Colca Canyon Trek 2-Day: Condor Viewpoint & Canyon Descent

Walk into the world's second-deepest canyon and soak in its hidden hot springs

A 2-day trek from Arequipa into the Colca Canyon, the world's second-deepest gorge, with a live guide in English or Spanish. Day one takes you to the Cruz del Condor viewpoint at 3,287 meters to watch Andean condors in flight, then down nearly 1,000 meters to the Sangalle Oasis for a night in bungalows and a soak in 24°C thermal pools. Day two climbs back up through terraced villages and stops at the Chacapi hot springs before returning to Arequipa.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arequipa to Sangalle Oasis Trek

• 03:00 a.m. hotel pickup
• Drive to Chivay (3 hours)
• Visit Cruz del Condor viewpoint
• Walk 4 hours to San Juan de Chuccho
• Lunch and rest in San Juan de Chuccho
• Continue trekking through Cosñirgua and Malata
• Reach Sangalle Oasis
• Enjoy natural pools and rest
• Dinner and campfire at Sangalle
• Overnight in bungalows

Day 2: Ascend to Cabanaconde and Return

• 05:00 a.m. wake up and start ascent
• Ascend 4 hours to Cabanaconde
• Breakfast in Cabanaconde
• Return to Chivay with stops
• Visit Huayrapunco viewpoint
• Visit traditional town of Maca
• Visit thermal baths of Chacapi (1 hour)
• Lunch stop (1 hour)
• Stop at volcanoes viewpoint (15 minutes)
• Stop at National Reserve to see camelids (15 minutes)

The experience

The trek starts before dawn: pickup from your hotel at 3 a.m., then a three-hour drive to Chivay. From there you head to the Cruz del Condor, a stone viewpoint at 3,287 meters where the Andean condor, with a wingspan of 3 meters, rides the thermals above the canyon. The canyon itself is surrounded by terraced crops, small towns where traditions still hold, and herds of guanacos, llamas and alpacas crossing the roads. Your guide will walk you through the villages of Cosñirgua and Malata, where a 17th-century church still stands from the colonial era.

The descent to Sangalle takes roughly four hours, dropping almost 1,000 meters until you reach the oasis: a pocket of palms and natural pools heated to 24°C. You'll have time to swim and walk around before dinner and a night in bungalows under the canyon sky. The next morning you climb back up over four hours, leaving at 5 a.m. to avoid the strongest sun. If the ascent feels too steep, mules are available. Once you reach Cabanaconde, breakfast waits, then the route back to Chivay includes stops at the Huayrapunco viewpoint and the traditional town of Maca.

On the return to Arequipa, you'll visit the Chacapi thermal baths at 40°C for an hour, pass through a national reserve where your guide points out the difference between vicuñas, alpacas and llamas, and stop at a viewpoint of the volcanic chain: Sabancaya among them, still emitting gases. Lunch is included on the second day, and the whole route brings you back to the city by evening.

What’s included

• Lunch and dinner.
• lodging in bungalows at the Sangalle Oasis.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup and return transport from Arequipa.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 02:45, 03:00 and 03:30

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Youth (8 to 17 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.You can choose from 48 pickup points.

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.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by AGENCIA MUNDO ANDINO TRAVEL

Is this one for you?Book this if you're committed to two consecutive days of walking with an early start and steep climbing on day two. The fixed group pace means you'll move together, but you'll complete the full canyon and return within one overnight rather than spreading it across multiple days.

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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 (8 to 17 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

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's the Andean condor actually like to see from the Cruz del Condor viewpoint?

The Cruz del Condor sits at 3,287 meters above sea level on the canyon rim, and the Andean condor soars below you on thermals with a wingspan of 3 meters: one of the largest flying birds in the world. The viewpoint is built with a stone wall for safety so you can watch them drift and climb without stepping too close to the edge.

How difficult is the walk down to Sangalle, and what happens if I can't make the climb back up?

The descent to Sangalle takes roughly four hours and drops almost 1,000 meters, passing through villages and terraced farmland. The climb back up the next morning also takes about four hours and leaves at 5 a.m. to beat the sun. If the ascent is too steep, mules are available to carry you up.

What are the Sangalle Oasis pools like, and how long do you stay there?

Sangalle Oasis has natural thermal pools heated to 24°C where you can swim and walk around the palms and gardens. You'll have the afternoon and evening there, with dinner and a campfire under the canyon sky, then spend the night in bungalows before the climb back up begins at dawn.

Do you visit hot springs on this trek, or only on the way back?

The Chacapi thermal baths at 40°C are on the return route to Arequipa on day two, where you stop for about an hour to soak after the climb out of the canyon and the visit to Cabanaconde.

What villages and towns do you pass through, and what will I see there?

The trek passes through Cosñirgua and Malata on the way down, where a 17th-century colonial church still stands in Malata. On the return, you stop in the traditional town of Maca and visit Cabanaconde before heading back. The villages are surrounded by terraced crops, adobe and straw houses, and you'll often see llamas, alpacas and guanacos on the roads.