Colca Canyon Trek 3-Day | Best value, small groups daily departures

Daily Tour 3 days

Peru Arequipa and Colca Canyon

Descriptions

You cannot miss this exciting 3-Day Colca Canyon Trek. Trekking into one of the deepest canyons in the world is an unforgettable experience, and this will become clear as your trip links pre-hispanic towns in a circuit that takes two to three days and offers breathtaking sights across awe inspiring landscapes in this 3 days Colca Canyon trek. Down at the bottom of the Canyon you will find a tranquil green oasis full of palm trees and natural spring pools, a little paradise and well deserved place to rest before the steep ascent of the next day.

The views are excellent from anywhere and Condors can be seen almost all year around. It is not necessary to have a lot of hiking experience to trek Colca Canyon, however, it is advisable to acclimatize for a couple of days in Arequipa or Colca before beginning the trek.

Why to choose Culturandes Travel & Adventure for this 3-Day Colca Canyon Trek?

Are you looking for unforgettable memories for this adventure? Culturandes Travel & Adventure want you to have a hassle-free planning and an unforgettable travel experience without any stress and unexpected situations by the hand of its experts travel advisors and knowledgeable local guides providing you:

Reliable and top services
Certified Peruvian tour operator
Safe transportation according the highest standards
Professional drivers
Excellent camping equipment
Balanced meals during the trek
Detailed and personal pre-departure information
24 hours support during your trip
Excellent local official English/Spanish guides who will turn out the star of your trip

We are experts in private and customized tours all around Peru, ask our expert travel advisors to upgrade your experience with additional activities and extensions.

Group services versus Private services?

This is a question we all need to ask ourselves when planning a trip. The answer depends largely on the age, the particular interests of each person and, above all, the economy of each passenger. Below, we list the differences between conducting a group service versus a private service. It should be noted that, in either of the two modalities, you will receive top quality care from the entire team of professionals who will make your trip unforgettable.

Group Services

The driver follows the stops designated by the tour
Groups can have between 15 and 20 people
Guidance is simultaneous in English and Spanish for the entire group
The itinerary has to be strict to fulfill the daily plan
Guidance is available at the same time for the entire group
The main advantage of group services is the affordable price

Private Services

The driver will make the necessary stops where you indicate
Of 5 or more people, the private service has a similar price to the group service.
You own the time you want to have at each stop
Guidance is in only 1 language and at the passenger’s choice (prior consultation for rare languages)
The guide will be available only for you and attentive to your requirements
The travel experience becomes much more personal and deep in knowledge

We urge you to get in touch with us so we can design your trip to Peru together, probably combining some excursions in private and some in group services. Our team of experienced voyagers knows what it means to plan a trip of a lifetime as well as the investment that implies, therefore, we want everything to go perfect.

Highlights

COLCA CANYON

Trek into one of the deepest Canyons in the world.
Stay in local houses along the trail
Relax in natural spring pools in a beautiful oasis.
Learn about the Cabana and Collaguas inhabitants of the canyon.
Watch the majestic condors as they soar around the snowcapped mountains of the Andes.

Gallery

Itinerary

DAY 01 AREQUIPA - CHIVAY - CABANACONDE -SAN JUAN DE CHUCCHO

Lunch & dinner.

This 3 days Colca Canyon trek, will begin early with an early pick up from your hotel. We depart from Arequipa heading northwest following a paved road, which will lead us to Colca Canyon.

We travel around the Chachani volcano and head towards the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve where you will be able to stop and take pictures of wild llamas, alpacas and vicuñas while learning how to identify the differences between all of them. After a stop at the Tocra swamps where you will see flamingo, Andean geese, ducks and the Andean eagle “Kara Kara” we get to take in the crater of Chucura, an extinct volcano. After, we continue ascending a dirt road to the highest point of the trip, Patapampa (4800 meters-15000 feet), where the view of the volcanoes Ubinas, Mismi, Misti, Chachani, Sabancaya (which is still active) and Ampato is simply magnificent.

The journey then continues downhill to the main village of Colca Canyon, Chivay. The Incan and pre-Incan terraces that are carved into the walls are still cultivated today and traditional Indian villages are dotted throughout the canyon. After a short stop in Chivay we continue the trip to the initial point of the trek where we eat a light lunch before beginning the trek descending 3937 feet/ 1200 meter for about 4 hours until we reach the Colca River (2160 meters/7087 feet). On the way down you will be able to appreciate the diverse tropical Andean vegetation and also the geological formation of the canyon which is part of the Cordillera de los Andes. After crossing to the other side of the Canyon we take a short uphill walk to the town of San Juan de Chuccho (2300 meters/7546 feet) where your family hostess will be waiting for you. (Lunch and dinner included).

DAY 02 SAN JUAN DE CHUCCHO/SANGALLE (OASIS)

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

After enjoying an early healthy breakfast prepared by your hostess, you will continue with your ascent to the village of Tapay (3000 meters/ 9843 feet). Next comes the downhill trek to Cornishua and Malata, and see the life style of the people living in these remote villages first hand while taking in a variety of local flora and fauna.

Overnight stay will be in Sangalle Oasis (2100 meters/6890 feet). This beautiful oasis is a huge contrast to the dry dusty and rocky landscape of the surrounding valley. Green grass, a huge array of pretty flowers, palm trees and a swimming pool set between two huge rocks are the perfect for setting at the end of a long day. Relax by the pool with a good book and a well-deserved resting place to build up your energy for the next day. Accommodations are basic.

DAY 03 SANGALLE OASIS - CABANACONDE-CHIVAY-AREQUIPA

Breakfast

At dawn after an energetic breakfast you will begin the final hard, steep trail of the trek; a 4-hour ascent of 1100 meters/3609 feet around the left rim of Colca Canyon to the village of Cabanaconde. On arrival to Cabanaconde you continue to Cruz del Condor, a natural lookout point from where you will be able to see these majestic Andean birds soaring gracefully on the rising thermal air currents.

We continue on to Chivay town where you will be able to enjoy a de-stressing soak in the Calera hot springs (35ºC/95ºF). Enjoy a relaxing bath in these large thermal pools surrounded by huge mountains. Lunch time and a four hour trip to return to Arequipa city.

MAKE IT DIFFERENT!

From Chivay you can continue to Puno without coming back to Arequipa, or if you have some free time, we recommend one more night in Colca to relax after the trek before you depart back to Arequipa or to Puno.

This is the best alternative for this trekking route; nevertheless we have other options for clients who don’t have so many days. For example 2 days/1 night or 1 day hike.

MAKE IT DIFFERENT!

Ask our experts travel advisors to complete your trip with an extension to the impressive citadel of Machu Picchu, the challenging Inca Trail, the impressive Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, the majestic Colca Canyon, the mysterious Nazca lines, the enigmatic jungle or the Kingdom of the Chachapoyas