DAY 1: AREQUIPA CITY to CONDOR'S CROSS to SANGALLE

We will pick you up from your hotel or hostel in our private mini-bus between 3:00am and 3:30am, leaving Arequipa for Cabanaconde. On the way, we’ll make two stops: one stop for breakfast in Chivay, the provincial capital of the valley, and one stop at the “Cruz del Condor”, the viewpoint where you can see condors in flight and appreciate the magnitude of the canyon. This is the best viewpoint to see the canyon in all its splendour. We will stay at the viewpoint for approximately 50 minutes.

After, we will head to Cabanaconde, which will take around 10 minutes. Here we will begin our trek to the village of San Juan de Chuccho; a zig-zag descent of switchbacks that takes approximately 2 to 3 hours.

After crossing a suspension bridge, we will have lunch in San Juan - a small village located on the other margin of the Colca River, dotted with fruit trees and rustic houses, and with abundant water. We will continue walking in the depths of the canyon, visiting the villages of Cosnirhua and Malata, where you can appreciate the terraces full of fruit orchards. Afterwards, we will continue on to the Oasis Sangalle – Paraíso las Palmeras Lodge.

At 4:45pm, we will arrive in ‘Oasis Sangalle – Paraíso las Palmeras Lodge’. We will rest and spend a refreshing afternoon here at the exotic 20°C rock pool. Pisco sours, colca sours and other cocktails are not included but are available for purchase at the lodge. At 7:00pm we will have dinner by candlelight at the lodge.

DAY 2 : SANGALLE to CHIVAY to AREQUIPA CITY

At 5:00am there will be a group meeting in the main patio of the hotel. We’ll start the ascent at 5:15am, and hike for 3 hours from the Sangalle Oasis to Cabanaconde.

After breakfast in Cabanaconde, we will board our private mini-bus to Chivay, making two stops on the way: one at the Antahuilque viewpoint for a panorama of the valley’s villages and pre-Incan terraces, and the other in the town of Maca to see its colonial church and appreciate its artisan goods. Here there are also domesticated eagles, and for those interested, you can drink a pisco or colca sour made with Zancayo cactus fruit.

At 12:00pm, you’ll be able to enjoy the relaxing medicinal 38°C hot springs on the shores of the Colca River for 1 hour (optional). Afterwards, we will have a buffet lunch in Chivay.

We will start our return journey to the city of Arequipa at 2:30pm. On the way, we will make two stops: one in Patapampa, where we will appreciate the view of the snow-covered mountains, as well as the most important volcanoes in the south of the country. The other stop will be at the Reserva Nacional de Salinas y Aguada Blanca to see the llamas and alpacas.

The tour will end in Arequipa at 5:30pm; drop off will be beside the main door of the Santa Catalina Monastery.

Note:

- Official Colca Canyon entrance tax of 70 soles is not included in the ticket price. This must be paid on the tour.

- For those that wish to finish in Puno: On return to Chivay at 1pm, there will just be 15 minutes for lunch before departing to Puno. Arrival time in Puno is 7pm, and the drop off point is at Puno Plaza de Armas.

- Do not forget to bring clothes for wet weather during the rainy season of March and April (these are available to rent or buy in Arequipa).

DAY 1: 03:00 - 03:30

Hostel and hotel pick up

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DAY 1: 03:30 - 08:30

Drive towards Chivay and stop to have breakfast on the way

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DAY 1: 08:30 - 09:20

See Condor's Cross

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DAY 1: 09:20 - 10:00

Mini-bus to Cabanaconde

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DAY 1: 11:00 - 15:00

Start the trek downhill from 3,300 metres

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DAY 1: 16:45

Arrive to Oasis Sangalle – Paraíso las Palmeras Lodge

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DAY 1: 19:00

Have dinner and stay the night in the amazing oasis

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DAY 2: 05:00 - 05:15

Meeting in the main yard of the hotel

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DAY 2: 05:15 - 8:15

Hiking from Sangalle to Cabanaconde

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DAY 2: 12:00

Optional visit to the natural hot springs of Chivay

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DAY 2: 12:00 - 14:30

Lunch at a buffet restaurant

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DAY 2: 14:30 - 17:30

Mini-bus back to Arequipa city

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DAY 2: 17:30

Arrive back to Arequipa; drop off will be beside the main door of the Santa Catalina Monastery

