Colca Canyon 2 day, 1 night Adventure

The Colca Canyon is one of Peru’s most beautiful and dramatic areas. This canyon is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and is scattered with mountains, rivers, and small villages. During this tour you’ll spend 2 days and 1 night exploring the Colca Canyon.

At the beginning of this tour, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken to Chivay, a town that acts as a gateway to the Colca Canyon. The first stop is at a spot called Pampa Cañahuas in the national reserve of Salinas y Aguada Blanca. Pampa Cañahuas sits at an elevation of 12,800 feet (3,900 m) and provides awesome views of the canyon.

The next stop is at the Mirador de los Andes—the view from here is stunning and includes eight volcanoes. After you’ve had your fill you’ll descend to Chivay, but will stop at yet another viewpoint that looks out over the town. From here you can see beautiful pre-Columbian terraces that are still cultivated by native people. The highest point on the road to Chivay is 14,270 feet (4,350 m).

Once you arrive in Chivay you’ll eat lunch. Your guides will then take you to your hotel and a bit later you’ll head to the La Calera hot springs to soak and relax. Afterwards you’ll eat dinner, have drinks, and return to your hotel.

On the second day, your guide will pick you up from your hotel at 6:30 AM and take you to La Cruz del Cóndor. The drive takes about an hour and a half, and along the way you’ll enjoy good views of the Colca Valley. Once you reach the Cruz del Cóndor, you’ll get fantastic views of the canyon and have a chance to see the Andean condor, a huge vulture that lives nearby.

You’ll then return to Chivay but will make a few stops along the way, the first of which is at the Mirador of Wayrapunko, where you’ll get yet another magnificent view of the Colca Valley.

The next stop is at the viewpoint of Antahuilque, where you can see amphitheater-shaped terraces and lagoons. You’ll then visit the town of Maca, which hosts a charming church and the Choquetico Stone, a carved model of the Colca Canyon that was made by the Collagua people.

The final stop is at Yanque to visit Inmaculada Concepción—this baroque church, which was rebuilt in 1702, is the most beautiful church in the whole valley. Finally, you’ll return to Chivay around noon and have lunch. Afterwards you’ll return to Arequipa and be dropped off at your hotel around 5 PM.