Colca Full Day Tour
Description
The Colca Canyon is the deepest in the world and truly an incredible site. This tour is a great escape from the city and gives travelers the opportunity to experience Andean culture. Below is a general outline of our full day tour. · You will be picked up from your hotel or hostel between 3:00am and 3:30am and drive north to Chivay where you will eat a simple breakfast. · We then head west to the Condor Cross located on the rim of the Colca Canyon. You will have one hour to enjoy the views and look for condors. · We will make our way back towards Chivay making stops at Antawilke to see pre-Incan terraces, a small colonial town called Maca, and the Yanque hotsprings to bathe in the hot pools for one hour. · Upon arriving to Chivay we will stop at a local restaurant to eat a buffet lunch. · We then head back towards Arequipa making two final stops along the way at Patapama and the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve. · You will be dropped off back at your hotel around 5:30pm.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You will have the opportunity to take photos and enjoy the view of the Andes mountain range from about 4900 meters.
Travelers will have the chance to stop and see Alpacas and Vicuñas in their natural habitat. Also, with a little luck, travelers may have the chance to see Andean foxes and other wildlife.
You will have one hour at the Condor Cross viewpoint to walk along Colca Canyon's rim and look for Andean condors! There is a condor nesting site near by and it is common to see several condors flying at above the canyon at once.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up clients at 3am from hotels and hostels in Arequipa's city center. We can also pick you up from Arequipa's Plaza de Armas if your hotel, hostel or AirBnB is not located in the city center.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(446)
The guides were very kind, they knew a lot about the places and options for tourists.
It was a beautiful day in the Colca Canyon. Seen so much culminating in the condors! . Breakfast and lunch well catered for! Plenty of toilet facilities on the way. Guide Nelson was enthusiastic and knew a lot to tell us. Definitely recommended.
Fantastic experience! The condors and hot springs in particular were amazing. Our tour guide Zenaida explained so much about the Wari and Tihuanaco people and was very helpful. Definitely recommended if you want to see beautiful scenery and learn more about the incredible indigenous history of the area.
Demanding visit but one that was very much worth it. The visit to Colca Canyon was brief but with impressive views. Additionally, we were able to visit some hot springs and enjoy relaxing after the hard day.
Now this was a long drive but the view of the canyon was amazing. You had two options in the canyon a short 45 minute hike to the viewing area or a drive to the viewing area. My family and opted to split up. The hike along the canyon side was stunning. You could see the nests and a few flying as we walked. The national park was small the alpaca and llamas are wild there but are not interested in the tourists and run away. The hot springs my son said was wonderful. My husband and I opted to do another activity not covered in the tour.
Very nice tour, only the lunch buffet was not particularly good.
Departure at 3 AM, return at 5 PM. Very long trips compared to the stops, especially since we had booked an experience in a "small group," only to find ourselves with 31 people in a regular bus... Breakfast and lunch were quite decent, the guide was nice but recited, condors were very present (phew!).
An excellent tour and an outstanding guide! Paola put a tremendous amount of effort into making this day as memorable as possible. Throughout the tour, she shared a wealth of information about the local wildlife, explaining the differences between many animal species and helping us better understand the region. What impressed me most was her dedication to the group. She guided the tour in two languages, clearly explained the itinerary, and provided helpful advice for dealing with the high altitude, especially since the tour reaches nearly 5,000 meters above sea level. The timing of the tour was perfect. Thanks to the excellent organization, we had the opportunity to see the magnificent condors in flight, which was one of the highlights of the day. Paola actively approached people in the group, pointed out where to look, and helped everyone spot the wildlife and enjoy the experience. Even though the weather was not ideal during part of the tour, we were kept informed and introduced to alternative attractions, ensuring the day remained enjoyable. I highly recommend this tour, and special thanks to Paola for her professionalism, knowledge, and genuine care for the group.
The tour price is very attractive, but you get what you pay for: 1. The description states that the group size is a maximum of 18 people, but in reality there were over 25 people on the tour. 2. The tour is much longer than advertised. It was described as 13+ hours, but actually lasted over 15 hours. We started at 3:00 a.m. and only arrived back in Arequipa around 5:00 p.m. 3. Breakfast and lunch were included, and both were very good. 4. As English-speaking tourists, we had difficulty understanding the tour guide’s explanations.
Best tour of Arequipa! A full-day visit to the Canyon Del Colca is spectacular. A rich and lush experience thanks to the viewpoints with stunning views, high altitude and the view from close to the imposing condors.
