Colca canyon
DESCRIPTION:
Colca Canyon is located about 4 hours from the city of Arequipa, Peru and is the second deepest canyon in the world and a must if you are in Arequipa. The Andean Condor frequently flies and nests in the cliffs making the canyon the best place in South America to discover one. To this day Colca Canyon is​ one of the most popular destinations in Peru for trekking along with its well known hidden oasis Sangalle where you can stay in The Oasis Paraiso Ecolodge.
PRICE INCLUDES:
The package provides meals: 2 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner. Along with an English speaking trekking guide – a local expert who knows everything about the Canyon. One night in the lodge is included. There is a shared bathroom – upgrades to room with private bathroom available for approx S/.30 soles and Towel Hire is available S/.5 soles.
​
When to go:
​
​
Jan
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.
​
A chance for unpredictable weather but with fewer visitors.
​
Typically not offered during this period because of weather conditions.
Additional Notes:
Make sure to wear warm layers for the early morning transport, as the route to the canyon reaches altitudes of almost 5000 meters above sea level and can have freezing temperatures.
NOTE: THIS TREK ISN’T EASY, SOME SAY IT’S HARDER THAN MACHU PICCHU’S! For people who get tired during the trek, it is possible to hire mules.
​
Necessities:
-
Photocopy of passport and immigration card (TAM)
-
Light backpack
-
1.5 to 2 litres of water for day 1 (if you need more you can buy it at the small shops at the villages BUT expensive)
-
Sun cream (very important)
-
Sunscreen
-
Hats, sunglasses
-
Trekking shoes or boots
-
Waterproof rain jacket
-
Warm layers, sweater or jacket (IMPORTANT) –Temperatures reach lows of -10 Celsius
-
Shorts or pants for walking
-
Swimming suit, sandals, towel – swimming pools in the oasis, and thermal baths in Chivay on the way back to Arequipa!
-
Flashlight/ headtorch – Early trek out of the Canyon starts at 5am before sunrise (It is dark!)
-
Basics like toilet paper, etc
-
Snacks (Breakfast on the last day is AFTER the early morning hike out of the Canyon – bring enough snacks to fuel you up the climb!)
-
Insects repellent
-
Personal medications (if necessary)
-
Hiking sticks (optional)
-
Money for drinks
Canyon Trek
$40.00
2
days
Day 1:
Condor's Cross
Between 03:00 am and 03:30 am, we depart to Cabanaconde in the Colca Canyon, which is about a 6-hour drive from Arequipa. On the way, we stop for breakfast and later we continue to La Cruz del Condor which is the best place to watch the Canyon and the famous Andean Condor birds. From here, we continue another 20 minutes by bus to start our trek downhill. We will trek downhill for approximately 3 ½ hours from 3300 meters to 2100 meters into the Canyon. Upon arrival, we will have lunch and some time to rest in San Juan de Chuccho, a village with vegetation and some fruit trees. From there, we continue to the small towns of Cosñirhua and Malata.
Sangalle
Then, it is time to start hiking even further into the Canyon, this time into the deepest part of our trek to reach “Sangalle” a village at an altitude of approximately 1900 meters. Here you can enjoy the warm swimming pool to relax after a long day’s hiking. We will arrive at Sangalle at approximately 17:00 pm. At night, we will have dinner and sleepover in bungalows near the oasis.
Day 2:
Chivay
At 05:00 am, we will start trekking uphill for approximately 3 hours to the town of Cabanaconde with the help of torch lights. This part of the trek can provide spectacular views as we trek during the sunrise. We will have breakfast in Cabanaconde. From there, we will head to Chivay. On the way, we will have a great view of pre-Inca terraces, some archaeological ruins and colonial towns amongst others views. Around noon, we arrive in Chivay at the hot springs, with water temperatures of 38°C (optional). In Chivay, we will enjoy a typical local lunch if you wish.
Arequipa City
In the afternoon, we will have transportation back to Arequipa. On the way, we descend from 4830 meters to 2325 meters and pass through a national reserve and Pampa Cañahuas, which is a habitat for the four species of South American camelids (llama, alpaca, vicuña and guanaco). This is where you can get that all important selfie with an Alpaca or even a Vicuña if you are lucky. At the end of the afternoon, we arrive at Arequipa between 17:00 pm – 18:00 pm and we will drop you off at Calle Santa Catalina, next to Santa Catalina Monastery.
