Three and a half hours from Arequipa, there’s a place that sounds like it’s out of a movie: 69 real dinosaur footprints, fossilized more than 150 million years ago, sitting alongside life-size dinosaur replicas in the middle of the desert. Peruvian media have already nicknamed it “Peru’s Jurassic Park,” and it can be visited in a single day from Arequipa. Turismo Liberty’s Majes Valley and Dinosaur Footprints tour starts at $27 per adult ($22 for children) and also includes the Toro Muerto petroglyphs, one of the largest rock art sites in South America. If you already have your date, message us on WhatsApp +51 959 175 901 and we’ll confirm availability within minutes.
Most Arequipa travel guides focus exclusively on Colca Canyon, but very few visitors know there’s a real paleontological site nearby, open to the public, with certified guides who explain the find. This guide covers the full day itinerary, how to tell the real footprints from the replicas, when to go, what to pack, and everything you need answered before booking.
🦕 Majes Valley and Dinosaur Footprints: The Complete Tour
Here’s the essential snapshot of Turismo Liberty’s tour, built for travelers who want to see the real discovery without dealing with the logistics themselves:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tour | Majes Valley and Dinosaur Footprints |
| Price | From $27 adult / $22 child |
| Duration | 1 day (4:30 AM – approx. 8:30 PM) |
| Starting point | Hotel pickup, historic center of Arequipa |
| What’s included | Hotel pickup, tourist transportation, certified guide, constant assistance |
| What’s NOT included | Lunch, entrance fees to Toro Muerto and Querulpa |
| Difficulty level | Easy — suitable for the whole family |
🧭 What Are the Querulpa Dinosaur Footprints?
In 2002, three residents of Aplao discovered a set of fossilized tracks on the hillside of Querulpa, within the Majes Valley, Castilla province, Arequipa. Subsequent studies identified 69 footprints belonging to a plintosaurus, a large herbivorous dinosaur that lived in the area during the Late Jurassic, more than 150 million years ago. Today the site recreates the Jurassic era with life-size sculptures of species like the Giganotosaurus and Pteranodon, plus a small on-site museum.
A few minutes from Querulpa sits the tour’s other highlight: the Toro Muerto petroglyphs, with over 5,000 rock engravings carved into volcanic boulders between 500 and 1000 AD, considered one of the largest open-air rock art sites on the continent.
🗓️ Step-by-Step Itinerary
This is Turismo Liberty’s standard program. It can be adjusted slightly depending on your group — message us on WhatsApp to coordinate details.
- 4:30 AM — Hotel pickup: departure from Arequipa’s historic center toward the Majes Valley, a drive of about three and a half hours.
- Toro Muerto petroglyphs: a guided walk of about 1 hour among the over 5,000 rock engravings carved into volcanic stone.
- Querulpa dinosaur footprints: a short 20-minute uphill walk to the site with the 69 fossilized footprints and life-size dinosaur replicas.
- Lunch in Corire: a stop in the traditional town of Corire for lunch (not included in the tour price).
- Chancharay hot springs: a relaxing break at the hot springs before heading back.
- Pisco and wine winery: a visit to a local winery with pisco and wine tasting from the region.
- 8:30 PM — Return to Arequipa: approximate arrival at Arequipa’s Plaza de Armas.
⚖️ Majes Valley vs. Other Day Tours from Arequipa
If you’re torn between this tour and other short excursions from Arequipa, this honest comparison can help you decide based on your interest and available time:
| Tour | Duration | Price from | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Majes Valley and Dinosaur Footprints | 1 day (4:30 AM–8:30 PM) | $27 | Easy | Curiosity, history, desert scenery |
| Sillar Route and Culebrillas | 4 hours | $12 | Easy | Half day, volcanic geology |
| Salinas Lagoon and Mini Volcano | 1 day | $27 | Easy-Moderate | Flamingos, high-plateau scenery |
| Pillones Waterfall and Stone Forest | 1 day | $27 | Moderate | Nature, waterfalls |
If you also want to cover Colca Canyon on the same trip, check Turismo Liberty’s full list of Arequipa tours to build a multi-day itinerary.
🌤️ Best Time to Visit the Majes Valley
| Months | Weather | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| April – June | Warm and dry, clear skies | Ideal, best visibility for photos |
| July – August | Dry, cold mornings in Arequipa city | Good time, bring a jacket for the 4:30 AM departure |
| September – November | Dry, pre-rainy season | Good option, fewer tourists |
| December – March | Sporadic rain | Possible, but with risk of road delays |
🎒 What to Pack for the Tour
- Light jacket — for the 4:30 AM departure, when Arequipa city is still cold.
