Valley of Geysers of Candarave: Adventure Destination

Four hours from the city of Tacna, in southern Peru, there is a hidden treasure that captivates for its uniqueness and that has been gaining fame among travelers. It is the Valley of Geysers whose dense smoke comes from the depths of the earth.

Located in the Vilacota - Maure Regional Conservation Area, at 4300 m a.s.l. no. m., in the Calientes river basin, this place is home to 85 hot springs formed in the past as a product of volcanic activity and whose waters, which exceed 80° C, produce large columns of smoke and unusual vaporization that dazzles the eye.

Location of the Candarave Geysers

The Candarave Geysers are located 167 kilometers away in the Sierra de Tacna, in the province of Candarave, on the border with Puno. It is located within the Vilacota-Maure Regional Conservation Area.

Altitude of the Candarave Geysers

The Valley of the Geysers of Candarave is located at 4300 meters above sea level, the climate of this area is intensely cold.

What are Geysers?

Geysers are deposits of thermal water whose outlet is given by way of eruption of a volcano that expels the water with a permanent periodicity. Geysers are rare phenomena since their formation requires certain hydrogeological conditions that only occur in some parts of the planet. They are areas where volcanic activity has occurred in the past and where the presence of rocks subjected to high temperatures by magma from the interior of the Earth coincides.

What to do in the Valley of Geysers of Candarave?

Apart from doing ecological tourism, you can also do cycle tourism, ecotourism, adventure, experiential and rural tourism.

On the way to the Candarave Geysers you will be able to contemplate beautiful landscapes, such as: oregano, prickly pear and olive valleys.

In this area you will also find the Garganta del Diablo or lagoons such as Vilacota, Taccata, Ñeque, Camiri and Paucarani.

You can see one of the most emblematic religious buildings of the place, such as: The Parish of San Juan Bautista.

There are two natural hot springs of 37°C and 40°C, which are used as thermal baths. Its waters are famous because they help in the treatment of diseases such as arthritis and rheumatism. Admission is free.

Candarave Valley of Geysers

The Valley of Geysers is located in the Vilacota-Maure Regional Conservation Area. This, due to its great extension, covers the districts of Palca, Tarata, Ticaco, Susapaya and Candarave. It is in this last district where the Valley of Geysers is located.

The Valley of Geysers is located at 4300 meters above sea level. in the Calientes river basin. The tourist attraction of this valley are the 85 hot springs that are found there. Its waters are temperate and oscillate between 37°C and 80°C. Also, due to its high concentration of sulfur, these waters have many healing and relaxing properties. 

Nature Scene

Around the geysers you will be able to observe, not only the beauty of the Peruvian mountains, but also very important plant species of the area, such as the yareta and the tola. These two species are one of the few that can grow to this great height. 

Very close to the Valley of the Geysers, is the trapezoidal bridge, in which many people take souvenir photographs with the background of the Peruvian Andes. Likewise, we recommend you visit the geological formations that are one step away from the valley. The so-called Elephant Stone is the most popular among tourists visiting Vilacota-Maure.

How to get to the Valley of the Geysers?

To enjoy this wonderful destination, you must first travel to the Tacna region. From Lima, it is approximately 22 hours by bus and the ticket costs 130 soles. If you want to travel by plane, the price is 200 soles and the travel time is 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Once in the Heroic City, you should go to the Plaza de Armas where you will find various tourist agencies that provide transportation to Vilacota - Maure. The tour lasts 4 hours and costs 210 soles per person, including transportation, guide, and lunch. During the journey you will be able to appreciate the Queñuales Forest and the Yucamani volcano, as well as several Andean species, such as the surí bird, the taruka or Andean deer and the vicuña.

Recommendations:

• Wear warm clothing (jacket, gloves, cap or chullo, thick socks, warm pants), with the constant changes in temperature.
• Apply sunscreen every 2 hours at least.
• Sleep well the day before, as the tour starts very early.
• Hydrate, take small sips of water during the journey.
• Bring snacks, whether they are nuts or energy bars that will help give you strength along the way.

