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Colca Canyon
Discover Pampa Cañahuas Reserve, Patapampa and the Mirador de la Cruz
Casa Mama Yachi
Casa Mama Yachi
Casa Mama Yachi
Casa Mama Yachi
Colca Lodge
Colca Lodge
Colca Lodge
Colca Lodge
Coporaque experiential accomodation
Coporaque experiential accomodation
Coporaque experiential accomodation
Colca Canyon tour information
Starts
7:30 AM from your hotel in Arequipa
Ends
4:30 PM at your hotel in Arequipa
Included
- Transportation
- Guide
- Accommodation
- Breakfast
- Half day with local family (day three)
- Bilingual guide on the first and second day
Not included
- Ticket to Colca Valley (foreigners: adults $21 USD and children $6.50 USD; Peruvians: adults $6.50 USD and children $1.50 USD)
- Lunches and dinners
- Access to the hot springs La Calera ($4.50 USD)
error_outlineImportant information
The order of the visits could be altered, but it will not affect the content of the program. The schedules of the tickets and transports could be subject to modifications.
SAFE ADVENTURE – Covid 19
This activity includes the appropriate protection measures to ensure your safety. In addition, our excursions are outdoor and in small groups to reduce the risk of contagion. Remember to follow the instructions of the staff during the development of the excursion.
restoreCancellation policy
Free cancellation! You can cancel this tour and you'll receive 100% refund of the amount paid if you cancel more than 15 days in advance. After this time, or in case you do not show up, no refunds will be given.
bookmark_borderBriefing
The Colca Canyon, also known as "The Valley of Wonders" is an essential place to visit in Arequipa. In this tour you will get to visit the Pampa Cañahuas National Reserve, Patapampa and the Mirador de la Cruz del Cóndor. In addition, you will visit some local towns, among them being Pueblo Coporaque, where you will be able to see their everyday life and traditions.
Tour itinerary
todayDAY 1 Arequipa - Pata Tamba - Coporaque
Hiking distance: ½ km
Initial elevation: 3575 masl
Highest elevation: 3595 masl
Difficulty: challenging
access_time7 : 00 AM
We will leave at 7:30 AM from Arequipa and head to the town of Chivay. During the tour, you will see the delighted landscapes of the Misti, Chachani and Pichupichu volcanoes, arriving shortly afterwards to the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve where you could see "vicuñas". In the area of Tocra, we will see vegetation and fauna there, such as llamas and alpacas. During which, we will reach the highest point of the trip, Pata Pampa, with a height of 4,910 m, that will allow us to observe the Ampato, Sacancaya, Hualca Hualca, Mismi and the Chila mountain ranges.
The terraces of the valley will captivate you with their great variety of colors when approaching the town of Chivay. We will stop in the traditional town of Coporaque and visit La Casa de Mamayacchi, being able to rest and eat lunch. The guide will give us a tour of the town and surroundings for about 60 minutes, walking around in Coporaque (optional). You can go to the hot springs (entrance and towels not included) and then go to the respective accommodations.
todayDAY 2 Mirador de la Cruz del Cóndor - Maca
Hiking distance: ½ km
Initial elevation: 3800 masl
Highest elevation: 3800 masl
Difficulty: challenging
On day two, our first stop will be the Mirador de la Cruz del Cóndor, where many describe to be blown away by the depth of the canyon and even see condors from this viewpoint. We will visit the traditional town of Pinchollo and the Mirador de Antahuilque, to get a closer look at the pre-Inca terraces that have been around for more than 1,500 years. We will make another stop at the Mirador de Choquetico with the impressive ‘tumbas colgantes’ and the ‘lito maqueta’. We will make a brief visit to the town of Maca and a church in Yanque, being the most beautiful in the valley. For the rest of the afternoon, you will have free time to explore the place and rest, being able to ride a bike or a horse (activities not included).
todayDAY 3 Coporaque - Chivay - Arequipa
We will discover the daily life and traditions of the Coporaque people with a local family, performing activities such as harvesting or land preparation. After this experience, we will get our luggage from the hotel and visit the Chivay village. After exploring and eating lunch, you will head to Arequipa, ending your trip.
What to bring to Colca Canyon
As it is a trip at high altitudes the climate is usually cool to cold and the sun affects the skin stronger than normal, so we recommend to bring:
- Passport
- Warm clothing
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Comfortable shoes (if possible hiking shoes)
- Refillable water bottle
- Raincoat
- Medication to avoid altitude sickness (in case you consider it necessary)
- Cap or hat
- Sandals / flip flops
- Bathing suit and towel for hot springs
Where does the tour Colca Canyon start
If your starting point is Lima, you can fly to Arequipa with the full-service airlines Avianca or Latam or with the low cost Peruvian Airlines and LCP, among others. If you decide to travel by bus - note that it is a 16 hour trip - you can travel with Cruz del Sur, Oltursa or Civa (especially comfortable in its “exclusive” category). If you arrive from Puno, you can travel by bus, it is a six hour trip that is offered by Civa and Cruz del Sur. Alternatively, you can take a plane from Juliaca, which is the nearest airport. However, we recommend you to arrive by bus. If you arrive from Cusco, the bus ride lasts 10 hours, and you can book with various providers such as Cruz del Sur, Oltursa, Excluciva and others. Alternatively, you can also choose to take a flight. This particular route is operated by Latam, Avianca, LCP or Peruvian Airlines.
Questions & Answers
Do I have to carry all my luggage to the tour? Can you keep it for me?
We do not recommend bringing all the luggage to the tour. In our opinion, it is better to carry only a backpack or small suitcase with what is necessary for those days.
To keep the rest of the luggage, we recommend you contact your accommodation in Arequipa to be able to leave it there. It is a very common service offered by almost all accommodations.
What is the extra: transfer to Puno?
Many travelers visit Lake Titicaca after Arequipa. (if you're thinking about it too, don't hesitate and, book it now!)To make this trip more comfortable we offer the possibility to go in a minibus with a guide from Chivay to Puno. Along with saving time on the trip, you will be more comfortable and it will take you directly to your hotel in Puno if it's located in the city center or in the centric square.
If I select the extra: transfer to Puno, can I take all my luggage to the tour?
Yes! :D If your reservation includes the extra: transfer to Puno, you will not return to Arequipa at the end of the tour, so you can take all your luggage with you. We recommend that you also take a small backpack with the necessary items to spend the day (documentation, water, snacks...). The rest of your bags will be stored in the back of the minibus.
Can I suffer altitude sickness during the tour?
During the tour of the Colca Canyon you will be at a high altitude. To avoid altitude sickness it is advisable to adapt to the altitude by arriving a day before in Arequipa, eating lightly, and avoiding alcohol and physical effort. If you have symptoms during the tour, the guide will give you instructions on what you can do to recover. When you arrive at the hotel the staff will help you improve if you are still feeling unwell. Most of them will also have oxygen tanks.
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