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- Pick up from hotel
- Tourist transport
- Guide
- Lodging in Sangalle "Palmeras Lodge"
- Meals: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
- Swimming pool in Sangalle

- The government enforced tourist entrance tax for the Colca:
Foreigners 13 years of age and above: 70 soles (approx. USD $25)
South American 13 years of age and above: 40 soles (approx. USD $15)
National 13years of age and above: 20 soles (approx. USD $8)
Children (All Nationalities) under 13years of age: 5 soles (approx. USD $2)
Note: Not included on any tours, as it is illegal to include it

- Optional entrance to the hot springs - 15 soles (approx. USD $5)
- Lunch on the last day in Chivay

- Along the way, you will reach altitudes of over 4000 metres, so some people can suffer altitude sickness (“Soroqchi”): Spend at least 1 day in Arequipa before taking part in the tour to acclimatise to the altitude, although this is not necessary if coming from Cusco or Puno
- Original passport
- Light backpack
- 1.5 to 2 litres of water for Day 1 (if you need more you can buy it at the small shops in the villages, but it is expensive)
- Sun cream (very important)
- Hat, sunglasses
- Trekking shoes or boots
- Waterproof rain jacket
- Warm layers, sweater or jacket (IMPORTANT) – temperatures reach lows of -10 ̊ C
- Shorts or pants/trousers for walking
- Swimming suit, sandals, towel – swimming pools in the oasis, and thermal baths in Chivay on the way back to Arequipa!
- Flashlight/headtorch – early trek out of the canyon starts at 5am before sunrise (it will be dark!)
- Basics, like toilet paper, etc
- Snacks (breakfast on the last day is AFTER the early morning hike out of the canyon – bring enough snacks to fuel you up the climb!)
- Insects repellent
- Personal medication
- Hiking sticks (optional)
- Money for drinks

Cancellation or changes of this tour:

CHANGES: It is FREE to change the tour date before 4:00 pm (Lima time) the day before the tour begins.

NO SHOWS & CANCELLATIONS: If you cancel the day prior to the tour before 6:00 pm (Lima time) or earlier, a 10% administration fee (+ the card fee) will apply. After this time, there is a 100% no-show or cancellation fee.

You must email bookings@findlocaltrips.com (include the name of the tour and the reservation number) to cancel this tour or to make any changes.

1. I can’t find my accommodation listed in the operator pick up locations as I’m making my booking. What should I select?

   This operator only offers pick-ups from the hotel and hostel accommodation listed, this covers over 90% of the accommodation providers in the area. They do not provide pick-ups or drop-offs at private residences, Airbnbs, bus terminals etc. Select an alternative close by and be ready there for pick-up at the time on your booking confirmation.

2. What is the difference between the Colca Canyon TOURS and TREKS?

   During the tours you will have limited walking sections, as most of the time you stay on a bus and only get outside at several viewing points. The tours are more recommended for travellers who want or (because of physical conditions) have to take it easy. Treks however, are perfect for people with good physical condition. With treks, you will definitely get more and intense views of the beautiful and unique landscape of the Canyon.

3. What's the difference between a 2-day and a 3-day trek?

   The routes for both tours are the same. The three-day trek just offers more time to relax and enjoy the canyon. Because of that, the tour is easier than the 2-day trek. But still, neither trek is easy!

4. Will I see Condors on this tour?

   There are quite a few Condors out there, and as we visit different viewing points the chances are quite good. We still cannot guarantee that you will be able to see them, but if you get lucky they will fly just above your head!

5. Do I need to bring trekking shoes?

   Not necessarily, but as you will spend several hours hiking up and down through the canyon, we recommend to at least wear stable and comfortable shoes.

