Arequipa and Colca Canyon
Colca Canyon 2 Days / 1 Night
Two days in one of the deepest canyons in the world, starting from Arequipa: the Patapampa viewpoint at 4,830 m (15,850 ft), a night in Chivay with the La Calera hot springs and condors in flight at dawn at Cruz del Cóndor. Includes transfers, hotel with breakfast and a bilingual guide.
- We assist you in English on WhatsApp
- English-speaking guides
- Local agency in Cusco since 2003, registered with MINCETUR
Pickup from your hotel, the airport or the Arequipa bus terminal (Terrapuerto)
Explanations in English or Spanish throughout the tour
Salinas and Aguada Blanca Reserve, Patapampa viewpoint, Chivay, La Calera, Cruz del Cóndor, Maca and Yanque
We confirm your booking in under 2 hours
Two days in the Colca Valley: Patapampa, the Chivay hot springs and the condor flight
The 2-day, 1-night Colca Canyon tour from Arequipa is the most comfortable way to see one of the deepest canyons in the world, without two pre-dawn starts or doing the round trip in a single day. The road crosses the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve and stops at the Patapampa viewpoint, at 4,830 m.
On the first afternoon you reach Chivay (3,600 m / 11,810 ft), with a soak in the La Calera hot springs and a lively dinner with traditional dances of the valley. The next morning, at dawn, you spend an hour at the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint watching condors glide over the canyon, with stops on the way back in the villages of Maca and Yanque.
The program costs US$ 265 per person and includes transfers from your hotel, the airport or the Arequipa bus terminal (Terrapuerto), round-trip Arequipa – Chivay transportation, one hotel night with breakfast and a bilingual guide. If you’re continuing on to the high plateau, you can combine it with the 2-day Lake Titicaca tour or the Route of the Sun between Cusco and Puno.
Condors in flight at Cruz del Cóndor
An hour at the valley's most famous viewpoint to watch condors glide over the canyon, one of the deepest in the world.
Patapampa viewpoint, at 4,830 m
The highest point on the road, crossing the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve among small lagoons, bofedales (Andean wetlands) and volcanoes.
La Calera hot springs and a night in Chivay
Hot springs known for their healing properties and an authentic evening, with dinner and a show of traditional Colca Valley dances.
Maca and Yanque, valley villages
Maca, declared a Historic Monument of Peru, with its imposing church and traditional dress, and Yanque, in the heart of the valley.
Itinerary
Your 2-day program, step by step: from Arequipa to the Colca Valley
Day 1 · Arequipa – Chivay
- Pickup from your hotel in ArequipaDeparture for the Colca Valley, crossing the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve for about three hours.
- Patapampa viewpoint (4,830 m)Stop at the viewpoint to take in the volcanic mountain range.
- Arrival in Chivay (3,600 m)We continue past small lagoons and bofedales to this town, where traditions are still very much alive.
- La Calera hot springsIn the afternoon, a soak in hot springs known for their healing properties.
- Dinner with traditional dancesBack in Chivay, a Colca Valley-style evening with local flavors and a dance show.
Day 2 · Chivay – Cruz del Cóndor – Maca – Yanque – Arequipa
- Breakfast at the hotel in ChivayBreakfast included before you continue exploring the valley.
- Cruz del Cóndor viewpointAt dawn, an hour at the viewpoint to watch the condors fly and look down into the Colca Canyon.
- MacaVisit to the village declared a Historic Monument of Peru, with its imposing church, its traditions and traditional dress.
- YanqueA stop in this village in the heart of the Colca Valley.
- Back to Chivay and return to ArequipaLunch on your own in Chivay and the drive back to Arequipa, where the program ends.
What's included in your 2-day, 1-night Colca Canyon tour?
No surprises and no fine print: here’s exactly what the service covers and what you’ll pay separately on the day of the tour.
2 days / 1 night
3,635 m / 11,930 ft (Patapampa viewpoint at 4,830 m)
Several departure times depending on the schedule; confirmed when you book
English or Spanish
Included
- Pickup from your hotel, the airport or the Arequipa bus terminal (Terrapuerto)
- Round-trip transfer from Arequipa to Chivay
- 1 night of lodging in a standard twin or double room
- Breakfast at the hotel and a professional bilingual guide (English or Spanish)
- Round-trip transfer from Chivay to Cruz del Cóndor
Not included
- Lunch, dinner and meals not mentioned in the program
- Colca Canyon entrance fee (Peruvians S/ 20, seniors S/ 40, foreigners S/ 70)
- Hot springs entrance (S/ 15)
- Personal expenses and tips
Note: the Colca Canyon entrance fee is paid separately (S/ 20 for Peruvians, S/ 40 for seniors and S/ 70 for foreigners), as is the entrance to the La Calera hot springs (S/ 15). Bring cash in soles. Before you buy this tour, please contact us.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to the most common questions, so you can book with confidence.
Do I need to acclimatize before the Colca Canyon tour?
It’s recommended. Although Arequipa is lower, the road passes the Patapampa viewpoint at 4,830 m and you spend the night in Chivay, at 3,600 m. Stay well hydrated, eat light and take it easy on the first day.
How difficult is the tour?
Easy. It’s a road trip with viewpoints and short walks in Chivay, at Cruz del Cóndor, in Maca and in Yanque. The hardest parts are the altitude at the Patapampa viewpoint and the very early starts.
Which tickets do I need to buy separately?
The Colca Canyon entrance fee (S/ 20 for Peruvians, S/ 40 for seniors and S/ 70 for foreigners) and the hot springs entrance, S/ 15. Neither is included in the price.
What time does it start and how long does it take?
The program lasts 2 days and 1 night. We have several departure times depending on the schedule, which we confirm when you book, with pickup from your hotel, the airport or the Arequipa bus terminal (Terrapuerto).
What should I bring?
Warm layers and a windbreaker for the early mornings and the altitude, comfortable shoes, a warm hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a swimsuit and towel for the hot springs, water, cash in soles for entrance fees and meals, and your passport.
How do booking and payment work?
Before you buy this tour, please contact us to confirm availability and times. Then we’ll agree with you on the pickup point in Arequipa and the details of your lodging in Chivay. We have English-speaking guides.
What happens if the weather affects the tour?
The tour runs year-round. In the rainy season, the high-altitude road can have delays, and condor sightings depend on conditions that day. If anything unexpected comes up, we’ll agree with you on the best possible alternative.
How much does the 2-day Colca Canyon tour cost?
The price is US$ 265 per person. It includes pickup from your hotel, the airport or the Arequipa bus terminal (Terrapuerto), the round-trip transfer to Chivay, one night in a standard twin or double room with breakfast, the professional bilingual guide and the transfer from Chivay to Cruz del Cóndor. The Colca tourist ticket, the hot springs and meals not listed are paid separately.
How much is the Colca tourist ticket and where do I pay it?
The valley entrance fee is not included in the tour and is paid along the way: S/ 20 for Peruvians, S/ 40 for seniors and S/ 70 for foreigners. Rates are managed by AUTOCOLCA, and you can check current prices on the official Colca Tourist Ticket website. The La Calera hot springs entrance costs S/ 15, paid separately.
What time can you see the condors at Cruz del Cóndor?
You reach the viewpoint at dawn on day two, when thermal currents favor flight, and the stop lasts about one hour. Sightings are never guaranteed, because they depend on the weather and the birds’ behavior, but early morning gives you the best chance.
Ready to book or have a question?
Talk to one of our travel advisors in English. We reply Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Peru time, GMT-5).