This two-day Colca Canyon adventure is for people you know who really want to see the canyon and valley get to know the area and local folks in a chill enjoyable way You get the best views of seriously deep canyon see some local dances soak in hot springs and heaps more its quite the trip
So day one kicks off with a hotel pickup in Arequipa (2335 meters 7661 feet) at 730 am Then we’re heading northwest to Chivay It’s a small town tucked away behind this huge snow mountain called Chachani Driving there we’re gonna swing by Pampa Cañahuas National Reserve for some wildlife spotting Think vicuñas alpacas llamas running wild all kinds of birds too like flamingos ibises geese ducks eagles you name it its there Really cool spot to see the animals in their natural habitat
Next up we hit the Andes viewpoint It’s way up at 4800 meters (15748 feet) in Patapampa pass seriously the highest point of the whole shebang The views from there are just unreal You can see for miles get a real sense of the scale of things
We should roll into Chivay the Colca Valley capital around noon for some lunch Find a local joint grab some grub you know the drill After lunch they’ll drop you at your hotel or hostel Time to chill out for a bit maybe wander around Chivay check out the town at your own pace Chivay itself is pretty interesting gives you a feel for small town life in the Andes
Then at 3 pm we’re back at your hotel hostel for a ride to the Calera hot springs It’s about an hour drive Pretty relaxed thing to do These hot springs are optional though and the entrance fee like six bucks isn’t part of the tour price But hey hot springs after a day of travel why not
Seven pm dinner time We’re off to a local restaurant for eats and a folklore dance show Should be fun get some local flavor with dinner and see some traditional dances After that back to your hotel hostel for the night
Day two starts with breakfast at the hotel hostel Then after breakfast we’re driving two hours to Cruz del Condor This place Condor Cross man it’s where you really see how deep this canyon is Plus condors flying all over the place It’s a condor nesting site so they’re usually around
Once we’re at Cruz del Condor (3800 meters 12467 feet) you get to take in the views They are seriously breathtaking really puts things in perspective And yeah the condors are amazing to watch soaring around so effortlessly Spend some time there soak it all in
Time to head back to Chivay from Condor Cross but we’re stopping at Antawilke and Maca on the way Antawilke has hundreds of pre-Inca Inca terraces Still being used today to grow stuff like corn quinoa kiwicha It’s pretty wild to see these ancient farming techniques still going
Maca is next little colonial church town square kinda place We’ll check it out see some of the local Andean people rocking their traditional needlework dresses Especially the women their dresses are something else Gives you a real glimpse into the local culture you know
Back in Chivay again we’ll grab lunch at a local restaurant Then it’s a drive back to Arequipa Should be back in Arequipa around 530 pm And that’s the 2-day Colca Canyon trip done and dusted A real experience for sure
Tour cost well it depends on where you decide to stay Hotel hostel prices vary
At Arequipa Andean Explorer, we are passionate about showcasing Arequipa’s natural beauty through responsible tourism. We offer personalized tours—from scenic hikes to classic adventures—designed to match your unique preferences.
