Colca Canyon 2-Day Tour: Condor Viewpoint & Hot Springs

The Andean condor flies over the canyon at dawn, and you're standing at the viewpoint when it does.

A 2-day, 1-night tour from Puno through Colca Canyon to Arequipa, led by a bilingual guide with hotel stay in Chivay, meals and transport included. Day one crosses the altiplano to Chivay with stops at Laguna Lagunillas and the 4,910-meter Patapampa viewpoint, then ends with hot springs and a dinner show featuring folk dances. Day two heads to Cruz del Condor to watch Andean condors in flight, passes through colonial villages with pre-Inca terraces, and arrives in Arequipa by late afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Chivay and Hot Springs

• Hotel pickup in Puno early morning
• Stop at Laguna Lagunillas for birdwatching
• Drive through Salinas and Aguada Blanca Reserve
• Visit Mirador de los Andes, Patapampa viewpoint
• Arrive in Chivay for buffet lunch
• Check in at hotel in Chivay
• Relax at La Calera Thermal Baths
• Dinner show with folk dances in Chivay
• Rest overnight at hotel

Day 2: Colca Canyon and Arequipa Arrival

• Breakfast at hotel in Chivay
• Tour Colca Canyon and surrounding area
• Visit Cruz del Condor Viewpoint for condor watching
• Return to Chivay via Andean villages
• Buffet lunch in Chivay
• Travel to Arequipa, tour ends at Plaza de Armas

The experience

You start before dawn on day one (pickup runs between 6:10 and 6:20 AM from your Puno hotel), and spend the next eight hours crossing the high plateau toward Chivay, 300 km away. The route climbs through Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, where vicuñas graze in their natural habitat, then reaches Patapampa at 4,910 meters above sea level. From that ridge you see four volcanoes: Misti, Chachani, Sabancaya and Ubinas. Laguna Lagunillas, a stop earlier in the drive, holds pink flamingos and Andean ducks against a landscape of water and stone.

Lunch arrives in Chivay around 1:30 PM (a buffet of Andean food at the hotel), and the afternoon is yours to rest before the thermal baths. La Calera runs at 38°C, mineral-rich water that sits in the high Andes, and you soak there as light fades. After dark, a dinner show in Chivay pairs typical folk dances from the region with a meal, and you sleep at a 3-star hotel in town.

Day two starts at 6:00 AM with breakfast, then heads straight to Colca Canyon. The canyon drops more than 4,000 meters (one of the deepest in the world), and you have time to walk the rim, see pre-Inca terraces still in use and the sheer stone walls. The real draw is Cruz del Condor, the most famous spot in the canyon, where Andean condors glide overhead in their natural habitat. These are the largest flying birds on earth. From there, the route passes through three villages (Pinchollo, Maca and Yanque), where colonial churches and ancient agricultural systems still stand. A final buffet lunch in Chivay, then the drive to Arequipa arrives between 4:30 and 5:00 PM at the Plaza de Armas, the city center.

What’s included

• Bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• hotel accommodation in Chivay.
• breakfast on day two and two buffet lunches.
• dinner show with folk dances.
• entry to Colca Canyon.
• transport from Puno to Chivay to Colca Canyon and on to Arequipa.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 49 years) · Senior (50 to 80 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 15

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.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Titicaca Tours

Is this one for you?The tour starts before 6:30 AM and runs two full days, so it suits travelers with time to spare and an early schedule. The high altitude (Patapampa sits at 4,910 meters) means the pace is steady rather than rushed, giving your body time to adjust to the elevation.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4).

What time does the tour pick me up in Puno on day one?

Pickup from your Puno hotel runs between 6:10 and 6:20 AM, so you'll need to be ready early. The drive to Chivay takes the full morning and early afternoon.

Will I actually see Andean condors at Cruz del Condor?

Cruz del Condor is the viewpoint where condors are most commonly spotted, and the tour times the visit for when they're most active. These are wild birds, so sightings are not guaranteed, but the canyon itself and the pre-Inca terraces make the stop worthwhile regardless.

What's included in the meals on this tour?

Breakfast on day two and two buffet lunches (day one in Chivay, day two also in Chivay) are included, along with a dinner show with folk dances on the evening of day one. The dinner show is part of the experience in Chivay.

Do I need to pay extra for the hot springs in Chivay?

The tour includes time at La Calera thermal baths, though entry fees (5 to 15 soles per person) are separate and paid on-site. The baths run at 38°C and are included in the itinerary.

What's the highest point we reach on this tour?

Patapampa, at 4,910 meters above sea level, is the highest point. It's a viewpoint on day one where you see the volcanoes Misti, Chachani, Sabancaya and Ubinas across the Cordillera Occidental.

Where does the tour end in Arequipa?

The tour ends at the Plaza de Armas in Arequipa, the city center, with arrival between 4:30 and 5:00 PM on day two. From there you can walk to nearby hotels or arrange onward transport.