2-Day Colca Canyon Trek from Arequipa: Condors & Hot Springs
Hike into the canyon's deepest point, then climb back out over two days.
A 2-day guided trek through Colca Canyon starting from Arequipa, with 6 hours of trekking on day one down to the village of Sangalle and 3 hours climbing out on day two. You stay overnight in a rustic lodge, bathe in natural hot springs in Yanque, and watch condors soar above the canyon walls. Lunch and dinner are included; the trek requires moderate fitness and some prior hiking experience.
2d
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1 — Colca Canyon and Condor Viewpoint
- Hotel pick up early morning
- Drive three hours to Chivay
- Stop for simple breakfast
- Visit Condor Cross Viewpoint
- Lunch break
- Trek to Sangalle village
- Dinner and relax in natural pools
- Overnight in shared bamboo bungalows
Day 2 — Trek out and Yanque Hot Springs
- Wake up early and trek out of canyon
- Breakfast in Cabanaconde
- Drive back towards Chivay with stops
- Visit pre-Incan and Incan terraces
- Stop at Yanque hot springs
- Lunch in Chivay
- Return to Arequipa with scenic stops
The Experience
The trek starts before dawn with a 3:00 AM pickup from your Arequipa hotel and a three-hour drive to Chivay. A simple breakfast of bread, butter, jam and tea fuels the first stop at Condor Cross Viewpoint, where you spend 30 minutes scanning the canyon walls for Andean condors. From there, the actual trekking begins — six hours of walking downhill and then uphill, with a lunch break in between, passing through the small towns of Cosñirhua and Malata. The destination is Sangalle, an oasis village at 1,900 meters and the lowest point of the trek, where you'll spend the night in a rustic family house ecolodge with shared bungalows made of bamboo.
Day two starts at 5:00 AM with a 3-hour uphill trek out of the canyon to Cabanaconde. After a simple breakfast there, the drive back toward Arequipa includes stops to see pre-Incan and Incan terraces and colonial towns. The final stop is Yanque's hot springs, where you soak for about an hour in naturally heated pools before lunch at a local restaurant in Chivay. The return to Arequipa involves a descent from 4,830 meters to 2,325 meters with a couple of stops through the National Reserve of Aguada Blanca.
A live English-speaking guide leads the entire trek, and all meals — lunch and dinner on day one, breakfast and lunch on day two — are included. The lodging is basic but functional, designed for hikers who want to experience the canyon without luxury amenities. This is a shared-group tour, so you'll trek alongside other hikers and stay in shared accommodations.
What’s included
- Hotel pickup in Arequipa at 3:00 AM on day one.
- transportation to and from the canyon.
- a live English-speaking guide for both days.
- lodging in a rustic ecolodge in Sangalle on night one.
- lunch and dinner on day one.
- breakfast and lunch on day two.
- one hour at the Yanque hot springs on day two.
Operated by Peru Baby Lama Adventures
Is this one for you?This is a shared-group trek with a guide leading the route and handling logistics, so you focus on hiking and soaking rather than navigation or camp setup. Choose it if you want the full canyon experience — the deepest point and the climb out — with other hikers and the structure of a fixed schedule, rather than going solo or hiring a private guide.
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Top questions
What is the Condor Cross Viewpoint and when do we stop there?
The Condor Cross Viewpoint overlooks the depths of Colca Canyon and is the first major stop after breakfast in Chivay on day one. You spend 30 minutes there watching for Andean condors flying overhead before beginning the trek down into the canyon.
How difficult is the trekking on each day?
Day one involves 6 hours of trekking both downhill and uphill with a one-hour lunch break; day two is 3 hours of uphill trekking out of the canyon. The trek is designed for people with some prior hiking experience and requires at least moderate physical fitness.
Where do we sleep on the first night?
You sleep in Sangalle, a village oasis at the canyon's deepest point, in shared bungalows made of bamboo within a rustic family house ecolodge. The accommodation is basic and includes a bed and blanket.
Are the hot springs in Yanque included in the tour?
Yes, the tour stops at Yanque's natural hot springs on day two for approximately one hour of soaking. The entrance fee to the hot springs is not included in the tour price and costs about 5 USD.
What meals are provided during the 2-day trek?
Lunch and dinner are included on day one, and breakfast and lunch on day two. Meals are simple — vegetable soup, pasta, bread, butter, jam, tea and coffee — prepared by locals in the villages where you stay and eat.
Can children do this trek?
Children are welcome from age 12 and up, provided they have at least moderate physical fitness and some prior trekking experience. The early starts and long hiking hours on both days make this trek challenging for younger children.
2-Day Colca Canyon Trek from Arequipa: Condors & Hot Springs
2d · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 85 per person
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