Get to know Caleta San José in Arequipa, a little explored and almost virgin natural corner that is really worth knowing.
Enjoy activities such as kayaking, diving or fishing in the Arequipa province of Camaná.
For the journalist and traveler Manolo del Castillo, an authoritative voice in terms of recommendations on Peruvian destinations, Caleta San José, located in the Arequipa province of Camaná, is one of the most beautiful places on the Peruvian coast. The reasons: the soft sound of the waves and its fine sand.
To get to this point you need to sail one hour and 45 minutes from the port of Quilca, 2 hours from the center of Arequipa. Due to the tranquility of its waters, this is the ideal trip for kayaking, diving or fishing from a raft. A highly attractive itinerary for water lovers.
If you want to spend a few days as a couple or with friends, in this place you will find a hostel that has the same name as the Arequipa cove, and that offers 3-day packages from S/600 per person. The tour includes transfers from Quilca, a room with an ocean view, as well as tours to visit nearby coves and beaches.
Also visit Punta Hornillos – 6 km from Caleta San José – where you will find pelicans, sea lions and Humboldt penguins. Complete your stay with a succulent ceviche.
Almost 20 years ago Mauricio Mendoza del Solar and Gonzalo Llerena started a fan shell farming business in this place; However, some visitors came, such as the famous Rafo León, who encouraged them to build a shelter that receives visitors.
Thus, they were building this beautiful hostel that is ecological, since the drainage does not go to the sea but to a system of underground wells where wastewater is treated.
Due to this and the conservation work they have been carrying out in San José and Caleta la Francesa, the hostel has won the ecoplayas award consecutively since 2007. To date, he is a lifetime winner of this award thanks to the incredible work they do in Caleta San José.
Talking to Mauricio and Gonzalo is to immerse yourself in the emotion, pride and deep love for nature that they both have, listening to them talk is to feel the story as if you had lived it yourself.
Knowing them has been one of the best experiences because, as I have already mentioned in the Berlin forest post, conservation is the most humble and selfless work of human beings, of those who, being aware of its importance, work to preserve it.
It is located on the southern coast of Peru, specifically in the district of Quilca, province of Camaná in Arequipa.
It is a place that offers total disconnection (literally because there is no cell phone signal except Movistar which is accessed by climbing the hill); But don't let this worry you, in the cove they have satellite phones through which they communicate with the city if necessary.
There are also no televisions in the rooms or Wi-Fi, there is nothing within a 20 km radius other than pure nature, fresh air, transparent sea and lots of marine fauna, so you have no choice but to enjoy what Mother Nature provides us.
You can get to Arequipa and from there go to Quilca at the intersection of kilometer 845 of the Panamericana Sur, taking the detour to take a dirt road to the port. Then you take the boat to the cove.
In our case we went by bus from Lima to Camaná, we stayed 2 nights to get to know a little, we coordinated with the contact of the cove that would take us to Quilca and from there representatives of the same cove picked us up to take us to the port to finally board towards the cove.
Another option for adventurers is to arrive on their own in a 4×4 or 4wd from Quilca to the lodge. This stretch lasts 30 minutes on the new road to the rural detour that leads to the same San José cove.
If you coordinate the transfer with the cove, at the port they take care of the procedure at the captain's office, do not forget to bring your ID so you can board.
The journey from the port of Quilca to the hostel takes approximately 1:45 hours, depending on the mood of the sea.
Once boarded at the port of Quilca, be sure to sit outside the cabin so you can enjoy the beautiful scenery.
If you are someone who gets seasick on boats, it is advisable that you take a seasickness pill 1 hour before boarding.
During the journey you will witness the brilliant phenomenon of the Quilca River flowing into the sea, an enormous brown mass that collides with the force of the sea that paints it this color, remaining that way for part of the journey.
Then the sea water returns to its natural color, while different types of birds such as pelicans and seagulls accompany us along the way, seeing the breakers on the rock walls that make this path very special.
You know that you are arriving when the sea becomes calmer, opening the way to a beach with calm waters, the structure of the hostel can be seen in the distance and at least I felt that I was reaching a dream come true.
Upon arrival we were greeted by a smaller boat, which took us to a small dock that has a marked path to the beach; once I got down, I took off my sandals and got into the water! It is super clear, the sand soft and a delicious climate to enjoy.
Many are the routes that take you to Machu Picchu, but none is like the Inca Trail Tours, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views.