Colca Canyon Trek 3D/2N

The three-day Colca Canyon excursion follows the same itinerary as the two-day excursion, with the exception of an additional night in the canyon. On the first day, you will complete a four-hour downhill hike. On the second day, you will enjoy four hours of uphill and downhill hiking. On the third day, hikers will wake up early to begin the final three-hour hike to exit the canyon.

What you will do:

• Explore the depths of the canyon.
• Enjoy meeting the locals and experiencing their warm hospitality.
• Relax at the Oasis, a paradise with natural spring-fed pools.
• Complete a challenging and rewarding hike.
• Observe majestic condors soaring over the canyon.
• Enjoy the hot springs in Yanque and savor Peruvian cuisine in Chivay.

DAY 1 – AREQUIPA – CHIVAY – CRUZ DEL CONDOR – SAN JUAN

We will pick you up from your accommodation between 3:00 and 3:30 a.m. and travel for approximately three hours to Chivay. There, we will stop to enjoy a simple breakfast consisting of bread, butter, jam, tea, coca tea, and coffee.

We will then continue to the Cruz del Cóndor Viewpoint, where we will stop for approximately 30 minutes to admire the depths of the Colca Canyon and observe the majestic condors soaring above the canyon.

Afterward, we will drive to San Miguel, located at an altitude of approximately 3,300 meters (10,827 feet), where we will begin our hike.

First, we will hike downhill into the canyon, reaching the small village of San Juan de Chuccho. There, we will enjoy a simple lunch consisting of vegetable soup, rice, potatoes, and alpaca meat.

A vegetarian option is also available upon request.

After lunch, you will have the rest of the afternoon to explore San Juan de Chuccho and relax in the shared bamboo bungalows. We will spend our first night here.

NOTE: For an additional cost, during our free time, we can go trout fishing in the Colca River with a local family and enjoy freshly grilled trout.

DAY 2 – SAN JUAN – SANGALLE OASIS

At 7:00 a.m., we will wake up and have breakfast consisting of pancakes, tea, and coffee. After breakfast, we will continue hiking toward the village of Sangalle, passing through the small villages of Cosñirhua and Malata.

Sangalle is an oasis located at an altitude of approximately 1,900 meters (6,234 feet) and is the deepest point of the route. Upon arrival, we will enjoy a traditional lunch. Afterwards, you can relax in the natural pools, go fishing, or play soccer.

That evening, we will have dinner before retiring to our bamboo bungalows for the night. Dinner usually consists of vegetable soup, pasta, and tea.

DAY 3 – SANGALLE – CABANACONDE – CHIVAY – AREQUIPA

We will wake up at 5:00 a.m. to begin our hike from the canyon to Cabanaconde. There, we will enjoy a simple breakfast consisting of bread, butter, jam, tea, coffee, and coca tea.

After breakfast, we will drive back toward Chivay, making several stops along the way to admire pre-Inca and Inca terraces, colonial villages, and other beautiful landscapes.

Our final stop will be the Yanque Hot Springs, where we will spend approximately one hour enjoying the thermal baths. Afterwards, we will stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Chivay before continuing our journey back to Arequipa.

On the way to Arequipa, we will descend from approximately 4,830 meters (15,846 feet) to 2,325 meters (7,628 feet) and make a couple of stops in the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve and Pampa Cañahuas. Here, we will have the opportunity to observe four species of South American camelids: alpacas, llamas, vicuñas, and guanacos.

We will arrive in Arequipa at approximately 5:30 p.m.