The Colca Canyon is one of the most popular destinations for adventurers. Besides, it is one of the deepest canyons in the world. Colca is a well-known destination for hiking and getting to know alternative cultures. In addition, it is the main habitat of one of the most beautiful and imposing creatures: the Andean Condor.
To observe and take photos of it, you can go to different viewpoints; one of its most known is Cruz del Condor. The entire landscape and valley of the Canyon are made up of green areas, traditional villages, and the same impetuous canyon. So what better than being able to take a creative trip to one of the most visited destinations in all of Peru?
That is why, together with Machu Travel Peru, we have prepared an article for you! In it, you will be able to visualize the incredible Colca Canyon tour.
Know very well full day tours of Colca Canyon from Arequipa
Colca Canyon
Those who wish to visit the Colca Canyon usually have to make a mandatory stop in Arequipa first. Since Colca is in this beautiful Peruvian department. In addition, Arequipa has the most exclusive hotels in the area. Moreover, as in any city that is several meters above the sea (2335 m.a.s.l), it is advisable to spend and relax for a few days to acclimatize.
In the same way, you’ll notice how Arequipa is not just any destination. It is the second most inhabited city in Peru, with one and a half million inhabitants.
For all these reasons, the majority of tours to the Colca Canyon depart from Arequipa. But these are not only one; there are many varieties of tours that have “The White City” as their starting point. In case you are already on one of the many tours in Peru, your operator or agency will give you your itinerary and the times to depart for the Canyon.
Colca experiences
You will find that around the Colca Valley there is much to do. Depending on the travel agencies or operators, you can enjoy many activities that involve observing the beautiful Colca Canyon and its many viewpoints. For those eager for an adventure, they can even enjoy rafting in the Colca Canyon.
Normally, you will find that there are two main ways to appreciate the place: through a Colca Canyon tour or a beautiful hiking route.
- TOUR: This is one of the preferred ways for tourists who do not have too much time or simply have a large itinerary ahead of them. During the trip from Arequipa, you will be able to experience several stops for you to gather provisions since the trip usually starts very early. You will be able to enjoy incredible landscapes and scenery that will give you a reason to why visit the Colca Canyon. Depending on the tour, you can hit the beautiful city of Chivay, which is considered one of the most important in the area.
- HIKE: Normally, the trek can last two to three days. You can choose to do it with a group or independently. Note that the hike goes downhill towards the canyon slope and then you will have to climb up to be able to return. Similarly, along the way, you will find many accommodations to rest. During the hike, you can experience beautiful landscapes and scenery that you will not believe are of this world. Even the Canyon is twice as deep as the well-known Grand Canyon and is one of the most impressive facts about the Colca Canyon.
Both are amazing ways to experience the Canyon, but those with limited time usually choose the Colca Canyon tour. But if you have enough time, it is highly recommended that you choose the hiking route.
Tours
A. 1 Full-Day Colca Canyon Tour
The 1-Day tour is a journey of the entire day that starts very early. The transportation of travel agency picks up passengers from their hotels between 03:00 and 03:30 am. The trip passes through Chivay town up to Yanque, a small town where travel agencies usually offer breakfast.
Afterward, the transport takes visitors to Cruz del Condor to appreciate beautiful condors flying. Following this, the tour continues, visiting the charming Andean towns of Choquetico, Maca, and the Pre-Incas terraces and viewpoint of Antahuilque.
The tour continues visiting los baños termales de Chacapi (Hot Spring), the entry to them is optional. Next, the transportation returns visitors to Chivay, to take lunch there. Then, during the return trip to Arequipa, the transportation will make stops at the Mirador de los Volcanes. It’s located at an altitude of 4,800 meters, from which you can enjoy an exceptional view of the volcanoes that surround the region.
Likewise, tourists will visit the Pampa Cañahuas National Reserve, a wetland where you can see vicuñas and alpacas. Finally, the transport will return to Arequipa around 19:30 to 21:30 the same day.
B. 2-Days Colca Canyon Tour
The circuit of this tour is the reverse. The travel agency’s transport picks tours up from their hotels between 07:30 am – 08:00 am. The tour continues by visiting Pampa Cañahuas to appreciate the charming alpacas and vicunas. Then, the transportation passes through Patahuasi, heading to Tacra, where the region’s flora and fauna will surprise you.
Next, the tour will visit Patapampa town and its viewpoint of the Volcanoes at 4,800 m.a.s.l. The transport will then arrive in Chivay, where the travel agency will settle its passengers in their respective hotels. In the afternoon, you can take advantage of the opportunity to cool off in the thermal baths of Chacapi.
On the second day, after breakfast at the hotel, the transport will begin its journey to visit the Cruz del Cóndor. Here, visitors will be able to tour the lookout point and see some condors in flight. The tour will then make stops in Yanque and Maca, where you can visit local squares and see some handicrafts. The transport will then return to Chivay for lunch and then to Arequipa, where the tour will end around 17:30 pm.
Trekkings
A. 2 Days Trekking Colca Canyon Tour
This Colca Canyon trek begins very early. Pick up from hotels in Arequipa at approximately 03:00 in the morning. Transfer by bus for approximately 3 hours to the town of Chivay for breakfast. Afterward, continue for 45 minutes to the “Cruz del Cóndor” viewpoint to enjoy the flight of the Andean Condor and the panoramic view of the Colca Valley.
