3-Day Colca Canyon Trek from Arequipa to Puno

Three days walking the deepest canyon in the world, sleeping where the locals do.

A 3-day trek through Colca Canyon starting from Arequipa and ending in Puno, with an English or Spanish-speaking guide. You walk from San Juan de Chucchu village down to the Sangalle Oasis, spend nights in basic rooms at local family houses and a lodge, and climb back out to catch transport to Puno on the final day. The route passes through villages, hot springs and viewpoints where condors fly overhead.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arequipa to San Juan de Chuccho

• Pick up from hotel in Arequipa
• Travel to Colca Canyon and breakfast in Chivay
• Visit Cruz del Condor viewpoint
• Drive to Cabanaconde
• Hike to San Juan de Chuccho village
• Free time to visit local terraces and people
• Dinner and overnight at local family house

Day 2: San Juan de Chuccho to Sangalle Oasis

• Breakfast at San Juan de Chuccho
• Hike to Sangalle Oasis via Cosñirhua and Malata villages
• Lunch at Sangalle Oasis
• Enjoy rejuvenating pools and free afternoon
• Dinner and overnight at Palmeras lodge

Day 3: Sangalle to Puno via Cabanaconde and Chivay

• Early hike to Cabanaconde
• Breakfast in Cabanaconde
• Transport to Chivay with village and viewpoint stops
• Visit thermal baths and enjoy 40 minutes free time
• Stop to see alpacas and vicuñas
• Stop at highest point for mountain and volcano views
• Stop to observe migratory birds
• Lunch stop in Chivay
• Transfer to tourist bus towards Puno
• End tour at Puno main square or near hotel

The experience

The trek starts before dawn with a 3am pickup from your Arequipa hotel. You drive to Chivay for breakfast, then stop at Cruz del Condor (the most visited viewpoint in the canyon) to watch condors ride the thermals above the gorge. After that, the car takes you to Cabanaconde and you walk for 3.5 hours down into the canyon to reach San Juan de Chucchu village, where you'll spend your first night in a basic dorm room at a local family house. The entrance fee to Colca Canyon is USD 19, paid in cash on arrival.

Day two is a 3-hour walk from San Juan de Chucchu to Sangalle Oasis, passing through villages like Cosñirhua and Malata. Sangalle is an oasis with natural pools fed by hot springs. You'll have lunch, free time to swim and rest, then sleep at Palmeras lodge. On the final day you start hiking at 5am (a steep 3-hour climb back up to Cabanaconde), then drive through more villages and viewpoints, stop at the hot springs for 40 minutes (USD 5 entry, optional), and reach Puno by around 7pm. The route also passes areas where alpacas and vicuñas graze wild, and you'll cross the highest point to see the surrounding mountains and volcanoes.

Your guide speaks English and Spanish throughout. Meals include three breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners. Vegetarian options are available if you request them at booking. You'll need to carry your own small backpack during the trek, and bring sunscreen, insect repellent, sturdy walking shoes, a flashlight and swimwear. The minimum age is 18, and the tour requires a high level of physical fitness. It's not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or cardiovascular conditions.

What’s included

• Two nights' accommodation in basic dorm rooms at a local family house and lodge.
• professional guide who speaks English and Spanish.
• hotel pickup in Arequipa.
• all transport between Arequipa and Puno.
• three breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners.

Before you book

Lasts 3d, runs every day at 03:00, from US$ 209 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 03:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 75 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 19.91

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Physically demandingPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Arequipa Tour

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so you can follow the commentary comfortably in either language. The trek demands a high level of fitness and involves steep climbing, especially the 3-hour ascent on day three. It suits experienced hikers ready for a physical challenge, not a casual walk.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is the Cruz del Condor viewpoint like, and when do you see it?

Cruz del Condor is the most visited viewpoint in Colca Canyon, where you stop on the morning of day one after breakfast in Chivay. It overlooks the deepest part of the canyon, and you watch condors in flight there: the massive birds ride the thermals rising from the gorge below.

Where do you sleep on this trek?

You spend your first night in a basic dorm room at a local family house in San Juan de Chucchu village, and your second night at Palmeras lodge in the Sangalle Oasis. Both are simple accommodations. The family house lets you interact with local people and see how they live inside the canyon.

How much walking is involved each day?

Day one includes a 3.5-hour walk down to San Juan de Chucchu after you arrive by car. Day two is a 3-hour walk to Sangalle Oasis. Day three is a steep 3-hour climb back up to Cabanaconde, then you travel by car for the rest of the day to Puno.

What's included in the meals, and are there dietary options?

The tour includes three breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners. Vegetarian meals are available. Just let the operator know when you book. Lunch on day three is optional and not included in the base price.

Do you need any special gear or fitness level for this trek?

You need sturdy walking shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, a flashlight and swimwear. The tour requires a high level of physical fitness. It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health. You must carry your own small backpack with personal belongings during the trek.