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The Colca Canyon seen from the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint

Tours · Colca Canyon

Colca Canyon Full Day from Arequipa

ArequipaChivayCruz del Cóndor

A full day from Arequipa to the Colca Canyon: condors at the Cruz del Cóndor, the village of Maca, hot springs and a buffet lunch in Chivay. It leaves at 3:00 with hotel pickup and gets back between 17:30 and 18:00. US$ 75 per person on the tourist bus.

Duration
Full day
Pickup
03:00
Price · from
US$ 75

Colca is one of the deepest canyons in the world and the best place in Peru to see condors up close: in the morning they rise on the warm air right in front of the viewpoint. Getting there in time means leaving before dawn and crossing the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, with its vicuñas and alpacas, over a pass above 4,900 metres at Patapampa.

The itinerary, hour by hour

  1. 03:00

    Pickup and departure

    We pick you up at your hotel in central Arequipa between 3:00 and 3:30. The drive takes about three hours through the Salinas and Aguada Blanca Reserve, where you see vicuñas and alpacas.

  2. 06:30

    Breakfast in Chivay

    A stop in the valley's main town for an Andean breakfast.

  3. 08:00

    Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint

    More than an hour above the canyon, at the time the condors fly.

  4. 09:45

    Maca and the viewpoints on the way back

    Maca's colonial church, a Colca sour, and viewpoints such as Antahuillque or Choquetico over Inca and pre-Inca farming terraces.

  5. 11:30

    Chacapi hot springs

    In Yanque. Free time to soak in the hot springs or, if you prefer, try the zip line or a kayak.

  6. 12:30

    Buffet lunch in Chivay

    Traditional dishes from the region.

  7. 14:00

    Volcanoes viewpoint

    Patapampa, the highest point of the day at about 4,910 metres, facing the volcanic range.

  8. 17:30

    Back in Arequipa

    Between 17:30 and 18:00, near the Plaza de Armas.

What's included

  • Pickup at your hotel in central Arequipa
  • Shared tourist bus (shared) or private vehicle (private)
  • Bilingual guide
  • Buffet lunch in Chivay

Not included

  • Colca tourist ticket, US$ 20 (included on the private option)
  • Breakfast (included on the private option)
  • Hot springs, US$ 15 (included on the private option)
  • Drinks
  • Tips

What to bring

  • Very warm clothes: you leave before dawn and cross 4,900 metres
  • Swimwear and a towel for the hot springs
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses and a hat
  • Water bottle
  • Cash in soles

Gallery

Frequently asked questions

About Colca Canyon

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Why such an early start?

To reach the Cruz del Cóndor around 8:00, when the condors use the warm air to rise. It is about three hours from Arequipa.

Will I definitely see condors?

They are wild animals, so nobody can promise it. Morning at the Cruz del Cóndor is the best time and place to see them.

What is the difference between shared and private?

On the shared tour you pay the tourist ticket (US$ 20), breakfast and the hot springs (US$ 15) separately. On the private one all of that is included, the vehicle and guide are just for your group and the stops follow your pace.

What about the altitude?

The highest point is Patapampa, at about 4,910 metres, and you are only there briefly. If you have just arrived in Arequipa, do the city tour first and leave Colca for your second or third day.

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