Day 1: Arequipa
An expert tour guide will pick you up from your hotel at 7:00am to take you to the Colca Canyon in a private van. Along the way you might spot some American Camelids, such as vicuñas, alpacas and llamas and you will witness breathtaking landscapes as you drive, such as lakes, glaciers and magnificent volcanoes. Visit Cabanaconde, the largest town of the Colca Canyon. After an energetic lunch, start hiking down to the canyon.
After 3 to 4-hours of hiking a rocky path downhill, you'll make it to the village of San Juan de Chuccho, where a warm meal is waiting for you. You spend the night at a cozy local family house.
Day 2: Oasis - Cabanaconde
You may catch-up on some sleep in the morning, as your delicious pancakes breakfast will be ready at 8:00am. After breakfast, start your 3-hour trek to the oasis, passing through the local communities of Cosñirhua and Malata. Your guide will explain how the local people of these mountain villages live. After visiting a local hospital, school and a museum, you will feel more integrated into the lives of the villagers. You'll also learn more about the different flora and fauna and how they're used in daily life of the local people.
Arrive at the oasis, the deepest spot of the Colca Canyon, at around noon. After a typical lunch, take the afternoon to relax at the swimming pool, enjoy the warm sun and the stunning views of the canyon. In the late afternoon, start the hardest part of the trek as you go to the top again. After a 3-hour climb, reach the top of the canyon and where you'll enjoy the beautiful sunset and the priceless view of the canyon. Making it to the top will be the most memorable part of the trek. If you're not up for the trek out of the canyon, there are mules available for hire.
In Cabanaconde, a warm hearty meal is waiting for you and you spend the night at a hostel with private baths and a hot shower.
Day 3: Cruz del Condor
After a hot shower in the morning and a typical breakfast, your driver and guide take you to the most spectacular place of the Colca Canyon, the Cruz del Condor Mirador. At 1,200 meters (approximately 4,000ft), it is the best place to spot the majestic Andean Condor flying over the canyon. The condor is the biggest flying bird on earth, with wingspans that can measure up to 10 feet.
Once you have taken some good photos of the condor, continue to Chivay. Along the way you'll make some stops at typical small villages of the Colca Canyon. In Chivay you can visit the hot springs to loosen your aching muscles. After a delicious buffet lunch of typical Peruvian food, you will travel back to Arequipa.
Arrive in Arequipa at approximately 6pm and be transferred to your hotel.
Option 2: If you want to go to Puno instead to Arequipa, take a tourist bus departing at 1:00pm from Chivay and arriving at 8:00pm in Puno.