Then, continue for another 20 minutes to the San Miguel viewpoint to begin the hike. From this point, descend along a path of almost 1000 meters (03 hrs) until reaching the tiny town of San Juan de Chuccho.
Here, you will have lunch while enjoying an exceptional view of the canyon. After, continue with the journey to El Oasis (Sangalle 2180 masl) for 3 hours, crossing the towns of Cosñirgua and Malata (2,450 mts).
At this site, you can enjoy the 68 °F natural pools and take a walk around the site; here, you will spend the night in one of its accommodations.
On this day, the hike begins at 4:30 am with the aim of ascending to the town of Cabanaconde for approximately 3 hours. Individuals who are very exhausted have the possibility of renting mules for the journey.
Once in Cabanaconde, we have lunch, and on the way back, we visit the Antahuilque viewpoint. Nearby, there are pre-Inca terraces and terraces. In addition, we visit the town of Maca and the nearby hot springs.
Then we have lunch in Chivay, and the trip continues by bus to Patapampa, known for its famous Volcano viewpoint (4910 m.a.s.l.). The bus journey continues to the Salina Aguada Blanca National Reserve, a place where llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas can be seen. We return to Arequipa around 5:00 pm.
B. 3 Days Trekking Colca Canyon Tour
Day 1: From Cabanaconde to San Juan de Chuccho (9 kilometers, 6 hours)
The shuttle service will begin picking up tourists between 03:00 and 03:30 in the morning from the hotels in Arequipa. Then, there is a 3-hour trip to the city of Chivay for breakfast. Afterward, there is a 40-minute tour of the Cruz del Cóndor, located at 3,600 meters above sea level, to admire the imposing condor and capture beautiful images of the canyon.
Then, the tour continues by shuttle to the town of San Miguel, at an altitude of 3,200 meters, where the hike will begin. From this point, you descend through the canyon, obtaining breathtaking views of the depth of the canyon, as well as flora and fauna of the area.
After 3 hours of descent, you cross a bridge to reach the community of San Juan de Chuccho, at an altitude of 2,230 meters. Here, you will have lunch at the home of a local family. Afterward, plenty of time to relax and learn about the traditions of the families who live in the Colca Canyon.
Day 2: Sangalle Oasis (6 kilometers, 3 hours)
After breakfast, you will begin the 3-hour hike, crossing Cosñirhua and Malata, enigmatic mountain towns. Then, you will reach the Sangalle Oasis, located at 1900 meters above sea level, where you will be able to appreciate and enjoy its nature and its pools.
Day 3: From Cabanaconde to Chivay in Arequipa (7 kilometers, between 3 and 4 hours)
On this day, you will begin the trekking at dawn. You will ascend for a period of 3 to 4 hours until you reach the top of the canyon. During the journey, you can watch the sunrise as you progress. At the top, you will take a break to relax. Afterward, we continue a little further to Cabanaconde, at 3300 meters above sea level, where we will have breakfast.
Then, we board a transport to visit the viewpoints of Antahuilque, where we can see its cultivation terraces and its thermal baths. Here it is possible to relax for a while. Then, we continue the journey by bus to Chivay for lunch. Finally, we begin the return trip, stopping at the volcano viewpoint at an altitude of 4190 meters before reaching the city of Arequipa, where the activity concludes.
How to get to the Colca Canyon
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The Colca Canyon is approximately 3,400 meters deep and about 100 kilometers long. Colca is one of the largest in the world and one of the preferred destinations for adventurers. The setting and landscapes that this place provides are from another world. There are no descriptions or photos that are capable of capturing what this place is about.
In it, you will be able to appreciate awesome traditions, local inhabitants with colorful costumes, charming hot springs, and beautiful towns. It’s in the Arequipa Peruvian department, the southeast of Peru. So, there are reforms to get there from Arequipa:
A. Through a Travel Agency or Tour Operator
You can hire a Colca Canyon group or private tour package from Arequipa. The travel agency will pick you up from your hotel to the same Colca Canyon. Moreover, they will be in charge of transporting you to the accommodations you have in the towns of the same canyon. Of course, they will charge to take you return to Arequipa.
In other words, you’ll not worry about anything.
B. By yourself
Arequipa is around 170 kilometers southeast of Colca Canyon. Therefore, you will have to go to the Bus terminal station of Arequipa. There are many bus company that departs to Chivay or Cabanaconde. These Colca towns have the two largest bus terminals in the canyon.
The bus ticket costs 10 dollars, and the bus trip lasts 03 hours. Once in Chivay, it is necessary to walk or use private transportation to reach one of the observatories in the Colca Canyon.
If you travel to Cabanaconde, it is necessary to walk or use private transportation to reach the Condor viewpoint, the most visited point in the Colca Canyon.
Travel tips
You might also be interested in: Shopping in Peru.
Finally, for you to take advantage of tourism in Peru, it is recommended that you take some things with you:
- Extra money to buy crafts in nearby towns.
- Warm clothes for the night and light clothes during the day. The weather is very changeable.
- Pills for altitude sickness or some coca leaves.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses.
- A camera for photos and videos
“IT IS NOT DOWN IN ANY MAP, TRUE PLACES NEVER ARE”
To visit Arequipa is to experience one of the main tourist sites in Peru. We hope we have been of help for your next trip. Remember that around and during the trip from Arequipa, you can enjoy much more than just the beautiful viewpoints. Together with Machu Travel Peru, we await your prompt visit to this magical destination.
