3-Day Colca Canyon Trek: Condors and Native Villages

The canyon's depth is twice what your eyes can measure from the rim.

A 3-day guided trek through Colca Canyon near Arequipa that descends into the second largest canyon on earth, following Pre-Inca and Inca routes through rural villages and past condor flight paths. You walk four hours each of the first two days, sleep in a local family house and bungalows inside the canyon, visit communities that maintain traditional agriculture, and end at thermal baths after climbing back out. A live guide speaks English or Spanish. Children from age 16 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Walk down to Tapay village

• Enjoy canyon views and condors
• Walk 4 hours down the canyon
• Stay overnight in local family house

Day 2: Visit Oasis Sangalle and communities

• Walk 4 hours visiting local communities
• Arrive at oasis at noon
• Relax in natural pools
• Stay overnight in bungalows

Day 3: Climb canyon and relax in baths

• Climb canyon early morning
• Visit thermal baths to relax

The experience

The trek starts at Tapay, where you descend four hours into the canyon watching condors wheel overhead and the walls rise around you. The village where you spend the first night sits inside the canyon itself, built by locals who know every switchback and seasonal water source. You stay in a family house, which means you eat what they cook and sleep where they live, not a hotel dressed up as local, but the actual place.

Day two takes you through small communities where people still herd llamas and grow crops on terraces their grandparents built. After four hours of walking through these settlements, you reach Oasis Sangalle, where natural pools sit in the canyon floor and the afternoon is yours to soak and rest. The bungalows here are basic (no air conditioning, no wifi), but they sit where the canyon opens into a pocket of green that feels removed from any road.

The final morning you climb back up, then head to thermal baths to soak the soreness out before the trek ends. A guide leads all three days and speaks English or Spanish, depending on which option you book. The route itself is the thing: you are not watching the canyon from a viewpoint, you are inside it, moving through it on foot the way people have for centuries.

What’s included

• Three days of guided trekking with a live guide in English or Spanish.
• accommodation in a local family house and bungalows inside the canyon.
• thermal baths on the final day.

Options for this experience

2 options

EXTRAGuide in English or Spanish · 03:00Stay at a family house lodge: 3 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, 2 bathrooms with a minivan; pickup is included

3-day experiential trek through Colca CanyonGuide in English or Spanish · 03:00Breakfast and lunch at a local family house, Mercedes-Benz transport; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 03:00

AgesAdult (21 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 75 years) · Youth (16 to 20 years) · Under 16: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 16 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Peru Baby Lama Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this trek if you want to move through the canyon on foot rather than view it from above, and if you can commit to three days of sustained walking. The descent and climb are what make the depth and scale real: a shorter visit from the rim shows you the view, but this one puts you inside it.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (16 to 20 years). Children under 16 can't be included in the booking.

What's the actual walking like on each day of the trek?

Day one is four hours descending into the canyon on established routes; day two is four hours walking through villages and communities before reaching the oasis; day three is an early climb back up the canyon wall, then a shorter walk to the thermal baths. The paths are steep but well-used.

Where do I sleep during the three days?

The first night is in a local family house inside the canyon at Tapay; the second night is in bungalows at Oasis Sangalle; the third day ends at the thermal baths, after which the trek concludes and you return to Arequipa.

Will I actually see condors flying, or is that just marketing?

Condors are native to Colca Canyon and the itinerary specifically mentions watching their flight on day one from the rim and during the descent. They are not guaranteed on any single day, but the canyon is one of the world's best places to see them soar.

What do I need to bring for a 3-day trek at this altitude?

The trek descends into the canyon, so altitude is not the main challenge: the walking distance and steep terrain are. Bring sturdy hiking boots, sun protection, a light layer for cool mornings, and a headlamp or flashlight. The guide and accommodations are arranged. You carry a day pack with water and personal items.

Is this trek suitable if I have some hiking experience but I'm not a climber?

The itinerary requires a moderate level of physical fitness and involves sustained walking downhill and then climbing back up. It is not technical climbing, but it is demanding over three consecutive days. The operator notes it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health or spinal injuries.