2 Day Tour to Colca Canyon

The condors are only part of the story. This two-day trip from Arequipa combines high Andean viewpoints, vicuñas, village time in Chivay, thermal waters, and a strong chance to see condors over Colca Canyon. I like the low $45 starting price and the useful range of stops, especially Patapampa at 4,900 meters and the Cruz del Condor viewpoint.

I also like that the tour includes hotel pickup and a bilingual English and Spanish guide, with a maximum group size of 20. The main drawback is that the advertised price leaves out several important costs, and one reported pickup failure is a serious reason to confirm your arrangements before departure.

Key points to know before booking

• The condor viewing is the main event: You spend about two hours at Mirador Cruz del Condor, the best-known stop on the route.
• Patapampa reaches 4,900 meters: The ten-minute viewpoint stop brings big volcano views, but the altitude can make even a short walk feel harder.
• The $45 price is only the starting point: Add the $20 Colca Canyon entrance, $6 hot spring fee, two $11 lunches, and accommodation in Chivay.
• La Calera is optional: Four hours are set aside for the thermal waters and local museum, giving the first day a slower finish.
• Guiding can make the difference: Guides named Manuel and Marco received especially warm praise for clear explanations and good organization.
• Pickup needs care: You are told to wait five minutes early, but a failed hotel collection was also reported, so confirm the meeting details directly.

What this two-day Colca trip is really like

This is a budget-minded route from Arequipa into one of Peru’s most dramatic highland areas. The schedule is built around short scenic stops on the way to Chivay, followed by a longer second day focused on condors and canyon viewpoints.

You leave at 7:30 in the morning from C. Moral 229a in central Arequipa, with hotel pickup offered. If you stay in a house or apartment, you need to wait outside rather than in a lobby. The tour ends back at the same meeting point in Arequipa.

The tour is conducted in English and Spanish, and the group can include up to 20 people. That is small enough for a guide to explain the route, but large enough that pickup and meal stops may not feel quick. You should expect a full touring day rather than a relaxed private outing.

Accommodation in Chivay is not included. You need to arrange and pay for your own overnight stay, which is the biggest practical gap in the advertised package. If you want a fully arranged trip, ask the provider if lodging, meals, and optional transfers can be added before you pay.

Crossing Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve

The first planned stop is a quick ten-minute pause in Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve. This is less about a formal attraction and more about getting your first taste of Peru’s high country.

You may see vicuñas, llamas, and alpacas near the road, along with broad Andean scenery. Vicuñas are wild camel relatives, while llamas and alpacas are domesticated animals, so this short stop offers a useful look at both the natural and working sides of the region.

Bring your camera, but keep your expectations sensible. Ten minutes is enough for a few photographs and a quick look, not a long walk or wildlife session. The stop can be restricted in poor weather, so it should be treated as a bonus rather than a guarantee.

The reserve also helps explain the shape of the trip. You are climbing into a cold, high area where weather can change the schedule. Warm clothes are important from the beginning, not just at the canyon. One direct tip from the tour experience is to dress warmly, since the condor viewpoint can be very cold.

Patapampa at 4,900 meters

The next short stop is Abra Patapampa, a natural viewpoint at roughly 4,900 meters above sea level. It is one of the most striking numbers in the schedule, and it is also the point where altitude deserves your attention.

From here, you can see the Andean volcanic range and, when conditions allow, the volcanoes Misti, Chachani, Pichu Picchu, and Sabancaya. The view is the reason to stop, so use the ten minutes for photographs and a slow look rather than rushing around.

At this height, even a brief stop can feel demanding. The supplied information says most people can participate, but it does not promise a special altitude program or medical support. If you know you react badly to high altitude, consider that before booking a route that reaches nearly 5,000 meters.

Patapampa is also a good example of this tour’s style. You see a great deal from the vehicle and make short roadside stops. If you want long hikes, quiet time, or a slow photographic outing, this is not that kind of experience. If you want broad views without a strenuous trek, the format works well.

An afternoon at La Calera Thermal Waters

After the high route, the optional visit to La Calera gives the first day a more restful finish. About four hours are set aside for the thermal complex, swimming pool, and local museum.

The hot springs cost an additional $6 per person. That is a reasonable extra charge if you want to loosen up after a long morning on the road, but you should remember that the visit is optional and not part of the $45 base price.

The museum adds some local context, while the pool offers a simple way to rest before your night in Chivay. Since accommodation is also excluded, you will need to think about how the afternoon fits with your lodging plans. Ask in advance where the group finishes for the day and how you will reach your accommodation.

The four-hour allocation is generous compared with the ten-minute viewpoints. That can be a plus if you want a break, but it may feel long if you are not interested in hot springs. You are not forced to pay for the activity, so this stop works best for people who value a little recovery time.

The night in Chivay

Chivay is the overnight base for the tour, but your room is not included. This is important because the low headline price can make the trip look almost all-inclusive when it is not.

The information provided does not specify a hotel, room standard, dinner arrangement, or breakfast. You should confirm these details before booking and budget for the room separately. The posted plan also does not include dinner.

Lunches are listed at $11 each, one on day one and one on day two. Buying the meals through the operator may be convenient, but you may prefer to ask what is included in the meal price and where the group eats. One practical warning from the tour experience is to carry cash, since paying for food and tickets on the spot can be difficult without it.

If you add the two lunches, the canyon entrance, and the hot spring, the known extras total $48. That brings the advertised $45 price to at least $93 per person, before your Chivay accommodation. The final cost can still be fair, especially with transport and guiding included, but you should compare the full amount rather than judging the tour by $45 alone.