Vilacota Maure Regional Conservation Area

To get to Vilacota-Maure you have to take a tourist transport from the city of Tacna. This tour lasts approximately 4 hours. Thus, along the way you will be able to appreciate the Andean ecosystem and several species of flora and fauna that are currently in danger of extinction.

In this conservation area, you will find forests of queñuales, tolares, bofedales and grasslands. In addition, you will be able to observe the most important species in the area, such as the suri, the taruca, the vicuña and others.

In addition to hosting the Valley of Geysers, Vilacota-Maure also has several beautiful lagoons such as Vilacota, Taccata, Ñeque, Camiri and Paucarani.

Places to visit in Vilacota-Maure

Likewise, the Valley of the Geysers, although it has an unparalleled beauty, is not the only area of geysers in Vilacota-Maure. If you loved the Valley of Geysers, you can also visit La Garganta del Diablo, or Cota Geysers. This natural attraction is located in the Huiltavira annex, in Candarave. To access it, you have to take a trekking route that starts on the trail from Huiltavira to Kalachulpane. At the end of the journey you will find a narrow rock formation where you can see geysers expelling hot water and gases into the sky. When these fall, they form a small stream of temperate waters. Without a doubt, it is a natural spectacle that no one should miss.

Another place that houses the Vilacota-Maure conservation area is the Conchachiri Waterfalls. This site is located at 4250 m.s.n.m. on a rocky slope near the Maure River, in the province of Tarata. It has a shallow drop, but with wide proportions. Just the sound of the water colliding with the lower part of the fall is a sublime experience for the tourist.

Likewise, another important waterfall is Calachaca, which is located in the Ticaco district. This waterfall is known as the Skull, because its waters cross a long geographical feature. Very close to there, there is also a recreation center that has thermal baths.

Typical dishes of Tacna

If you are visiting the Valley of the Geysers or any other of the nearby natural attractions, you have to take the opportunity to try the delicious typical dishes that Tacna offers.

A dish that you will find in every corner of Tacna is the spicy tacneña. This stew has been prepared since the beginning of the Republic. This dish is cooked over firewood and is accompanied by “marraqueta” bread.

Likewise, another dish that you cannot stop trying is rice with duck. This one is inspired by Spanish paellas and incorporates various Peruvian flavors.

Finally, the tacneño marinade is a dish with which the gastronomic route in Tacna should end. The marinade was born with the purpose of preserving the meat for a longer time and, over the years, it has become one of the emblematic dishes of Tacna and Arequipa. For it to turn out well, the meat must be marinated for several hours. Its preparation includes boiled and fried pork meat in a clay pot using firewood. Potato and sweet potato are usually served as a side dish.

Other tourist attractions in Tacna 

In addition to the Vilacota-Maure conservation area, Tacna has many other tourist attractions to offer.

One of them is the Swamp of Ite. This is 95 km. from the city of Tacna, at the mouth of the Locumba River. It is one of the largest swamps in the country along with the Villa swamps in Lima. It is also the second largest in all of South America. This place is the main attraction in terms of flora and fauna, as it is home to a large population of waterfowl such as the white heron and the red duck.

26 km. from the city of Tacna, are the petroglyphs of Miculla. These can be covered in 30 minutes; They show drawings and traces of animals and people. Also, very close to there is a suspension bridge 65 meters long. To get to Miculla you can take the buses that leave from the city of Tacna or hire a tourist service.

The majestic city of Tacna

The Cathedral of Tacna is another tourist attraction that you can visit in the city. Its architectural style is Neo-Renaissance, inspired by the 19th century. It is the ideal place to observe religious art typical of the area.

Finally, in the city of Tacna you can visit the National Railway Museum. This is focused on the remains of the railway, of which 90% of original parts are preserved. In addition, it houses rooms with photographs of Tacna and Arica from 1929. The main rooms of the museum are the historical documentary room, the Peru room, the Philatelic room and the Hornas Foundry Area room.