Location: Yanahuara District, Province and Region of Arequipa.

Distance from Arequipa Downtown: 80 kilometers - l hour and 40 minutes by private transportation. A 4x4 is preferable to visit the Sumbay Caves.

• At least 500 paintings have been registered in the area. It is believed they were made during the pre-ceramic era. Even though some of the paintings have disappeared, many of them are still visible.
• It is recommended to visit the area during the day and be in good physical shape due to the high altitude of the area (4,127 meters above sea level) .
• The caves can be visited on the way to the Colca Canyon, but the majority of traditional tours don't include Sumbay in their tours.
• If driving on your own, you will need a 4x4 truck or an SUV. The access from the main road is a dirty road in very bad shape.
• The paintings are in a cave which is gated, and the gate has a door with three locks. When paying for your ticket at the entrance of Sumbay Town, make sure you ask for all three keys. Sometimes, the person on charge of the keys is not around; therefore, it is better to make arrangements with a local tour operator before leaving Arequipa.

Restrictions:

• Touching the paintings is prohibited.
• Taking pictures with flash.