ColcaCanyon Arequipa
3
Day Itinerary •
Peru
Three days across Colca Canyon and Arequipa delivers one of the most extraordinary landscape and cultural experiences in Peru, from the White City of Arequipa with its extraordinary sillar volcanic stone architecture and three snow-capped volcanoes on the horizon, to the deepest canyon in the Americas where Andean condors ride the thermals at eye level from the extraordinary Cruz del Condor viewpoint. This focused route covers the essential Colca and Arequipa experience. The magnificent Santa Catalina Monastery within Arequipa's colonial heart, the extraordinary pre-Inca terraced valley walls of Colca Canyon, the condor flight at dawn from Cruz del Condor, the traditional Collagua and Cabana communities in their extraordinary embroidered dress, and the finest rocoto relleno and chupe de camarones in southern Peru.
Best Time To Visit
May to November, dry season for condors and clear skies
Getting There
Fly into Arequipa Rodriguez Ballon Airport (AQP)
Getting Around
Private tour or hired car with driver for Colca
Budget Per Day
Approx 60 to 150 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Moderate, high altitude acclimatisation required
DAY 1
AREQUIPA
MORNING
SANTA CATALINA MONASTERY, THE CITY WITHIN A CITY
The most extraordinary religious complex in Peru, a walled Carmelite convent founded in 1580 that covers two entire city blocks and functioned as a completely self-contained community for nearly 400 years. Inside the extraordinary whitewashed sillar stone walls lie streets, plazas, cloisters, chapels, kitchens, cells and gardens of extraordinary beauty. The vivid terracotta and cobalt blue painted streets are extraordinary. Entry approx 45 soles. Open until 8pm. Drive: 10 min walk
MIDDAY
PLAZA DE ARMAS AND AREQUIPA CATHEDRAL
The finest Plaza de Armas in Peru, a vast colonial square entirely surrounded by extraordinary sillar white volcanic stone arcades, dominated by the extraordinary twin-towered cathedral that stretches the full length of one side. The view from the cathedral roof terrace across the plaza towards the perfect snow cone of El Misti volcano at 5,822 metres is the finest urban view in southern Peru. Cathedral entry approx 10 soles. Drive: 20 min taxi
AFTERNOON
YANAHUARA VIEWPOINT AND BARRIO SAN LAZARO
The extraordinary Yanahuara mirador, a hilltop terrace of extraordinary sillar stone arches framing the view of Arequipa below with El Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu volcanoes behind. The finest viewpoint in the city. Then the extraordinary Barrio San Lazaro, the oldest neighbourhood in Arequipa, a labyrinth of narrow colonial lanes with extraordinary carved stone doorways and small plazas unchanged since the 16th century.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Museo Santuarios Andinos at the Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria houses Juanita, the extraordinary Inca ice maiden discovered frozen on the summit of Mount Ampato in 1995. The 500-year-old mummy and her extraordinary funerary offerings are among the finest Inca artefacts in Peru. Entry approx 20 soles. One of the most extraordinary museum experiences in South America.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: La Canasta, Arequipa Outstanding bakery and cafe one block from the Plaza de Armas. Extraordinary pan de yema and cafe de olla. | Lunch: Zig Zag Restaurant The finest restaurant in Arequipa in a colonial house. Extraordinary volcano stone grill and rocoto relleno. | Dinner: La Nueva Palomino The finest traditional Arequipena restaurant in the city. Extraordinary chupe de camarones and adobo.
