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Trekking ideas: Colca Canyon

With a depth of 3,270 m Colca Canyon is one of the deepest Canyons in the world (twice as deep as the famous Gran Canyon in the US). Excellent trekking experience!


We did not experience any height sickness, but at the time of the hike we have been travelling at > 3000 m for almost 2 week.

There are mainly 3 classic tour options:

  • 1 Day Tour - this does not involve trekking, same as 2 Day tour up to Seeing the condor from there, return to Arequipa

  • 2 Day Tour - will be elaborated below

  • 3 Day Tour - same as 2 day tour but at a slower pace


There are loads of agencies that organize the tour, so make sure to check several before booking one. All the agencies have the same tour no matter what they will tell you. We paid 95 soles per person after negotiating the price. I don't remember the name of the Agency but it was in Plaza de Armas under the arcades it had a stand with post cards at the entrance.


  • price included: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner, 1 night at Oasis Paraiso Colca, the bus and the guide

  • price excluded: 2nd lunch - buffet all you can eat 28 soles, entrance at swimming pool with hot waters + 70 soles for the entrance in the National Park

The bus picked us up at 3AM. In the morning in the bus is cold so get something warm along, sleeping bag if possible as well. Get an extra t-shirt as you will sweat during the hike so you will need to change and get a bathing suit as there are swimming opportunities. As always pack as light as possible, not more than a daypack.

Our guide Yolanda, explained us a bit the difference between the people living in the Canyon, namely about the Collagua and the Cabana cultures. She also explained us how we can differentiate between a male, female and baby condor. The view is very nice and it is kind of funny when you see all the people pointing out: "look look there he is".

At 9:15 we went to meet our new guide (Pati) and the group that we were going to go for the trekking part. Yolanda was going back with the 1 day tour people.

So, we meet Pati and our instructions are as follow you have to climb down for 6km (aprox 1000 m) you have to wait when you reach the river, they estimate this to a 4h walk. We managed to do it in about 3h. Watch your step as due to the small stones and sand you can slip easily. Also if issues with the knees think twice before deciding for the trekking experience.

After the river there is a bit of an uphill, we had lunch on the way and could taste some right from the tree figs and grenadine (yummy).

After around 1h of flat walk we came to a point where Pati told us: This is a test for tomorrow, if you manage to do this piece in 18 min or less you will be able to finish tomorrow's climb in less than 3h. So all with enthusiasm started strong and after a while we realized we were breathless :S .. once you find your rhythm everything goes easier. I managed to finish in 14 min and needed a Gatorade at the end :) . This picture above is very representative for 2 reasons...down there where you see the pools is the place we were about to sleep ... and the 2nd reason is the line you can see up the mountain: 5 km -- 1000 m climb next morning.


This place below is called today: Las Palmeras - Oasis de Sangalle. The swimming pool have temperate water at about 20 degrees (I would have liked a couple of extra degrees) the rooms very basic, no electricity, the walls of the toilets and showers are out of a sort of bamboo so you can basically see quite easily inside. The dinner area is very basic as well only one light around. I enjoyed sleeping one night there it looked indeed like a little paradise :) and you can rest very well.

TIP: get a head lantern with you + extra battery for your phone. Next morning we had to wake up early and at 5 AM the climbing started so that we reach the top before the sun was starting to shine over us. The breakfast was only later on, after we went up. So as I said: 5km uphill in total 1000 m. Reference: Average time 3h, fastest time 1h, slowest time 7h. Based on the experience from the day before I knew I have to go in my own rhythm, so I started walking and only stopped at the end (no breaks, unless a donkey was coming and I was letting him pass in front of me :P) in total 2:20h! Very happy with my time :)

After the hike, we had breakfast then we left towards the hot water springs, on the way we stopped in one of the villages on the way where you could buy some souvenirs or drink Colca Sour which is similar to the Pisco Sour only that it uses Sancayo juice instead of lime juice.

From there we had 1h time at the hot water springs and than back to Chivay where we had lunch. From there up to the top at 4910m. Where you have an overview over some volcanoes, It was snowing when we got there so could not see much. The way back to Arequipa could not be without some very cute Lamas and Alpacas

The schedule in general was:

Day 1:

  • 03:00 AM -- bus picks you up at hostel, leaving towards Chivay

  • 06:30 AM -- arrival at Chivay + breakfast

  • 08:30 AM -- arrival at Cruz del Condor - Raise of Condor

  • 10:00 AM -- arrival at Pampas San Miguel, downhill trekking of the canyon

  • 13: 00 PM -- break, lunch

  • 14:00 PM -- leaving towards Cosñirhua, Malata

  • 16:00 PM -- arrival at Oasis + dinner

Day 2:

  • 05:00 AM -- uphill trekking of canyon

  • 08:30 AM -- arrival at Cabanaconde for breakfast

  • 10:00 AM -- leaving towards Chivay, stops at Antahuilque y Maca

  • 12:00 PM -- arrival at terma waters La Calera

  • 13:00 PM -- lunch (buffet) in Chivay

  • 14:30 PM -- departure to Arequipa, stops at 4910m + to see the llamas & alpacas

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