6. Do I need any camping equipment?

   You do not need any specialist equipment with you to be able to tackle the Colca. A tent is not required. Accommodation is in small rustic huts, located in the ¨Oasis¨ at the bottom of the Canyon. It can get cold at night and very warm during the day, so you need to pack for all weather conditions, and have comfortable footwear (trekking shoes or good trainers are sufficient). Some guides also recommend bringing a flashlight and some snacks.

7. Will I have problems with altitude sickness on this tour?

   Altitude sickness can catch many travellers a little bit off guard. Not everyone gets sick in high altitudes, and it is difficult to predict who is likely to be badly affected by it. For most people, it is nothing more than a headache and a dizzy sensation that diminishes over a short period of time, 1 to 2 days for most people. If you want to limit your chances of getting sick, there are a few things you can do. Firstly, do not fly directly into high altitude - proceed slowly, allowing your body time to acclimatise as you ascend gradually. However, for many that is not possible, so it’s important to drink lots of water, and to slow down! This sounds simple, but both of these things are very important. Your body is struggling because you don’t have enough oxygen, so avoiding any strenuous activity is a good idea. Chew some coca leaves - the native people of South America have been chewing coca for centuries, thanks to its ability to alleviate mild altitude sickness symptoms. Coca leaves can be bought in any supermarket, and even souvenir shops or street stalls. Take altitude sickness pills (Soroche): these are sold over the counter all over Peru and Bolivia, and are just a few dollars. If you are flying straight into altitude over 2500 metres without spending any time at an intermediate elevation, and you’re worried about getting sick, you can ask your doctor for more specific and stronger altitude sickness medication in advance. In the rare case that your symptoms are more severe than a headache and mild dizziness, you should descend in altitude and seek medical assistance.

8. Can I finish in Puno instead of Arequipa?

   Yes, this is possible. On return to Chivay at 1pm, there will just be 15 minutes for lunch before departing to Puno. Arrival time in Puno is 7pm, and the drop off point is at Puno, Plaza de Armas. For this option, you MUST select the ticket option - TREK + TRANSFER FROM THE CANYON TO PUNO - when making a booking.

9. Is there oxygen provided on this trek?

   No, there is no oxygen provided during the trek. There is, however, an emergency oxygen tank in our private transportation.

10. During the trek, how many people are there per group?

    Groups are between 8 to 10 people per 1 bilingual guide.

11. Can I rent trekking poles with the operator?

    Yes, you can rent a pair of trekking poles, and the price is 20 soles per set during your trek. You need to inform us 24 hours before your tour date.

12. Can I rent mules?

    Yes, it costs 120 soles per day, or 60 soles during the uphill section on the last day from Sangalle to Cabanaconde.

13. Does this tour operator cater for special dietary requirements, such as vegetarian and vegan?

    Yes, you must let your guide know of your dietary requirements on the first day of your trek.

14. How many kilometres per day do I need to walk during the trek?

    You will trek 6 km on the first day, and 3 to 4 km on the second day. We recommend that to participate you should be an active person, and practice some sports or walking/hiking.

15. I do not want to take all of my belongings with me to the Canyon. Where can I leave my big bag or suitcase?

    Hotels and hostels in Arequipa will all store your bags in their safety deposit for free whilst you are away at the Canyon, until you check in again upon your return. Head off to the trip with just what you need and leave the rest in storage. If you continue after your trek from Chivay to Puno, on the first day of your trek you will have breakfast in a restaurant in Chivay. This restaurant has a storage facility, where passengers who are trekking can leave their backpacks for a small fee, and pick them up on return.

16. Is there an accommodation upgrade available, instead of a basic hotel?

    No, this Colca Canyon provider does not offer alternative accommodation. If you wish to stay in a different hotel or lodge in the Canyon, it is recommended you book a private tour of the Canyon.

17. Why book with FindLocalTrips.com?

    Apart from our low-price guarantee, with us you are 100% assured that your booking is made. We provide an instant email confirmation, and have live spaces and availability for each tour. If you have any queries, you are in the hands of our team of 20 local experts here on the ground, who speak perfect Spanish and English. We guarantee quick responses to any questions or queries. Tour operators are experts at operating their tours... We are the experts at reservations, organisation and assistance with your plans for these tours.