3-Day Backpacker Colca Canyon Trek from Arequipa

Day 1 – From Arequipa into the deep canyon Your expert tour guide will pick you up from your hotel at 3:00-3:30 in the morning to take you to the Colca Canyon by means of 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. We take you to Cabanaconde (3700 m), the largest town of the Colca Canyon and after an energetic lunch, we start hiking down to the canyon. After 3 to 4 hours of downhill hiking follows a rocky path and you will make it to the first village, San Juan de Chuccho (2350 m), where a warm harty meal is waiting for you. You spend the night at a cosy local family house.

Yanque es un pueblo muy tranquilo en cuyo centro se encuentra la plaza en la que se pueden ver su iglesia, un museo y sentarse a tomar una Inka Cola en alguno de sus bares. Pero es por la mañana muy temprano cuando esta plaza se llena de vida. Por aquí pasan los autobuses rumbo a la Cruz de Condor y es por ellos que muchas mujeres de la zona acueden a vender sus artesanías o a invitar a los turistas a hacerse una foto junto a sus llamas o alpacas.

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You can catch up some sleep in the morning, as your delicious pancakes breakfast will be ready at 08:00 AM. After breakfast we start our 3 hour trek to oasis, passing through the colca valley. 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 will also learn more about the different flora and fauna and how they are used in daily life of the local people. We will arrive at Oasis around 12 PM, the deepest spot of the Colca Canyon. After a typical lunch, you have the afternoon to relax at the swimming pool, to enjoy the warm sun and the stunning views of the canyon. In the late afternoon we start the hardest part of the trekking; we go up to the top again! After a 3 hour climb, you reach the top of the canyon and you enjoy the beautiful sunset and the priceless view of the canyon. Making it to the top will be the most memorable part of the trekking. If you are 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.

In Chivay you can visit the hot springs to loosen your aching muscles and after a delicious buffet lunch of typical Peruvian food, we travel back to Arequipa. Your arrival in Arequipa is at approximately 6 PM and we will transfer you to your hotel.

Up hill the canyon 5 am, visit Cabanaconde, stops at little villages through Chivay.