The Colca Canyon is located about 3 hours north of Arequipa by car. Arequipa is the closest major town to the Colca Canyon and the hub from which most visitors come. The Colca Canyon itself is the second deepest canyon in the world (much deeper than the Grand Canyon in the United States) and attracts visitors with its world-famous condor viewpoints, charming small towns with rich culture, relaxing thermal baths, and abundant trekking opportunities.
Different Tour Options for the Colca Canyon
Most people purchase their transportation to the Colca Canyon with one of the many tour groups that can be found in the historical center of Arequipa.
When going with a tour group, all of the accommodations, transportation, and coordination are planned for you. You can either find a tour group prior to arriving in Arequipa and reserve the tour online or go to one of the many tour agencies in Arequipa to reserve the right tour for you. The cost of the tour may be less if you reserve the tour in person in Arequipa.
Day Tour Option
The most common tour option is a full-day tour of the canyon that leaves early in the morning and returns late at night, with a focus on visiting the Cruz de Condor viewpoint. While you will not hike into the canyon with this tour, you will have the opportunity to see the canyon’s depth from above. These tours leave Arequipa (3 hours away) and are just a glimpse into the Colca Canyon.
We recommend reserving a tour of the canyon region from Chivay, a small town in the Colca Canyon area. The tour will be a half-day (because you do not have to drive to and from Arequipa. With this option, you will be able to explore the Colca Canyon on your own terms, choosing the days that you tour the area and the days that you relax at the local hot springs or small towns of the region.
Hiking Options
The second most common tour option includes 1 or 2 nights in the canyon by hiking through the Sangalle Oasis. Hiking can be done with or without a tour group. If you choose to do the hike without a tour, you will need to find your own accommodations along the route. There are hostels at the various stopping points so you do not need to hike with camping equipment. You can read more about your hiking options here.
If you do not want to go with a tour group, we recommend spending the night before your trek in Cabanaconde. The canyon gets incredibly hot and you will want to start your trek early in the morning. While you can get a bus at 3 AM in Arequipa to start the hike before 8 AM, it is easier and more manageable to be prepared for the hike by sleeping at the trailhead the night before.
Altitude Adjustments for Colca Canyon
The other important thing to think about is adjusting to the altitude of the region. The canyon starts at 3,630 m (11,910 ft) and you will be hiking down to 1,800 m (5,906 ft) and back up to the starting elevation. Consider the following tips to best adjust to the elevation:
- Eat smaller meals when first at elevation. This will help you feel better throughout the day.
- Avoid alcohol. It will decrease your oxygen level and you need as much oxygen as possible at a higher elevation.
- Drink as much water as possible! This will also help with the headaches that may appear due to the altitude.
- If things truly get worse, find a way to get to a lower elevation, and, in the meantime, you can try to get to a clinic or hospital to get some additional oxygen.
It is recommended to adjust to the elevation for about a week before doing any challenging trek. You can consider visiting the following destinations for the week before your hike:
- Salta, Argentina (1,187 m or 3,984 ft) and the Jujuy region to explore some beautifully colorful mountains
- Uyuni, Bolivia (3,656 m or 11,995 ft) to visit the largest salt flat in the world and some other unique landscapes
- La Paz, Bolivia (3,650 m or 11,975 ft) to see a unique city in the canyon of a mountain
If you want to visit the Canyon but do not want to go with a tour group, then you can follow the below steps to coordinate your visit to the Colca Canyon.
Step 1: Visit the Tourist Office at Plaza de Armas in Arequipa
Stop by the Tourist Office in Arequipa to review the most up-to-date bus options to the Colca Canyon. Most of these buses depart from the southern bus stations in Arequipa and arrive at the Chivay bus station at the start of the Colca Canyon. The buses continue onwards to the Cabanaconde bus station further into the canyon but at the start of the Colca Canyon hike trailhead. If you are going to the canyon for the hikes, look for buses that go to the Cabanaconde bus station.
Andalucia and Transandino are two companies that leave from the Terminal Terrestre and have fixed schedules. You can buy these tickets in advance but the times may not match with when you want to arrive.
Centella is a local mini bus company that leaves throughout the day as it fills up. You need to go to the Centella Terminal and there you can buy your ticket in cash for 20 soles. You may end up waiting awhile to depart, or, if you are lucky, it may be a quick departure time. Almost everyone on the bus is local and the bus only has one stop on the outskirts of Arequipa near Cerro Colorado. If too many people get off the bus there it may wait for more passengers to come back on. However, if everyone is continuing to Chivay then the stop will only be brief to allow people to pick up a snack or beverage from the many street vendors. Some of these minibusses continue on to Cabanaconde, where you can start hiking.
A final option is to book transportation through the tourist company Nativa Express which is based out of Chivay. They offer a variety of tours throughout Peru and if you are looking for direct transportation between Arequipa and Chivay it is a great option that only costs 30 soles. This bus is much more comfortable and it only has a brief stop near Vacas to use the bathroom and pick up a snack or beverage from the cafe.
Step 2: Purchase a Tourist Ticket
To visit Colca Canyon (for both hiking and touring) you will need to purchase a tourist ticket (Boleto Turistico) for 70 soles. Many people will purchase this at the control checkpoint when you arrive at Colca Canyon but it is also possible to buy the ticket at the Tourist Office in the Plaza de Armas. The ticket lasts for 7 days from the date of purchase and includes entries into the Colca Canyon, Salines, Aguada Blanca, and Valley of the Volcanos.
Step 3: Purchase a Bus Ticket
Both the Andalucia and Transandino bus companies can be purchased in advance which the Tourist Office can help you coordinate. You can also go directly to the Terminal Terrestre and buy the tickets there. A final option is to buy the tickets online through a website such as Red Bus Peru.
The Centella bus cannot be reserved in advance and the ticket must be purchased at the Centella Terminal.
Nativa Express can be reserved by contacting them through their WhatsApp number +51 997 046 081.
Step 4: Navigating Colca Canyon from Chivay
If you are not going to the Colca Canyon to go hiking, you will most likely be dropped off at the Chivay bus terminal or the Chivay Plaza de Armas, depending on the bus company you use. (There are some buses that continue on further into the canyon to towns such as Cabanaconde.) At these bus terminals, there will be numerous companies that you can talk to and see what their routes are throughout the canyon depending on your interest areas.
Regardless of what town you end up in, there are a few additional ways to navigate the Colca Canyon beyond buses. Tuk Tuks are the most common way to navigate within small towns such as Chivay. They are constantly driving around and easy to hail from most central locations. If you are traveling longer distances, then taxis are available to take you throughout the canyon. They require you to contact them directly for pickup, but most restaurants or hotels will be able to assist you with calling one to your location. A final option is to schedule day trips with local tourism companies such as Nativa Express. They will likely add you onto a bigger tour group that is coming from other locations in Peru and it is a nice way to navigate the canyon while partaking in a group activity.
Step 5: Enjoy Your Time in Colca Canyon without a Tour Schedule
There are numerous ways to enjoy the Colca Canyon which span from active hiking to luxury hotels. Click here to read more about the best way to spend your time in Arequipa and the Colca Canyon.
