CLASSIC COLCA CANYON TOUR - COLCA VALLEY TRIP SINCE $118 USD Per Person

Classical Guided Van Trip 2 Days - 1 Night

The Colca Canyon is located on the southern Peru in the Andes mountain range exist the second deepest canyon in the world, It is more than twice as deep as the Apurimac Canyon (Peru) and the Grand Canyon in the United States, the canyon's walls are not as vertical as those of the Grand Canyon. The Colca River birth in the Andes between Condoroma and Crucero Alto (above 4500-5000m), drops the water down to Pacific Ocean, this river have 4 names as Colca River, Andamayo River, Majes River and finally Camana River. The Colca Canyon register hard rain during December to April and the rest of the year is dry, sunny and cold weather.

The deepest part of the Colca Canyon is register between Ampato Mountain (6310m) and Coropuna snow-capped (6377m), on the left bank of the canyon exist a small town named Huambo and straight down of this town is located Cancco Valley (1720m) which is the greatest deep point that reaches a depth of 4590 meters.

The name Colca refers to small holes in the cliffs in the valley and canyon. These holes were used in Inca and pre-Inca times to store food, such as potatoes and other Andean crops. They were also used as tombs for important people.

The geography of the Colca Canyon are habitable, and Inca and pre-Inca terraces are still cultivated along the less precipitous canyon walls; they build stepped terraces to cultivate the ancestral potatoes, maize and other products of this region. The Colca Valley is a wonderful and colorful Andean valley with many small and remotes towns on the both side of the Canyon founded by Spanish conquers. The Spanish introduce and change many ancestral traditions as the religion. The Colca Valley keeps many colonial richest churches in all Arequipa regions.

The canyon is home of the Andean Condor (Vultur Gryphus), they are can be seen at fairly close range as they fly through the precipices. The Condor is the main tourist attraction and can be seen at "Cruz Del Condor", is a popular tourist stop, the pass where the Condors soar gracefully on the rising thermals occurring as the air warms.

The Colca Canyon is the main tourist attraction in Arequipa, the Colca Valley can be visit directly from Arequipa, from Cuscoby 4WD or from Puno (Lake Titicaca) by private van. The Colca Canyon geography offer great terrain to practice outdoor activities such as Trekking Tours, Climbing Tours, Horse Tours, Mountain Bike, River Rafting, Camping, Bird Watching combining with relaxing visit to the numerous thermal baths and staying in charm and comfortable hotels along the Colca Canyon.

PERU ADVENTURE TOURS organize daily visit to the Colca Canyon, with experience driver and official accredited tour guides and including good food, entrance to the park and the best hotels to stay in the second deepest canyon in the world.

Day by Day Itinerary

DAY 1: AREQUIPA - SUMBAY CAVES - PATAPAMPA - CHIVAY - COLCA CANYON

On this 3-day adventure we pick you up from your hotel/airport in Arequipa and begin the private tour to the Colca Canyon. First we take the asphalt road from Arequipa to Puno and stop in Pampas Cañahuas national reserve to observe lot of Vicuñas — one of the most protected animals in Peru thanks to the finest wool they produce. After another hour of driving we take a gravel road to the caves of Sumbay, where a short walk through rock forest leads down to a narrow canyon with the main cave of rock art — the first settlements on this zone dating from the Paleolithic Era.

We then continue on asphalt road up to the highest point between Arequipa and the canyon — Mirador de los Andes or Patapampa (4850M) — with its view of the snowcapped and volcanic range of southern Peru. There we check the bikes, take the safety gear, and start a pure 30KM downhill on paved road (optional single track on request). The downhill mountain bike ride takes around 2 hours to the town of Chivay (2600M). Lunch in Chivay, then continue biking on the right bank of the canyon through agriculture fields, seeing pre-Inca terraces and the nice small town of Yanque with its colonial church. Around 5PM we arrive to Colca Lodge Hotel.

DAY 2: HIKING & BIKING THROUGH UPPER ZONE OF THE TCOLCA CANYON

Today after your breakfast in the hotel pick you up around 8AM and begin a nice hike following a single track up to the ruins of Uyo Uyo - This archaeological site is consider one of the best preserve pre Inca complex in the Colca canyon - The visit of the complex includes nice view of countryside surrounding by huge mountains and rivers flows to ColcaRiver - After 2 hours hike transfer by private transport from Coparaque town to the upper zone of the Colca valley.

After one hour of transfer arrive to the Andean town of Callalli (3880M) as known as the first town along the Colca valley - From here we take the mountain bikes and cross-country style bike on gavel road till Sibayo (3800M) and then we cycle along on asphalt road on the left bank of the river till the next Andean town named Tuti (3800M) and from there we cross the river to right side of the canyon where is located the town Canocota (3750M) - From Canocota begin a nice trek on ancient Inca path along Colca river to Chivay to get late lunch and then transfer to then transfer to hot spring and enjoy this till 6PM - At 7PM you will be assistant to enjoy the lecture about Andean constellation (B - L).

