Colca Canyon Tour
The Colca Valley is an area of astounding scenic beauty, with giant Andean terraces and a deep canyon that reach a depth of 3140 metres. A journey to the Colca valley will take you throughout high Andean plateau, reaching at one point a high pass of 4800 metres, which offers fine views of the Volcanoes. Along the way visitors can enjoy unique natural sceneries, as well as animal life; such as herds of Vicuñas a wild relative of Llamas and Alpacas and various types of birds, of which stand out the giant hummingbird, eagles, gooses and the mighty Andean Condor. If you like adventure tours, the Canyon also offers wonderful treks down to its button, descending throughout huge mountains, exploring oasis-like valleys, thermal springs, and camping outdoors.
The tours run from Arequipa cost about 140 soles for 2 nights, not including the entrance fee 70 soles and have a restricted route. We did three nights on our own, staying in various hospedajes in the canyon and in Cabanaconde the gateway town for the canyon. The complete cost was 175 soles, but we ate well and drank beer. This is much more fun for the adventure traveller than going on a tour, as they are mostly lame. Suggested itinerary: get bus to Cabanaconde from Arequipa 5 hours, 16 soles. Stay the night in Cabanaconde. Next morning take the 6.30am truck to Cruz Del Condor 4 soles, watch Condors. Get the 9.30am bus back to Cabanaconde 1-2 soles. Next, walk down the canyon to San Galle and eat lunch and swim in one of the 5 pools there. At 4pm or so walk up to either Malata or Cosñirhua and stay and eat at the Museo or Marizio´s respectivly. Next morning walk to Llahuar and stay there and sit in the hot springs. Next morning get out at 6am and walk to Cabanconde to take the 11.15am bus back to Arequipa or walk to Solo and take the 6am truck and then the 9am bus from Cabanaconde to Arequipa. All too easy, no guide required. The only bit you might get lost on is finding the right path to Llahuar from the thatch rest area its straight down, and the last day route to Cabanaconde after the bridge its a small path near a big rock - ask!. Enjoy. :)
