2-Day Colca Canyon Tour from Arequipa: Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.00 (5 reviews)

Free cancellation

1/8

Duration2d

GroupUp to 25

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Two days crossing high-altitude reserves and thermal valleys to watch condors at the canyon's edge

A 2-day Colca Canyon tour from Arequipa includes hotel pickup, a live guide in English or Spanish, one night accommodation in Chivay, and breakfast on the second morning. Day one runs north through Pampa Cañahuas national reserve and Patapampa viewpoint (4,830 meters) to Chivay; day two departs at 6 AM to reach Cruz del Cóndor for an hour watching condors ride the thermals above the canyon, then returns to Arequipa by mid-afternoon. The tour covers multiple stops in traditional villages and viewpoints; lunch and the optional hot spring entrance fee are arranged separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arequipa to Chivay via National Reserve

07:30 AM hotel pickup in Arequipa
Drive to Pampa Cañahuas reserve
Visit Tocrapampa wetlands
Stop at Patapampa viewpoint (4830 m)
Arrive in Chivay town
Lunch in Chivay
Hotel check-in
Optional visit to hot springs
Optional dinner with dance show
Overnight in Chivay

Day 2 — Colca Canyon and Return to Arequipa

05:00 Breakfast in Chivay
06:00 Visit Cruz del Condor viewpoint
Stop at traditional villages and viewpoints
Lunch in Chivay
Return to Arequipa
Arrive in Arequipa around 16:30

The Experience

The tour starts with a 7:30 AM pickup from your Arequipa hotel and heads north toward Chivay. Along the way, the route passes through Pampa Cañahuas (a national reserve where vicuñas graze), Tocrapampa's wetlands, and Patapampa—a high-altitude viewpoint at 4,830 meters where the Andes stretch across the horizon. You arrive in Chivay by afternoon, check into a two-star hotel, and have the option to visit the thermal baths before dinner (the hot spring entrance fee is paid separately on arrival).

Day two begins at 5 AM with breakfast, then a drive to Cruz del Cóndor for the main event: a one-hour stop watching Andean condors glide above the Colca Canyon. The canyon itself is one of the deepest in the world, and the birds ride the thermal currents close enough that their scale becomes real. After this, the route loops back through traditional villages and smaller viewpoints—Choquetico and Antahuillque among them—before stopping in Chivay for lunch. The return to Arequipa takes the afternoon, with arrival around 4:30 PM.

Your guide speaks English and Spanish throughout. The bus or van carries small groups, and the pace is built around the stops rather than the drive—you spend time at each viewpoint instead of rushing through. Breakfast on day two is included; lunch and dinner are your choice (the operator can arrange them, but they are not part of the package). Children from age six are welcome, though the high altitude and early mornings mean the tour suits families comfortable with those conditions.

What’s included

Hotel pickup in Arequipa on day one and return transport on day two.
tourist bus or van with a live guide in English or Spanish.
one night accommodation in Chivay (two-star hotel with double, twin or triple room).
breakfast on day two.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Arequipa Tour

Is this one for you?The 5 AM start on day two and the high-altitude stops (Patapampa at 4,830 meters) mean this tour suits travelers comfortable with early mornings and mountain elevation. If you prefer a slower pace or lower altitudes, a single-day canyon tour from Arequipa would be easier; this one trades convenience for the full experience of the condor viewpoint and the thermal valleys in between.