Colca Canyon Flights: 2-Day Condor Views & Thermal Baths

Watch condors glide from Cruz del Cóndor, then soak in thermal baths

You spend two days moving through the high Andes, from volcano viewpoints at 4,910 meters to the Colca Canyon rim where Andean Condors hunt. You stay one night in a lodge in Coporaque village, learn to cook a traditional meal, and walk the canyon edge before returning to Arequipa by afternoon. Transport, guide, breakfast, and accommodation are all arranged—you just show up at your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Volcano views and Colca Valley visit

• View Misti, Chachani, Pichu Pichu volcanoes
• Stop at Pampa Cañahuas Reserve to see vicuñas
• Visit Puruña Stone Forest and panoramic views
• Pass Tocra plain, observe lakes and wild birds
• Reach Pata Pampa viewpoint, see volcanoes
• View terraces near Chivay and travel to Coporaque
• Lunch and cultural activities at La Casa de Mamayacchi
• Optional visit to thermal baths
• Return to hotel for accommodation

Day 2 — Condor viewing and return to Arequipa

• Breakfast early morning
• Drive to Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint
• Watch Andean Condor flight and canyon views
• Take short walk near the canyon
• Visit Pinchollo village and Antahuilque viewpoint
• Pass Choquetico lookout and litomaqueta model
• Drive through Maca and Yanque villages
• Arrive Chivay for lunch (not included)
• Return to Arequipa, arrive around 4 PM

The Experience

There's something that pulls at you when you realize you're standing at 4,910 meters—the air thinner than you expected, the volcanoes Ampato and Sabancaya rising sharp against the sky. That's Pata Pampa, the highest point on this Colca Canyon tour from Arequipa, and it's where the scale of the Andes actually hits. You've driven through high plains dotted with vicuñas and alpacas, stopped at the Puruña stone forest to walk among rock formations that look like they were placed by hand, and now you're looking at five volcanoes at once. The group stays small—never more than 14 people—which means the van doesn't feel crowded and your guide can actually answer questions instead of shouting over an engine.

Day two is why you came. You leave before sunrise to reach Cruz del Cóndor, the viewpoint where the Andean Condor hunts the thermals rising from the canyon walls. The bird has a three-meter wingspan and moves like it owns the air, and you watch it glide past the cliff face for as long as the light holds. After that, your guide takes you on a short walk—about an hour—along the canyon rim, close enough to see the terraces that people have farmed for centuries, far enough back that you're not nervous. On the way down to Chivay, you pass through villages like Pinchollo and see the Antahuilque viewpoint, where terraces carved 1,500 years ago still hold the hillside. The drive back to Arequipa takes the afternoon, and you arrive around 4 PM.

The night in between happens at a lodge in Coporaque, a traditional village in the valley itself. Before dinner, your guide helps you prepare a typical dish—the kind of thing that sounds like a tourist activity until you're actually doing it, and then it's just cooking. There's time to visit the thermal baths if you want, or to sit and watch the light change on the canyon walls. Breakfast is included the next morning, and so is the pickup from your hotel in Arequipa at the start. The van carries oxygen and a first aid kit, the driver and guide are certified, and someone is available 24/7 if something goes wrong—which matters when you're that high and that far from a city.

What’s included

• Your two days include hotel pickup and dropoff in Arequipa city center, all transport in a van with oxygen and first aid supplies, one night in a 3-star lodge or hotel in Coporaque village, breakfast both mornings, a certified guide (English or Spanish), and 24/7 guide assistance.
• You'll also have time to visit thermal baths in Coporaque on request and learn to prepare a traditional Colca Valley dish at the lodge.
• Lunch on day one is at a local restaurant (your cost); lunch on day two in Chivay is not included.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Giardino Tour Operator

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Colca Canyon and the Andean Condor without arranging transport, accommodation, or guides yourself—the fixed itinerary and small group size mean you move at a pace that lets you actually absorb the altitude and the views instead of rushing between stops.

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Top questions

How high does the tour go?

The highest point is Pata Pampa at 4,910 meters (16,100 feet). You'll also spend time at 4,400 meters and 3,651 meters in Chivay.

Will I see Andean Condors for sure?

The tour is built around Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint, where condors hunt the thermals. Sightings are common but not guaranteed—weather and bird behavior vary.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and dropoff in Arequipa, transport, one night's lodge accommodation, breakfast, a certified English or Spanish-speaking guide, oxygen bottle, and first aid kit.

Is lunch included?

Breakfast is included. Lunch on day one is at a local restaurant in the valley (your cost). Lunch on day two in Chivay is not included.

How long is the tour?

Two days and one night. You leave Arequipa early on day one and return around 4 PM on day two.

What's the group size?

Maximum 14 people per tour.

Is this tour safe at high altitude?

The tour includes oxygen and first aid supplies. It's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, spinal injuries, or pregnancy. Moderate fitness is required.

What should I bring?

Warm layers (it's cold at altitude), sunscreen, a hat, and comfortable walking shoes. The short walk on day two is about an hour on uneven terrain.