Tours to the Colca Canyon 1 day, 2 days or 3 days tours in Colca
Tour companies in Arequipa offer trips to Colca Canyon ranging from 1-day to 3-day trips.
The “one day tour” would be pointless as you would spend the whole day just getting there and back but if in a rush would at least allow you to see the countryside and learn a little about the surrounding area.
The two typical tours that can be found at any of the numerous tour agencies in Arequipa are the 2-day tour starting at around 7.30am and the 3-day tours starting at around 6am. They are both quite different.
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Chivay Food Eat
If your stomach is up for it, try the street food and drinks in Chivay. The hot drinks they serve up at night are a great little brew with a variety of flavours to choose from.
The street stalls selling maize and chicken feet are not as bad as you think. It is a great little appetizer (cheap too) with a difference, though the chicken feet are slim pickings.
In the surroundings of the Main Square of Chivay there is a variety of restaurants of typical foods of the area, as well as eaten arequipeña, you can choose where he would like to eat.
Colca Canyon Pictures – Colca Peru Pictures – Arequipa Colca Images
Colca Canyon Pictures – Colca Peru Pictures – Arequipa Colca Images
Pictures of life in two-mile deep Colca Canyon, Peru, where giant condors fly and locals live as their ancestors did centuries ago.
Colca Canyon Satellite Map
Colca Canyon Satellite Image, source Google Earth,
Colca Canyon Hotels and Accommodations Colca reservation – Reviews and Rates
Recommended Hotels in Colca Canyon
La Casa De Mama Yacchi Colca Canyon: Colca Canyon, Peru Reviews & Experiences:
“We arrive at our hotel, La Casa De Mama Yacchi, run by the same owners as Casa de mi Abuela” … “Stopped at a great hotel overnight, a bit like a traditional mountain lodge” … “all got a little excited so stayed till closing time which we think didn´t go down too”.
Casa Andina Chivay: Huayna Capac s/n Chivay, Chivay, Colca Canyon, Peru
Reviews & Experiences:
“Puno has about 100,000 people, kind of a resort town” … “tipa cez 10 minut ne bo, nas bodo odpeljali v hotel in nam vrnili denar, saj so se blokade na cestah”.
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Tours to the Colca Canyon
Most visitors to the Colca Canyon go on an organised tour from Arequipa.
These are generally two days, and include some of the attractions on the route to Chivay, the thermal baths in Chivay, the Cruz del Condor and visits to some of the towns. This is a very good way of seeing the main attractions in the canyon, although obviously does not allow any scope for exploration.
Almost every agency in Arequipa organises two – day tours, charging around $20 – $25 per person, including basic transport, accommodation and entrance to the Cruz del Condor. It is possible to vary certain items.
If you want to stay in better accommodation, price rises accordingly. It is also possible to go on a private tour.
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Climbing in the Colca Canyon in Peru
The Colca Canyon has many high peaks that can be climbed, and present interest not only in the climb itself, but also in the importance of the mountains.
Most had spiritual importance for the inhabitants of the area. Coropuna, at 6,613m, is the third-highest mountain in Peru.
And Ampato, at 6,310m, is where the remains of the Inca mummy Juanita were discovered.
Mismi, at 5,597m, is accepted as the true source of the Amazon River.
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Mountain biking in Colca Canyon
It is possible to cycle in much of the canyon, and there are many pretty rides through traditional towns.
Some of these are quite easy, although obviously the scope for more challenging riding is high.
Mountain bikes can be hired from the agencies that are located in the Plaza de Armas in Chivay.
The agencies also organize guided half-day tours around Chivay.
Rafting in the Colca Canyon
The first rafting expedition in the Colca was carried out by the Polish Student Expedition in 1981, where they travelled from Canco to the Andamayo River, where the Colca River becomes the River Majes.
Initially, the expedition tried to leave from Cabanaconde, but the difficulty of the rapids and rocks damaged their kayaks and inflatable boats.
Since then, a number of further rafting expeditions have been carried out, but given the extreme difficulty of the river, and the impossibility of rescue in case of accidents, these are still rare.
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More about Colca Canyon in Peru
The Colca Canyon is a beautiful part of Peru offering stunning scenery and one of the best opportunities to see condors in the wild. Originally, the area was inhabited by the Collaguas and the Cabanas, and the Incas also occupied the area for a short time.
The Collaguas were an industrious and prosperous people, and the terraces throughout the canyon indicate their agricultural and architectural skills.
When the Spanish occupied the valley in 1540, Viceroy Toledo ordered that the population, which had been dispersed throughout the valley, be gathered into fourteen villages, which survive today. This made it easier to control and tax the inhabitants.
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