Cruz del Condor and the morning payoff

Day two centers on Mirador Cruz del Condor. The schedule allows about two hours here, which is far better than a quick photo stop. You have time to watch the sky, listen to the guide, and take in the canyon setting.

The main attraction is the flight of the Andean condor, one of the world’s largest flying birds. Sightings are never something you should treat as guaranteed, but the stop is clearly designed around giving you a proper chance to see them. The guide explains the bird and the geography of the area, adding useful context to what could otherwise become a hurried viewing platform.

The best advice is simple: wear warm clothes and be patient. The high viewpoint can be cold, and the condors may not appear on your preferred schedule. Two hours gives the visit room to work, particularly if birds circle close to the viewpoint.

This is also where the quality of the guide matters most. Manuel was praised for handling the trip well, while Marco was singled out for explaining each part of the route in detail. A good guide can help you understand what you are seeing instead of leaving you with only a few photographs.

Antahuilque and the terraces of Colca

Mirador Antahuilque is a short stop of around fifteen minutes. The focus here is the agricultural terraces cut into the canyon slopes.

These terraces show how pre-Hispanic communities adapted steep ground for farming. You get a quick but meaningful look at the human side of Colca Canyon, not just its scale and dramatic rock walls.

Fifteen minutes is enough to view the terraces and take pictures, though not enough for a detailed walk or long study. The stop works well as part of the larger route because it breaks up the journey and gives you another way to read the canyon.

Look beyond the nearest viewpoint. The terraces are not simply decorative lines on the hillsides. They show planning, labor, and long-term adaptation to difficult ground. That is the kind of detail a bilingual guide can bring out, especially if you ask questions.

Lagunillas on the return route

The final listed stop is the Lagunillas viewpoint, a short pause of about fifteen minutes in the Andean highlands. You see a mountain lagoon and, depending on the season, possibly an Andean flamingo.

The flamingo is an endangered species in the region, so this stop has a different character from the condor visit. It is not built around a major viewing period, and the bird sighting depends on the season. Treat it as a scenic pause with a chance of wildlife, not as a promised encounter.

The short time makes binoculars useful if you have them, though none are provided in the tour details. The viewpoint gives the return journey a final high-country stop before you head back toward Arequipa.

What the $45 price includes, and what it does not

For $45 per person, you receive hotel pickup and a bilingual English and Spanish guide. Transport between the listed stops is also part of the tour in practical terms, although the supplied details do not specify the vehicle model or exact transfer arrangements.

The maximum group size is 20. That keeps the price low, but it also means you are buying a shared trip rather than a private schedule.

You need to budget for:

• $20 Colca Canyon entrance fee
• $6 La Calera hot spring entrance, if you choose to go
• $11 lunch on day one
• $11 lunch on day two
• Accommodation in Chivay
• Any other personal purchases not listed

The tour can still offer good value if you want a simple way to reach Colca Canyon without arranging every road transfer yourself. The value is strongest for someone who wants transportation, guiding, and a clear sightseeing plan. It is weaker for anyone expecting a fully packaged holiday with lodging and meals included.

Pickup, timing, and the one serious warning

You are asked to wait in your hotel lobby five minutes before pickup. If you are staying in an apartment or house, wait outside. The official start point is C. Moral 229a, Arequipa 04001, and the scheduled departure is 7:30 in the morning.

This early start matters. The route includes several high-altitude stops before reaching Chivay, and the second day begins with the condor viewpoint. Keep your morning free and avoid arranging another activity too close to the return time.

There is one serious caution. A customer reported waiting from 7:25 for a pickup that did not arrive, finding the office closed until 9:00, and receiving no answer by phone. That account conflicts with other reports of prompt communication and good organization, but it should not be ignored.

After booking, confirm the pickup location, hotel name, departure time, and a working emergency contact. Keep the provider’s confirmation available on your phone. If you are not collected, contact the company promptly rather than waiting for several hours without a response.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book this Colca Canyon tour?

I would choose this trip if you want a low-cost, guided introduction to Colca Canyon and prefer a set route over independent transport planning. It suits people who want condors, volcanic views, hot springs, and a few cultural sights without committing to a multi-day trek.

It also suits you if you are comfortable paying for extras as you go and arranging your own Chivay room. The bilingual format is useful for English speakers, and the smaller maximum group size is more manageable than a very large coach tour.

I would hesitate if you need guaranteed door-to-door pickup, a fully inclusive price, or a private pace. The altitude is another factor. Patapampa reaches 4,900 meters, and the route may feel tiring even though the listed stops require little walking.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if its low price, condor viewing, and hot spring option match what you want, but plan for a real total of at least $93 plus lodging. Confirm pickup details directly, carry cash for the listed fees and meals, and bring very warm clothing.

The strongest part of the plan is the balance between the two-hour Cruz del Condor visit and the varied roadside stops. The main weaknesses are the excluded accommodation, several extra charges, and the reported pickup problem. With those points handled in advance, this can be a practical and reasonably priced way to see Colca Canyon from Arequipa.

FAQ

How long is the Colca Canyon tour?

The experience lasts approximately two days. It starts in Arequipa at 7:30 in the morning and ends back at the meeting point in Arequipa.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup is included. You should wait in your hotel lobby five minutes before pickup. If you are staying in a house or apartment, wait outside the accommodation.

Is accommodation in Chivay included?

No. Accommodation in Chivay on the first day is not included, so you need to arrange and pay for it separately.

How much is the Colca Canyon entrance fee?

The entrance fee is not included and is listed as $20 per person.

Is the La Calera hot spring included?

No. The visit is optional, and the entrance fee is listed as $6 per person.

Are meals included?

No. Lunch is not included on either day. The listed price is $11 for lunch on day one and $11 for lunch on day two.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The tour includes a bilingual guide who speaks English and Spanish.