DAY 2
COLCA CANYON
MORNING
CRUZ DEL CONDOR, THE WORLD'S FINEST CONDOR VIEWPOINT
The most extraordinary wildlife viewpoint in the Americas, a clifftop overlook 1,200 metres above the floor of Colca Canyon where Andean condors, the largest flying birds on earth with wingspans reaching 3.2 metres, ride the morning thermals at eye level from the canyon walls. Between 8am and 10am on most dry season mornings, 10 to 20 condors are visible simultaneously. The extraordinary canyon backdrop, twice the depth of the Grand Canyon, is breathtaking. Entry included in boleto turistico. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
PRE-INCA COLCA TERRACES AND COLLAGUA VILLAGES
The extraordinary agricultural terraces of the Colca Valley, pre-Inca constructions still farmed today as they were 2,000 years ago, cascading down the extraordinary canyon walls in layer after layer of green and gold. The traditional Collagua and Cabana communities in the valley wear extraordinary embroidered costumes with distinctive tall hats that identify their village of origin. The extraordinary colonial churches in each village are the finest in the Peruvian highlands. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
CHIVAY MARKET AND LA CALERA HOT SPRINGS
The extraordinary market of Chivay, the main town of the Colca Valley at 3,635 metres, where local Collagua women sell extraordinary highland produce, hand-woven textiles and coca leaves. The La Calera hot spring pools 3km from Chivay are the finest natural thermal baths in the region, fed by geothermal water at 45 degrees beside the extraordinary Colca River. Entry approx 15 soles. Extraordinary at dusk.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Mirador de los Volcanes on the Patapampa plateau at 4,910 metres on the road to Colca gives a remarkable 360-degree panorama of seven volcanoes simultaneously including Ampato, Sabancaya and the extraordinary cone of Hualca Hualca. At this altitude the extraordinary Andean plateau stretches unbroken in every direction. Most tours stop here for 15 minutes; it deserves at least an hour.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Early departure from Arequipa Light breakfast before the 4-hour drive to Cruz del Condor. Most tours stop at the Patapampa pass at 4,910m. | Lunch: Restaurant in Chivay Pachamanca slow-cooked in the earth or trucha Colca rainbow trout from the river. Extraordinary local produce. | Dinner: Colca Lodge restaurant Outstanding highland dinner with views of the canyon. Local quinoa soup and slow-roasted alpaca.
DAY 3
COLCA VALLEY AND RETURN
MORNING
MACA AND ACHOMA CANYON VIEWPOINTS
The extraordinary series of canyon viewpoints along the north rim of Colca Canyon above the villages of Maca and Achoma, where the canyon walls drop 3,270 metres to the Colca River below, making it the second deepest canyon on earth. The extraordinary pre-Inca terraces visible on the opposite canyon wall from the Antahuilque viewpoint are the finest in the entire Colca Valley. Condors are occasionally spotted here in the morning hours. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
YANQUE VILLAGE AND HOT SPRING POOLS
The extraordinary colonial village of Yanque, with one of the finest baroque churches in the Colca Valley and an extraordinary pre-Inca suspension bridge still in use above the canyon floor. The natural hot spring pools beside the river below Yanque are less visited than La Calera and the most extraordinary in the valley, reached by a steep path down the canyon wall. Entry approx 10 soles. Drive: 4 hours drive
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO AREQUIPA AND FINAL EVENING
RETURN TO AREQUIPA AND FINAL EVENING Evening The extraordinary return drive from Colca Canyon to Arequipa across the Patapampa plateau, descending through the extraordinary high Andean puna grasslands where herds of wild vicuna graze beside the road. The approach to Arequipa with the three volcanoes lit by the late afternoon sun is one of the finest arrivals in Peru. Time for a final evening in the White City before departure.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Sibayo village at 3,810 metres in the upper Colca Valley beyond Chivay is one of the finest and least visited traditional villages in the region, a collection of extraordinary stone and adobe houses around a small colonial church where the local Collagua community maintain their extraordinary textile traditions. Almost no tourists reach Sibayo. The upper canyon landscape beyond it is extraordinary.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Colca Lodge breakfast Final highland breakfast with extraordinary canyon views. Local quinoa porridge and Andean fruit. | Lunch: Yanque village restaurant Fresh trucha rainbow trout from the Colca River and local potato dishes in the village square. | Dinner: Chicha by Gaston Acurio, Arequipa The most celebrated chef in Peru's Arequipa restaurant. Extraordinary modern Peruvian highland cuisine.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Arequipa, Night 1 Casa Andina Premium or Libertador Arequipa. Colonial sillar stone architecture. Approx 80 to 180 USD. Chivay, Night 2 Colca Lodge or Casa Andina Standard Colca. Canyon views and hot spring access. Approx 60 to 150 USD. Budget Option La Gringa Hostal in Chivay or Casona Solar in Arequipa. Approx 20 to 50 USD per night.
Top Tips
1. Spend at least one night in Arequipa to acclimatise before ascending to Colca at 3,600m.
2. Arrive at Cruz del Condor by 8am for the best condor sightings before the thermals die down.
3. The Colca Canyon entry ticket (boleto turistico) costs approx 70 soles and covers multiple sites.
4. Rocoto relleno is Arequipa's greatest dish. Eat it at Zig Zag or La Nueva Palomino for the finest version.
5. The Chivay hot springs (La Calera) are best at night under stars after a cold canyon day.
6. Arequipa at 2,335m can cause mild altitude sickness. Drink coca tea on arrival and rest the first afternoon.
Total Budget
70 to 320 USD/day