DAY 1: AREQUIPA CITY to CHIVAY to CONDOR'S CROSS to SAN JUAN DE CHUCCHO

Between 3:00am and 3:30am we will pick you up from your hotel or hostel by mini-bus, and make our way to the Colca Canyon. After a 3-hour drive, we’ll stop in the first town of Chivay to have breakfast. Afterwards, we’ll continue on to the Cruz del Condor. Here, we will spend 45 minutes enjoying the fabulous flight of the condors, and the impressive scale of the canyon.

Next, we’ll arrive to the town of Cabanaconde, located at 3,287 m.a.s.l., where we will begin the descent to the town of San Juan de Chuccho. We’ll hike for about 3 hours down to the Colca River, cross a suspension bridge, and end the first day’s hike in San Juan where we’ll have lunch. Later, you can learn about some native fruits in the area, as well as medicinal plants. Here you will also have dinner, and spend time in a local family’s home. We will spend the night here, ending the first day of the tour.

DAY 2: SAN JUAN CHUCCHO to COSÑIRHUA to SANGALLE

After breakfast, we will continue our journey through the depths of the canyon, visiting the towns of Cosñirhua, Malata, and ending the day at the Oasis Sangalle “Paraiso las Palmeras Lodge.” Here you will have lunch and dinner, and enjoy the pool and the interesting places, such as the paths down to the river and the suspension bridge.

DAY 3: SANGALLE to CABANACONDE to CHIVAY to AREQUIPA CITY

We’ll get up at 5:00am to start the climb up to Cabanaconde. Once we reach the top, we’ll have breakfast at a local restaurant, and later board the bus heading back to Chivay. We’ll make several stops on the way, allowing you to appreciate the terrace work of the Incas and pre-Incas, observe the different towns of the Colca, and enjoy the hot springs.

Once we arrive in Chivay, we’ll have lunch and then continue on to Arequipa. We will make two more stops along the way, one at an Andes lookout point, and the other at the national reserve of Aguada Blanca. We’ll arrive back to Arequipa around 5:30pm, bringing an end to the fascinating adventure of the Colca Canyon.

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 along the way

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DAY 1: 08:30 - 09:10

See Condor's Cross

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DAY 1: 09:10 - 09:30

Mini-bus to Cabanaconde (3,287 m.a.s.l.)

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DAY 1: 09:30 - 12:30

Begin the descent to the town of San Juan de Chuccho

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DAY 1: 19:00 - 20:00

Have dinner and an overnight stay within a family’s home

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DAY 2: 08:00 - 09:30

Have breakfast then continue to Cosñirhua and Malata town

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DAY 2: 09:30 - 12:30

Reach the deepest part of our trek, the Sangalle Oasis

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DAY 2: 12:30 - 20:00

End the day at the Oasis – Sangalle “Paraiso Las Palmeras Lodge”; have lunch and dinner here

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DAY 3: 05:00- 08:00

Trek uphill to Cabanaconde (3 hours approx.)

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DAY 3: 08:00 - 08:45

Have breakfast in Cabanaconde

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DAY 3: 11:00 - 11:30

Optional visit to the natural hot springs

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DAY 3: 14:00 - 17:30

Bus back to Arequipa city

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DAY 3: 17:30

Arrive back to Arequipa, drop off is beside the main door of the Santa Catalina Monastery

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- Pick up from hotel
- Tourist transport
- 1 night in San Juán de Chuccho "La Casa de Gloria"
- 1 night at our lodge “Paraiso Las Palmeras” in Oasis - Sangalle
- Meals: 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
- 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 4:00 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 tour. 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 and hours per day do I need to walk during the trek?

    You will trek for approximately 3 to 4 km per day. On the first day, it will be between 3 to 4 hours downhill. On the second day, it will be a steep uphill hike for approximately 1 hour, and a 30-minute flat walk. On the last day, 3 to 4 hours will be uphill.

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 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.