Peru
4 Day Best of Arequipa Tour Package
Colca Valley, Juanita Mummy museum, Santa Catalina Monastery
From
US$493
≈ €423 · billed in US$ ≈ £362 · billed in US$ per person
In short
Colca Canyon is twice the depth of the Grand Canyon, three to four hours from Arequipa. The reason to go is the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint, where Andean condors ride the morning thermals out of the canyon between 8 and 10 am.
The road in crosses a 4,900 m pass, which is why the standard trip is two days rather than one: sleep in Chivay at 3,600 m, be at the viewpoint early, and come back through the terraces in the afternoon.
The terracing is the other half. The valley has been farmed continuously for around 1,500 years, and the pre-Inca terraces are still in use rather than preserved.
Arequipa itself, at 2,335 m, is the base and a genuinely good acclimatisation stop between Lima and Cusco — white volcanic stone, three volcanoes on the skyline and the Santa Catalina monastery.
What Colca Canyon is known for
- Cruz del Cóndor between 8 and 10 am
- Pre-Inca terraces still farmed after 1,500 years
- The hot springs at Chivay
- The 4,900 m pass on the road in
- Arequipa and the Santa Catalina monastery as the base
Practical detail
- Depth
- About 3,270 m — twice the Grand Canyon
- How long you need
- 2 days from Arequipa
- Condors
- 8–10 am at Cruz del Cóndor
- Highest point
- 4,900 m on the road
What a trip to Colca Canyon costs
Per person, including hotels, transfers and the guided days each trip lists. International flights are never included.
Peru
5 Day Best of Arequipa Tour Package
Colca Valley, Juanita Mummy museum, Santa Catalina Monastery, Sillar route & Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa
From
US$680
≈ €583 · billed in US$ ≈ £499 · billed in US$ per person
Peru
Cathedral Museum Tour
La Boca
From
US$30
≈ €26 · billed in US$ ≈ £22 · billed in US$ per person
Peru
Juanita Mummy Museum Tour
La Boca
From
US$50
≈ €43 · billed in US$ ≈ £37 · billed in US$ per person
Peru
The Sillar Route Half-Day Tour
La Boca
From
US$50
≈ €43 · billed in US$ ≈ £37 · billed in US$ per person
Peru
Colca Valley Day Tour from Arequipa
La Boca
From
US$80
≈ €69 · billed in US$ ≈ £59 · billed in US$ per person
| Package | Length | Price p/p | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Day Best of Arequipa Tour Package | 4 days | US$493 | Book |
| 5 Day Best of Arequipa Tour Package | 5 days | US$680 | Book |
| Cathedral Museum Tour | 4 hours | US$30 | Book |
| Juanita Mummy Museum Tour | 4 hours | US$50 | Book |
| The Sillar Route Half-Day Tour | 4 hours | US$50 | Book |
| Colca Valley Day Tour from Arequipa | 4 hours | US$80 | Book |
No package matches that search.
Frequently asked
Is Colca Canyon worth it as a day trip?
Not really. A single day means leaving Arequipa at 3 am and spending nine hours in a vehicle to be at the viewpoint on time. Two days with a night in Chivay is the version people enjoy.
When can you see condors at Colca?
Between 8 and 10 am at Cruz del Cóndor, when the thermals build. They are most reliable from May to November.
Where does Colca fit in a Peru trip?
Between Lima and Cusco. Arequipa at 2,335 m is a useful step up before Cusco at 3,400 m, and the canyon adds two days to that stop.