4-Day Colca Canyon & Arequipa
Explore a different side of Peru
A lovely way to extend your Peru tour
Arequipa and the Colca Canyon is a fantastic addition to any Peru tour. Staying at our very own Colca Lodge, you can relax in the hot springs, take in the unique local culture, and see the famous Condors. Deeper than the Grand Canyon, each morning the condors rise on the thermals, just metres above your heads.
Arequipa is the second city of Peru and regards itself as the intellectual capital. A day spent wandering this most beautiful of cities is a great addition to your tour. Set amidst a ring of volcanoes,the white marble buildings add a real air of elegance.
Highlights
- See the Condors of Colca
- Explore the beautiful city of Arequipa
- Relax in our private hot springs
You will meet your guide on arrival in the “White City” of Arequipa. This is a beautiful city to explore, and the ideal place to start acclimatising to the rarefied air of the Andes.
Arequipa boasts a magnificent marble Plaza de Armas, quaint old town streets, the picturesque Santa Catalina Monastery (included in your tour) and Juanita the Ice maiden museum (optional). Alpaca wool is Arequipa’s finest export and there are plenty of opportunities for treating yourself to some stunning textiles here.
Included: transfer to hotel, entrance to Santa Catalina, hotel in Arequipa
You drive up out of Arequipa, with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.
You then descend into the amazing Colca canyon. The canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon and home to Condors and a very unique local culture. You stay overnight in the charming Colca lodge where you can soak in the private hot springs.
Included: transport, entrance fee to Colca Canyon, breakfast, lunch, night at Colca Lodge
A private guide and minibus are at your disposal for the day. Head out early to see the Condors as they ride the thermals out of the 3400m deep Colca Canyon
You can hike to near-by ruins and visit a local community to learn about their unique culture and textiles.
The lodge has optional activities (not included) such as horse riding, mountain biking and fishing. Or you could just choose to spend the afternoon relaxing amid beautiful surroundings in the hot springs.
Included: transport, entrance fees, transport, breakfast, dinner, night in Colca Lodge
Today you drive back to Arequipa. Depending on flight connections, there is time to enjoy a final dip in the hot springs before departure and a picnic lunch can be taken en-route.
The lovely conical mountain of ’El Misti’ welcomes you back to Arequipa and so straight to the airport in time for your connecting flight out.
Included: transport, breakfast, lunch
In order to fully enjoy your trip it is very important that you choose the right trip for you and fully understand what it involves.
There are risks inherent in travelling in Peru, as indeed there are in most of the activities that we provide. Many of the activities we offer also involve a significant level of effort on your part. After all, it is called Adventure Travel for a reason.
It is really important that you read both the trip notes above and the Risk and Safety Section on our website, to enable you to choose the best trip for you. Once you have read them both, please make sure you ask if there is anything you do not understand. We classify this trip as:
Cultural… This trip does not involve any particularly physical level of activity, but just being in Peru can have its own challenges. Your trip may involve being at altitude which can take some people a bit of time to get used to. Much of it will take place outdoors where you can be exposed to weather conditions. Many of the places you visit have uneven ground and sets of steps. Most of Peru is very well set up for tourists, over one million people successfully visit Machu Picchu each year, but it is important to understand that it is not quite like being at home.
