise the Summit and the source, it is necessary to have 3 days at least. It is quite cold, is a high altitude trekking; to arrive to the Summit is important to verify weather conditions; the way from the "paso" that it is to 5.200 m.(17,160 ft.) is enough strong, with small rocks and snow, in some cases it will be necessary to use crampoons, need very good physical condition, be acclimated to the Height and very good equipment : Hiking boots, sun glasses, gloves, sleeping bags (- 20ºC), thermal clothes, caps, sun blockers, windbreak jackets, head lamps, good food (*) and cooking gare. We have all logistic and special equipment, also we had Mules, Horses, Carriers and cookers who are in charge to take everything and wait for us with the campsite ready and the hot meals; also high quality of mountain gare: 4 seasons Tents , inflatable matress, Dinning Tent, etc. (Ferrino, North Face, therm-a-rest, etc.) scrollable tables, banks, MCR kitchens, First-aid kit, oxgen, radios; etc. Cooks and drivers with a lot of experience.
The landscape is High-Andean plateau (Puna), cretaceous land and something rocky, volcanic rocks, Typical bushes like, Ichu ( Andean grass ), Yaretas, tola, etc, in some places queñuas ( A very nice and protected tree), small lagoons and some peaks with snows; birds like guallatas or Andean goose, ducks, black ibis, flamingoes, mountain hawk or kara kara falcon, Andean flicker, vizcachas ( wild rabbits ), small lizards, foxes, and Condors in the side of Colca. Alpaca breders communities, small waterfallss and a great calm that makes a super relaxing trip, the sky is blue, at night full of bright stars and at the end of rainy season you will see the green of its fields. The best time is from April to November; We recommend not to smoke, not to take spirits (except a hot wine cup), not to eat too much, digestion is slowly at highg altitudes, to walk slowly, not to throw litter in the routes or camp sites, Take good food and enough water to drink, Maps, geográphic sheets, GPS, road maps, river maps and others.
EXPEDITIONS : We have made the route of the origin of the Amazon from Mismi to the "La Angostura" either towards Ichupampa, or Coporaque or towards the Bomboia several times with film makers, scientists and other interested people, almost always with our mountain guide Mr. Ivan Bedregal (UIAGM). We can say that we have made all the access routes; the past Abril we've made an 18 days expedition (Following the divortium Aquarium. From the mouth of the Colca river (Camaná) in the Pacific Ocean raising by all the valley of Majes, Ayo (Andagua) and the Colca to the snow-covered Mismi. And, from the Mismi by all the Apurimac river to Ene River in the central Jungle, supporting an expedition of researcher Mr. Robert Mark, with our great guide and friend Eduardo Molina, in a modern Toyota Land Cruisier; that means from the Coast, through the high Andes and finally finishing in the Jungle,
Gorgeous and unforgettable route in 4 x 4 combining with trekking and something horse riding, all type of lands, ways, overcoming rivers, crossing in Raft in the Forest to the Ene River in Luisiana in the North east of Ayacucho. Here the Apurimac River takes the name of Ene river, tneh Tambo and beyond there this it will be united to the Urubamba river in "Atalaya" to take the name of Ucayali River. Thus we have verified its great importance not only like the origin of the Amazon, but also its ancestral, enormous meaning, is not only the river with the most volume of water in the world, but now longest river in the world ( A little more than Nilo river). Its enormous bio diversity, ecological niches that are crossed, incredible landscapes, archaeological sites, hanging bridges (One made of straw),
colonial villages, stone canyons, condors, the andes, valleys, forests, Andean and jungle communities, animals of the zone infinity of birds, caymans, trouts, vegetation, sun, snow, forests, lagoons, more rivers, etc. etc. An experience that very few will be able to have. fig 5 From the Mismi we lowered by Carhuasanta, we followed it by the borders of the Small Hornillos river, beyond we found small thermal baths, until "La Angostura", where the Small Hornillos is united with the Apurimac , from there with its calm waters towards the east and we'll find again passing Suykutambo, by a road non-apt for any vehicle, closed in a gorge surrounds to the limit with Cusco by a fabulous and extensive stone forest with infinity of queñuales until arriving in Suykutambo Canyon. In this canyon also known like Three Canyon, it is united with the Cerritambo rivers and Cayomani, forming a spectacular landscape with rocks of up to 80 meters height (264 ft.),
in this way we will find the Archaeological site of "Maria Fortaleza", Inca ruins that are located strategically with a spectacular view, already in the province of Espinar (Yauri), after several kilometers to the border of the river we found the circular ruins of Maucallaqta, continuing almost always by the border until arriving at the "Machu Bridge", place where the waters form a small & narrow canyon between the vertical rocks. In order to continue until the Santo Domingo Bridge (Colonial Bridge) and of there to Yauri, Cusco and Apurimac.