- Cool, breathable clothing — the Majes Valley is warm and dry during the day.
- Comfortable shoes — for the 20-minute uphill walk to the Querulpa footprints.
- Sunscreen and a cap — the desert sun hits hard with no cloud cover.
- Cash in soles — for lunch in Corire and entrance fees, which aren’t included.
- Camera with a spare battery — the tour includes several photo stops.
- Reusable water bottle — the valley’s dry climate dehydrates faster than expected.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions: Dinosaur Footprints in Arequipa
Yes, they’re real. The footprints were discovered in 2002 by local residents of Aplao, in the Majes Valley, Castilla province, Arequipa. Studies identified 69 fossilized tracks belonging to a plintosaurus, a large herbivorous dinosaur that lived in the area during the Late Jurassic, more than 150 million years ago. What are replicas are the life-size dinosaur sculptures, like the Giganotosaurus, that recreate the Jurassic era around the site — these shouldn’t be confused with the actual discovery. Turismo Liberty’s Majes Valley and Dinosaur Footprints tour, from $27, includes a guided visit to both, with a certified guide who explains the difference on site.
The Majes Valley and Dinosaur Footprints tour with Turismo Liberty costs from $27 per adult and $22 per child. It includes tourist transportation from Arequipa, a certified guide, and constant assistance during the full-day tour. It doesn’t include lunch or entrance fees to the archaeological sites (Toro Muerto and Querulpa), which are paid separately on site. It’s one of the most affordable full-day tours from Arequipa, compared to similar excursions like the Sillar Route ($12, half day) or Salinas Lagoon ($27, full day). To confirm availability and the exact price for your date, message Turismo Liberty on WhatsApp at +51 959 175 901.
The tour includes hotel pickup in Arequipa’s historic center, tourist transportation for the full day, a certified guide, and constant assistance. The itinerary visits the Toro Muerto petroglyphs (over 5,000 rock engravings dated between 500 and 1000 AD), the Querulpa dinosaur footprints, the town of Corire, the Chancharay hot springs, and a local winery with pisco and wine tasting. Lunch is not included (arranged at a restaurant in Corire, paid separately), nor are entrance fees to the archaeological sites. It’s an easy-difficulty tour, suitable for the whole family, departing at 4:30 AM and returning around 8:30 PM.
The tour departs from Arequipa’s historic center, with pickup at your hotel or the Plaza de Armas, starting at 4:30 AM. The early departure is necessary because the drive to the Majes Valley takes about three and a half hours, and it’s best to reach Toro Muerto and Querulpa before the desert heat rises sharply, usually after 11 AM. The full itinerary includes the return to Arequipa’s Plaza de Armas around 8:30 PM. Turismo Liberty confirms the exact pickup point over WhatsApp once the tour is booked.
The full tour takes one day, from 4:30 AM to approximately 8:30 PM, including the round-trip drive from Arequipa. The visit to the Toro Muerto petroglyphs takes about an hour, while reaching the Querulpa footprints involves a short 20-minute uphill walk. The rest of the day is split between lunch in Corire, a break at the Chancharay hot springs, and a stop at a pisco winery before heading back. It’s a demanding day in terms of hours on the road, but easy in terms of physical difficulty, requiring no athletic condition or previous trekking experience.
The best time is between April and November, Arequipa’s dry season, when skies are clear and the roads toward Aplao and Corire are in better condition. Although the valley has a warm, desert climate year-round, avoiding the sporadic rains from December to March reduces the risk of road delays. Mornings are still cool in Arequipa before the 4:30 AM departure, so it’s worth bringing a light jacket, even though the valley itself heats up considerably during the day.
The Majes Valley brings together in a single day three things few destinations combine: centuries-old rock art, a real paleontological discovery, and desert scenery that most travelers who only visit Colca Canyon never get to see. With Turismo Liberty’s tour, from $27 per person, a certified guide makes sure you understand exactly what you’re looking at: real footprints, educational replicas, and rock art over a thousand years old, all on the same dinosaur footprints in Arequipa tour.
Ready to see Peru’s Jurassic Park?
The Majes Valley and Dinosaur Footprints tour with Turismo Liberty starts at $27 per person and includes a certified guide, tourist transportation, and assistance all day. Frequent departures based on availability. No middlemen.