DAY 3: COLCA CANYON - CONDOR CROSS VIEWPOINT - AREQUIPA

At 6AM is the breakfast and then private transfer of 2 hours to the Condor Cross lookout, at this place is possible to appreciate the fly of the Andean Condors or sometimes seating on the big rocks, two hours spending looking this amazing and biggest bird in the world, also there are many villages at the deep part of this spectacular Canyon.

At 10am we drive back to Chivay, stopping on the way back getting nice views of the river and Colca valley, colony churches, handicraft markets, green villages on the both banks of the canyon and local's people working the ancient's pre Incas terraces.

Around 12pm arrive to Chivay to have lunch included and then free time for personal activities as visit the local handicraft market, etc.

Around 2PM transfer from the Colca valley (Chivay) to your hotel in Arequipa - This transfer takes around 4 hours and end of service.

BACKPACKER SERVICE (Join group/shared transport): After lunch the participants will have free time to rest until 4pm and then transfer to the thermal pools located 5 minutes driving from Chivay on the northeast (upper canyon). If you don’t like to visit the thermal pools you can walk around by yourself, the area is safety and easy to know where you are going.

PRIVATE SERVICE (Private guide/van): This service is the perfect option for people like to enjoy much more the canyon. The PERU ADVENTURE TOURS guides recommend departing from Arequipa early as possible (6am) and arrive to the canyon before thousands of tourist appears when they take the backpacker service.

This option offer you 2 hours maximum of trekking around the canyon, we recommend to do the trekking before lunch, according the weather condition and if the location of the hotel permit. If you choose the hotel out Chivay you need to consider the time we spend to get there. Sometime the participants of Private VIP Service choose hotels as:

COLLAHUAS INN HOTEL: they are located in Yanque town (let bank of the Colca River), just 10 minutes from Chivay and transfer is taking a good paved road.

COLCA LODGE HOTEL: this located on the right bank of Colca River, just in from of Yanque town. The transfer from Chivay to this hotel takes around 40 minutes and following a gravel road. This hotel have available access to the private thermal pools (hot spring) next of Colca River (rec).

LAS CASISTAS DEL COLCA HOTEL: this hotel is one of the nicer and good location on the left bank of the river, to get there we need to drive from Chivay to Yanque and then gravel road through agriculture terraces. The transfer takes around 30 minutes. PERU ADVENTURE TOURS really recommends staying at this hotel.

All participants chose to stay in any hotel mentioned above don’t include the visit to the Planetarium Maria Reiche and the thermal pools (hot spring) of La Celera - Chivay.

OPTIONAL: Before or after lunch you can combine horseback riding or downhill bike trip around the canyon. Those activities need to be confirmed at booking time.

This tour activity is dedicated just for participants chose the hotel to stay in Chivay and Private VIP Service only because each activity demands around 3 hours.

COLCA ZIP LINING $50 USD Per Person

Experience the newest extreme adventure over 4000 feet on the Colca River - This trip takes around 1 hour including safety instructions and equipped - This tour can be booked one day before in our local office of Arequipa.

HORSEBACK RIDING TOUR $55 USD Per Person

This tour Includes nice ride around the canyon, through full agriculture terraces and the little town of Yanque. This tour enquires two participants minimum.

DONWHILL MOUNTAIN BIKE TOUR $55 USD Per Person

The downhill MTB version can be done from Patapampa lookout (4850 m.a.s.l) to Chivay (3400 m.a.s.l). This is pure donwhill on asphalt road or you can try some single track along the Inca path. This is nice bike option for experienced bikers and beginner want's to enjoy amazing view and biking on Andes towards the Colca canyon.

DAY 2: CHIVAY TOWN - COLCA CANYON - CONDOR CROSS VIEWPOINT - AREQUIPA

At 6am is the breakfast and travel 2 hours on our transportation to the famous Condor Cross, at this place is possible to appreciate the fly of Condors or sometimes seating on the big rocks, two hours spending looking this amazing and biggest bird in the world, also there are many villages at the deep part of this spectacular Canyon.

Around 12pm arrive to Chivay to have lunch included and then free time for personal activities as visit the local handicraft market, etc.

At mentioned time transfer from the Colca valley (Chivay) to Arequipa, the tour ends in your hotel around 4pm to 6pm.

What's Included & Not Included

Included

Official English-Speaking guide
Shared tourist transportation (Backpacker Service)
Private Van or 4WD (Private Service only)
1 night in the selected lodging
Tourist ticket of 70 soles or $30 US Dollars per person (Obligatory). This is the unique entrance to the Colca national park even if you don't stop at "Mirador Cruz Del Condor" (take care not many tour operators don't includes this tourist ticket), the entrance is valid to visit all the canyon but not valid for hot springs along the canyon
Trekking around the Colca canyon (Private Service only)
1 breakfast & 2 buffet lunches
Ticket to visit the Planetarium Maria Reiche/Projecting constellations - During the rainy season (December to April) the visit is subject to changes or cancellation by direct administration of the event
First aid kit for all participants and our cam staff
Food and accommodation for our camp staff