You will find plenty of agencies downtown Arequipa offering guided tours of the very high volcanoes around (Misti, Chachani, etc.). However, beware there are just 4 actually organizing tours left! The others just sale the service and sub-contract 3 of those 4, adding their margin to the base price.

Genuine Ascent Organizers

The four genuine guided ascent organizers are:

a 4x4 is a must

Carlos Zarate "Adventures"

Carlos Zarate "Adventures"
Calle Santa Catalina 204
Of. Cercado
Telef. +51-54-202461
Telefax: +51-54-263107
Offers high Standard service only with UIAGM certified guides. They are the only ones to sale their services without working with all those retailers previously mentioned. The most expensive on the market!

Ulises Barrenechea C.

Ulises_bc[at]hotmail[dot]com
An adventure specialist operating from
Hostal “La Reyna”
Calle Zela Nro 209
GPS: S16-23.702 & W71-32.154
Next to Sta. Catalina Convent
Telef. / Telefax:+51-54-286578
hostalreyna[at]yahoo[dot]com
Ulises has his “exclusive” guides. They are reliable and have passed part of the UIAGM required courses. He operates 3 modern Toyota 4 x 4, a luxury in Arequipa “mountain industry”: A “must” for those mountains requiring a long and tough approach! He applies market prices (after fair negotiations!).

the approach to Anchaca Ridge

Quechua explorer

Calle San Francisco 218
Telef. +51-54-282965
Cel. +51-54-9999658
Cel +51-54-9693135
quechuaexplorermg[at]hotmail[dot]com
tivanamaru[at]yahoo[dot]com
They contract reliable guides with UIAGM certification or part of the required UIAGM courses. Market prices (after fair negotiations!).

Continental

Calle Jerusalen 302-b
Telef. +51-54-330155
Cel. +51-54-9995353
The least reliable of the 4 operators, operates its own 4x4s but unlike the competition, has no technical gears to complete the clients' attire. The retailers only work with them when the demand is higher than what Ulises or Quechua can handle. Market prices (after fair negotiations!).

Expedition to Nevado Coropuna

Alternative Approach to Ascent Arranging

Adventure Cotahuasi Tours offers an original alternative to the traditional ascent arranging approach. Vic Hanson, the founder and manager, is a native English speaker living in Cotahuasi. He knows most of the routes and has climbed or attempted to climb most of the popular Volcanoes of Arequipa. He does not have any formal mountain certification (e.g. UIAGM), thus not willig to take a novice climber on a route requiring crampons and ice axe. But he can do so on Misti or Pichu Pichu, or even Chachani when there is no snow or ice on the trail.
Adventure Cotahuasi Tours offers a partner service that includes transportation from Arequipa to the mountains and back: The best interface with the Peruvian culture for those with limited Spanish language ability and / or limited traveling experience to the South! They charge $60 / day (2008) plus fuel costs.

Case Study: Misti

organized camp high on Misti

February 2006, market prices for an ascent of El Misti, from Arequipa, were as follow:

Complete guided package:
120 to 140 US$ for 1 client
65 to 75 US$ for 2 clients
45 to 55 US$ for 3 clients and more

Transportation from downtown to the trailhead (Ruta Grau or Southern approach) and back from the trailhead to downtown: 40 to 50 US$ depending on the quality of the used 4x4 vehicle.

Guiding services for high summits: 60 to 70US$ / day (El Misti is viewed as a one-day trip to guide as the ascent starts at mid-day and finishes the next day at mid-day).