Colca Canyon Day Trip

It cannot be guaranteed to be able to observe the flight of the condor during the visit, however it is very likely to be able to observe it almost all year round, except during the rainy season, since during the season some condors migrate to other places in search of a better climate. .

The Colca Valley is located 151km from the city of Arequipa; In a trip of approximately 03 hours you will reach the main town that is Chivay where you will be able to find all the main services such as accommodation, restaurants, night entertainment centers and others.

You can visit the Colca all year round, however the best season to visit is between April and May since the rainy season is ending and these are the months that show the greatest greenery of the colca valley terraces and all its landscapes.

If it is possible to do it! Normally there are transports of tourist companies that have daily departures from Chivay to Puno; departures are generally after lunch.

The companies that provide this service are 4M, Nativa Express and My Tour Peru.

We can also help you with the purchase of bus tickets from Chivay to Puno.

The canyon is a deep and narrow river valley. The main characteristic for the formation of a canyon is a fast-flowing river, because the faster it flows, the greater the load of rocks and other debris it can carry. A valley is a flat terrain located between the slopes of the mountains caused by the erosion of the water that descends from the mountain peaks. The valley is an attractive place for its natural environment and its scenic value. The surrounding mountains and rivers make these places an excellent visit for nature lovers.

The main town of the Colca Valley is located at an altitude of 3635 masl, however on the way from Arequipa to Chivay a high point is passed which is Patapampa, also known as the Mirador de los Volcanes; this is at 4900msnsm, it is the highest point of the whole road.

The price of the Tourist Ticket are the following:

Foreign tourist ticket S /. 70.00

National tourist ticket S /. 20.00

Tourist ticket National Student S /. 5.00

The payment of the tourist ticket allows the visit to different tourist attractions of the Colca Valley such as archaeological zones, viewpoints, trekking circuits. It is worth mentioning that this ticket does not include the visit to museums or income to the Hot Springs that are found in different towns such as Chivay, Yanque and Coporaque.

The typical food of the Colca is varied, generally the foods are prepared with native products of the area, in the case of meats, Alpaca and beef are used, trout is also eaten. You can also find vegan restaurants in the town of Chivay. Generally, tourist restaurants offer buffet lunch where you can find a variety of dishes and drinks.

There are 02 points of purchase where you can purchase the tourist ticket

Before entering the Chivay town, there is a tourist entry checkpoint where you can buy the tourist ticket.

Another point is halfway to the Mirador de la Cruz del Cóndor, it is also a tourist checkpoint

It should be noted that to make the payment of the tourist ticket, credit cards are not accepted, the payment must be in cash.

Most tourist establishments such as accommodation and restaurants accept payment by credit card, the most used being American Express, VISA, Diners and Mastercard. However, it is also recommended to bring cash if you want to buy handicraft souvenirs and that payment can only be made in cash.

To visit the Colca Valley you can choose to take different types of tours

Conventional tours: There are tours of 01 and 02 days where you can see part of the terraces of the Valley and the main point that is the Mirador de la Cruz del Cóndor.

Experiential tourism: In this type of tours, coexistence with the inhabitants is carried out to learn about their customs; This type of tour normally takes place in the towns of Coporaque, Sibayo and Yanque.

Trekking in Colca: For people who love nature and are in good physical condition to go on walks of 02 and 03 days inside the canyon.

Generally it is recommended to stay one or two days in the city of Arequipa to be able to acclimatize and thus be able to avoid altitude sickness when you go to the Colca Valley; It is also recommended to take the traditional coca tea; undoubtedly essential to avoid soroche. Now if you want to take a pill, the most recommended is the “Sorojchi Pills”, it should be taken 30 minutes before starting the trip and you can buy it at any Pharmacy. It should be noted that if you are allergic to any medication it is better to consult a doctor before taking the pill.