To continue…
MORE GOLD TOUR EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMS :
- MISMI Mt. the SOURCE OF the AMAZON RIVER AND RIO APURIMAC (Expedition 4 x 4) 2nd. Part.
- The VOLCANO VALLEY - ANDAGUA (Combination with Colca Canyon, Majes Valley and Toro Muerto PETROGLIPHS)
- MOUNTAINEERING IN AREQUIPA (Snow-covered CHACHANI & MISTI Volcano).
- KESWACHACA straw made HANGING BRIDGE , KARAÑAWI CAVES & FOUR LAGOONS CIRCUIT.
, this place is called Carhuasanta, Here is where the Amazon river is born, that is the most distant point from its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean.
The landscape is High-Andean plateau (Puna), cretaceous land and something rocky, volcanic rocks, Typical bushes like, Ichu ( Andean grass ), Yaretas, tola, etc, in some places queñuas ( A very nice and protected tree), small lagoons and some peaks with snows; birds like guallatas or Andean goose, ducks, black ibis, flamingoes, mountain hawk or kara kara falcon, Andean flicker, vizcachas ( wild rabbits ), small lizards, foxes, and Condors in the side of Colca. Alpaca breders communities, small waterfallss and a great calm that makes a super relaxing trip, the sky is blue, at night full of bright stars and at the end of rainy season you will see the green of its fields. The best time is from April to November; We recommend not to smoke, not to take spirits (except a hot wine cup), not to eat too much, digestion is slowly at highg altitudes, to walk slowly, not to throw litter in the routes or camp sites, Take good food and enough water to drink, Maps, geográphic sheets, GPS, road maps, river maps and others.
colonial villages, stone canyons, condors, the andes, valleys, forests, Andean and jungle communities, animals of the zone infinity of birds, caymans, trouts, vegetation, sun, snow, forests, lagoons, more rivers, etc. etc. An experience that very few will be able to have. fig 5 From the Mismi we lowered by Carhuasanta, we followed it by the borders of the Small Hornillos river, beyond we found small thermal baths, until "La Angostura", where the Small Hornillos is united with the Apurimac , from there with its calm waters towards the east and we'll find again passing Suykutambo, by a road non-apt for any vehicle, closed in a gorge surrounds to the limit with Cusco by a fabulous and extensive stone forest with infinity of queñuales until arriving in Suykutambo Canyon. In this canyon also known like Three Canyon, it is united with the Cerritambo rivers and Cayomani, forming a spectacular landscape with rocks of up to 80 meters height (264 ft.), 
in this way we will find the Archaeological site of "Maria Fortaleza", Inca ruins that are located strategically with a spectacular view, already in the province of Espinar (Yauri), after several kilometers to the border of the river we found the circular ruins of Maucallaqta, continuing almost always by the border until arriving at the "Machu Bridge", place where the waters form a small & narrow canyon between the vertical rocks. In order to continue until the Santo Domingo Bridge (Colonial Bridge) and of there to Yauri, Cusco and Apurimac.
