Colca Canyon Arequipa: Condor & Thermal Pools Full Day

The Deepest Canyon in Peru, Seen Before Sunrise

You leave Arequipa at 3am and climb to Patapampa's 4,900-meter viewpoint before sunrise, then move through the Colca Valley stopping at traditional towns, pre-Inca terraces, and the Cruz del Cóndor to watch Andean condors soar above the canyon. Breakfast, lunch, and thermal spring entry are included, with a guide managing all timing and transport so you arrive back by evening without arranging logistics yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day tour to Colca Canyon

• Start excursion at 3:00 am
• Stop at Mirador de los Volcanes viewpoint
• Arrive in Chivay for breakfast
• Tour pre-Inca terraces and native flora
• Visit Yanque town and watch Wititi dance
• See La Santísima Concepción de Yanque temple
• Stop at Huayra Punko and Antahuilque viewpoints
• Observe pre-Inca hanging tombs and terraces
• Arrive at Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint
• Watch Andean condor flight
• Stop in Maca to taste Colca Sour drink
• Visit hot springs for bathing and relaxation
• Enjoy free buffet lunch with Andean dishes
• Stop at Toccra Bofedales to see camelids and birds
• Final stop at Patahuasi for panoramic views

The experience

"Three in the morning sounds crazy until you're standing at 4,900 meters watching the light come up over the Volcanes," our guide Marco said on the drive out of Arequipa. The Colca Canyon tour starts before dawn: pickup happens early, and the first stop is Patapampa, a high-altitude viewpoint where the mountain ranges around Arequipa come into focus as the sky shifts from black to grey. You're already at the highest point of the day when most people are still asleep. The air is thin and cold. Bring a jacket.

After that opening, the rhythm settles into something steadier. Breakfast happens in Chivay at 3,630 meters: bread, eggs, jam, coffee, the kind of simple fuel that tastes better at altitude. Then the tour moves through the valley itself: Yanque, where the Wititi dance (the traditional love dance of Colca) plays out in the town square, and the 17th-century temple of La Santísima Concepción. The pre-Inca terraces are everywhere: carved into the mountainsides, still holding water and crops the way they did five hundred years ago. You stop at Huayra Punko and Antahuilque to see the hanging tombs, those impossible graves built into cliff faces. It's the kind of landscape that makes you understand why people built things here, and why they're still here.

The Cruz del Cóndor is the centerpiece: the viewpoint where you actually see the Andean condor, the largest non-marine bird on the planet, riding the thermals up from the canyon floor. It's not guaranteed (the birds don't perform on schedule), but the canyon itself is enough. The drop is real. The scale is real. After that, Maca offers a taste of the traditional Colca Sour, a local drink that tastes like lime and altitude and something you won't find anywhere else. The thermal pools come next. You can bathe if you want, or just sit and let the hot water work on muscles that have been climbing since 3am. Entry is 15 soles.

Lunch is a free buffet at a restaurant in the valley: traditional Andean dishes, everything made from high-altitude products grown in the region. The drive back includes stops at Toccra Bofedales (where you see llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, Andean ducks, flamingos) and Patahuasi, a final viewpoint with stone forests and the Misti and Chachani volcanoes framing the horizon. You're back in Arequipa around 5:30pm. It's a long day (fourteen and a half hours from start to finish), but the guide is official, the vehicle is air-conditioned, and you don't arrange any of it yourself.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup before 3:00am, an official tour guide, air-conditioned transport throughout, breakfast in Chivay, entry to the thermal springs (15 soles paid on-site), a free buffet lunch with traditional Andean products, and stops at ten locations including Patapampa, Yanque, Cruz del Cóndor, Maca, Toccra Bofedales, and Patahuasi. Return to Arequipa is around 5:30pm.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 03:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 85 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (2 to 4 years): free

GroupUp to 25

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 34

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Puriy Perú Expeditions

Is this one for you?This tour works for travelers who want to see the Colca Canyon, condor viewpoint, and thermal pools in a single day without arranging transport, guides, or meals: the early 3am start and high altitude are what make all ten stops possible before evening return.

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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 (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (2 to 4 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the Colca Canyon tour from Arequipa start?

The tour departs at 3:00am from Arequipa to reach the high-altitude viewpoints before sunrise.

Is lunch included in the full-day Colca tour?

Yes, a free buffet lunch with traditional Andean dishes is included at a restaurant in the valley.

Can you see the Andean condor on this tour?

The Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint is designed to observe the Andean condor's flight, though sightings depend on weather and the birds' natural patterns.

Are the thermal pools included?

Access to the hot springs is included. Entry costs 15 soles (paid separately on arrival).

How long is the full-day Colca Canyon tour?

The tour runs approximately 14.5 hours, from 3:00am to 5:30pm.

What is included in breakfast?

Breakfast consists of bread, scrambled eggs, jam, butter, tea, coffee, and juice, served in Chivay.

Is the tour suitable for people with health conditions?

The tour reaches 4,900 meters altitude and is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy. It is suitable for all fitness levels but is physically demanding due to early start and high elevation.

What should I bring for a 3am departure?

Bring warm clothing, as temperatures are cold at high altitude in the early morning. Sunscreen and water are also recommended.