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Condors in the CanyonColca Canyon tourRoute: Arequipa - Chivay - Cruz del Condor - ArequipaThe Colca Canyon, 5 hours’ drive from Arequipa, is probably one of the most underrated areas of Peru and a must-see for any Peru holiday. Amazingly, this canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon. Around it you’ll find ancient Inca farmland terraces built into the hillsides, a viewpoint where the rare condors swoop right over your head and an authentic rural Peruvian atmosphere. It’s a fascinating area that certainly merits visit. This two-day Colca Canyon tour is a great way to see the highlights of the canyon, travelling in a small international group from Arequipa to the small market town of Chivay, the hot springs at La Calera and the Cruz del Condor viewpoint. You’ll be staying in a charming lodge built using only local natural resources. If you'd like to venture further into the canyon on foot, take a look at our remote Colca trek or a more comfortable alternative, try our 4x4 Colca Canyon trip. If you'd like a bit more inspiration check out our Peru holidays. |
| Duration | 2 days / 1 night |
Accommodation |
Including breakfast (browse our photos here). |
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Price |
£75 per person - based on 2 people sharing |
Includes |
Transport, English-speaking guide |
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Transport |
Minibus with driver |
Excludes |
Other meals, entrance fee to Cruz del Condor (approx £16 per person) and hot springs (approx £4 per person) |
Day 1: Arequipa - ChivayAt the crack of dawn on the first day of your Peru trip you’ll be picked up in Arequipa for the five hour drive across the Altiplano to Chivay, the first stop on your Colca Canyon tour. Pack light for the next two days; you can leave the rest of your baggage at the hotel in Arequipa. You can doze off for the first couple of hours, until the bus starts to wind its way up into the mountains and the plains begin to open up into immense vistas. Crossing the Pampa Cañahuas nature reserve you’ll see llamas and alpacas grazing, and perhaps even their more elusive sibling the vicuña. At the highest point, a mountain pass at 4910m, the bus will make a short stop so you can stretch your legs and breathe in the fresh (thin) air. The last stretch into Chivay follows a winding road through the Colca Valley. |
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When you arrive in Chivay there’s time to wander around the town and visit the local market, before heading to a local hotel for lunch (not included). The barbecued alpaca is a local specialty. After lunch you can go for a walk through the valley, but if you’re still adjusting to the altitude then take it easy and just enjoy the view from your hammock. Later that afternoon you’ll be dropped off at the hotel where you’ll spend the first night of your Colca Canyon tour. Once you’ve checked in, drop your bags in your room and grab your swimming gear if you’re planning on taking a dip in the La Calera hot springs. You can rent a towel at the hotel or the hot springs for a couple of Sol. Enjoy a relaxing soak in the 35°C, silted sulphuric pools as you watch the sun disappears behind the Andes. Don’t stay in too long though, the temperature quickly drops below freezing when it gets dark! There’s not much going on in Chivay except for a couple of nice bars where you can swap travel stories of your Peru trip with your fellow travellers over a couple of beers. You can have a quiet night and curl up in front of the fire place at the hotel with a cup of tea and a good book. Hot water bottles are available for the exceptionally cold nights! |
Day 2: Chivay - Cruz del Condor - ArequipaContinuing your Peru trip, you'll leave the hotel early in the morning to visit the Cruz del Condor viewpoint, weaving your way through the cows, donkeys, dogs and sheep blocking the road. The local villagers all wear brightly coloured traditional dress, a very cheerful sight. Cruz del Condor is the deepest point in the Canyon, at 3200m comparable to the Grand Canyon. The area is home to hundreds of Andes condors and the best place to see these giant birds of prey soaring on the thermal air currents that rise up from the canyon.Be patient, so find a comfortable rock in the sun and keep your binoculars handy. Between 8am – 10am as the sun begins to heat the air deep in the canyon. The condors love to glide up on these warm thermal currents and if you sit still they’ll swoop right over your head, a real highlight of your Colca Canyon tour. |
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Around 9.30am you’ll leave Cruz del Condor and continue your Peru trip towards the village of Yanque where you can visit the colonial church and buy some local souvenirs at the small shops and stalls on the way. The route back to Chivay leads past the spectacular terraced valley and with bright warm sun reflecting in the river far below, the views are magnificent. You’ll stop off for lunch in Chivay. There’s time for a last wander around town and stock up on some snacks before boarding the bus for the five hour drive back to Arequipa. You’ll arrive back in Arequipa around 4.30pm where you can say goodbye to your fellow travellers and your guide before picking up your bags at the hotel, marking the end of your Colca Canyon tour. If you’d like to stay in the Canyon a bit longer, just get in touch with us to discuss the various options. From Arequipa you can see more of Peru in Puno, where you can enjoy a traditional homestay on a reed island on our Titicaca Islands tour, or try our more comfortable Lake Titicaca tour option. If you’re combining your Peru trip with Bolivia, it makes sense to travel on to Machu Picchu from here with one of our Machu Picchu holidays, before heading south to Bolivia. |
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What to bring on your Colca Canyon tour: * Sunscreen and sun hat * Swimming gear, towel (available to rent) * Windproof jacket * Water bottle * Light snacks * Cash money * Binoculars (you can leave the rest of your baggage at the hotel in Arequipa) According to recent reports, a bus connection from Chivay to Puno is due to open soon, which means that rather than backtracking to Arequipa from the Colca Canyon you can travel straight on to Puno and Lake Titicaca instead. At the moment we can only offer this route by private car with driver in combination with our 4x4 Colca Canyon trip. |
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Colca Canyon tour - Accommodation (Click to enlarge)
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