Colca Canyon Trek from Arequipa: Condors, Oasis & Hot Springs

Summary

Colca canyon trek with condor viewpoint oasis pools and yanque baths

You’ll wake up before dawn in Arequipa for two days trekking Colca Canyon—watching condors glide overhead, walking through villages, sleeping in a bamboo bungalow by an oasis pool, and soaking tired legs in Yanque hot springs before heading back home. Expect honest effort, local food, and moments that stay with you long after.

What’s the experience like?

Someone’s knocking on the door—way too early, but that’s how the Colca Canyon trek starts from Arequipa. I fumbled with my boots in the dark, half-awake, and climbed into a van with a few other sleepy faces. Our guide, Juan, handed out coca tea packets and grinned like he’d already been up for hours (maybe he had). It’s three hours to Chivay; the sky slowly turns pink outside the window. Breakfast is simple—bread, jam, something hot to drink—and then we’re out at Condor Cross Viewpoint. There’s this hush as everyone looks for movement over the canyon edge. And then—two condors, wings stretched wide, drifting right above us. I didn’t expect to feel so small watching them float on invisible wind.

The walk starts after lunch and it’s not gentle—I mean, six hours up and down rocky paths isn’t exactly a stroll. But you pass these tiny towns—Cosñirhua and Malata—and sometimes kids wave or an old woman nods as we go by. The air smells dry but sweet somehow. By late afternoon my legs are jelly but then you see Sangalle Oasis below—green against all that stone. There are palm trees and these natural pools fed by cold water; I just dropped my pack and let my feet dangle in. Dinner was soup and pasta at a long table with other trekkers (someone tried to teach me a Quechua word—I forgot it instantly), then we slept in bamboo bungalows that creaked when you turned over.

Next morning is even earlier—5am wakeup—and you just start climbing out of the canyon before the sun gets too strong. It’s quiet except for crunching gravel and your own breath. At Cabanaconde there’s more bread and tea (I swear bread tastes better after a climb like that). On the drive back toward Arequipa we stopped at pre-Incan terraces—Juan explained how they still use them for farming—and finally Yanque hot springs. That hour soaking in warm water felt like it washed off two days of dust and sore muscles. Lunch in Chivay was simple but good; I remember laughing at some joke about alpacas but can’t recall what it was now.

I keep thinking about that moment at Condor Cross—the silence just before those birds appeared—or maybe it’s the way Sangalle looked impossibly green after all that brown rock. If you’re looking for an easy day trip from Arequipa this isn’t it… but if you want to feel every step (and maybe lose track of time), this Colca Canyon trek kind of sticks with you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Colca Canyon and Condor Viewpoint

• Pick up from hotel early morning
• Drive three hours to Chivay
• Stop for simple breakfast
• Visit Condor Cross Viewpoint for 30 minutes
• Have lunch
• 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 at 5:00 AM
• Trek uphill to Cabanaconde
• Eat simple breakfast
• Drive back towards Chivay with stops
• Visit Yanque hot springs for one hour
• Lunch at local restaurant in Chivay
• Return to Arequipa with stops in reserve

Top questions

How difficult is the Colca Canyon trek from Arequipa?

This trek requires moderate fitness; day one is about 6 hours of trekking with uphill and downhill sections, day two is a 3-hour uphill climb out of the canyon.

Are meals included on the Colca Canyon tour?

Yes, lunch and dinner on day one plus breakfast on day two are included during the trek.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from Arequipa?

No, pickup from your hotel in Arequipa is included at around 3:00–3:30 AM.

Where do we sleep during the Colca Canyon trek?

You’ll spend one night in shared bamboo bungalows at Sangalle Oasis—a rustic ecolodge run by local families.

Is there time to visit hot springs during this tour?

Yes, you’ll stop at Yanque hot springs for about an hour on day two before lunch.

What wildlife can I see on this trek?

You have a good chance of seeing Andean condors flying above Colca Canyon at Condor Cross Viewpoint.

What kind of food is served during the trek?

Dinners usually include vegetable soup and pasta; breakfasts are simple with bread, jam, tea or coffee; lunch varies but is typically Peruvian cuisine in Chivay.

Are guides included on this Colca Canyon hike?

Yes—a local tour guide leads your group throughout both days of trekking.

What’s included

Your trip includes early morning hotel pickup from Arequipa, all transportation between towns and trailheads, overnight lodging in a rustic family-run ecolodge at Sangalle Oasis with bed and blanket provided, meals along the way (lunches, dinner, breakfasts), entrance to Yanque hot springs for a relaxing soak after trekking, plus guidance from an experienced local tour leader throughout both days.