Colca Canyon is in Peru's Southern Sierra region, near Arequipa.
Things to do
Colca Canyon Tour
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 scenery, 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.
Eat
Food is more expensive than in town. You will have to budget around 8 soles per meal in the canyon and around 3.5 soles at the rim such as in Cabanaconde or Chivay.
Sleep
There is an abundance of cheap hospedajes in Cabanaconde as well as at the bottom of the canyon, such as in San Galle, Malata, Cosñirhua or in San Juan de Cuccho. Price range around 8 soles per night and person.
One of the more luxurious accommodation options is Las Casitas del Colca, an all inclusive luxury hotel opened by the Orient-Express group in April 2008. Deep in the heart of the Colca Canyon, the hotel boasts twenty individual casitas featuring private heated plunge pools and private terraces with fantastic views of the canyon. Facilities include a luxurious spa, fine dining restaurant, cocktail bar, swimming pool, a vegetable garden which supplies the restaurant kitchen and a small farm home to horses, cows, llamas and baby Alpacas. The hotel can also arrange a variety of activities for guests on or off site, including horse riding, cookery courses, trout fishing, treks, star gazing, local volunteer work and trips to see the famous Andean Condors, all of which are included in the stay price.
The Colca Lodge is a great place to stay in the Colca Canyon area. The lodge sits near the bottom of the canyon near the Uyo Uyo ruins. You can walk to the ruins from the hotel. They also have their own thermal baths with a small bar nearby so you can sit in the hot springs and order a drink while watching the river flow by. The lodge itself is nicely done with thatched roofs and beautiful grounds. The location is very peaceful and the food is magnificent.
Excelent new budget hostel in Cabanaconde is PachaMama hostel. Run by a Peruvian with great English, that has 6 years experience as a tour guide in the canyon. Rooms are basic and cheap (8-10 soles), but the restaurant at night is a lively place with a great fire-oven pizza and a rich alcohol bar. The website includes some possible itineraries in the canyon, more tips available when you will ask .
A great place to stay is in the canyon at a place called LLAHUAR lodge. They have hot springs and a great view. The best trip is a 4 day hike from Cabanaconde to Llanhuar Lodge then to the remote an sweet village of Fure to visit the waterfall then back via the Sangalle area (Oasis).
Fees/Permits
There is a fee (USD 12) that is charged to any tourist entering the canyon area. They claim that it is used to improve roads.
Contact & location
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The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
Colca Canyon is in Peru's Southern Sierra region, near Arequipa.
Things to do
Colca Canyon Tour
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 scenery, 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.
Eat
Food is more expensive than in town. You will have to budget around 8 soles per meal in the canyon and around 3.5 soles at the rim such as in Cabanaconde or Chivay.
Sleep
There is an abundance of cheap hospedajes in Cabanaconde as well as at the bottom of the canyon, such as in San Galle, Malata, Cosñirhua or in San Juan de Cuccho. Price range around 8 soles per night and person.
One of the more luxurious accommodation options is Las Casitas del Colca, an all inclusive luxury hotel opened by the Orient-Express group in April 2008. Deep in the heart of the Colca Canyon, the hotel boasts twenty individual casitas featuring private heated plunge pools and private terraces with fantastic views of the canyon. Facilities include a luxurious spa, fine dining restaurant, cocktail bar, swimming pool, a vegetable garden which supplies the restaurant kitchen and a small farm home to horses, cows, llamas and baby Alpacas. The hotel can also arrange a variety of activities for guests on or off site, including horse riding, cookery courses, trout fishing, treks, star gazing, local volunteer work and trips to see the famous Andean Condors, all of which are included in the stay price.
The Colca Lodge is a great place to stay in the Colca Canyon area. The lodge sits near the bottom of the canyon near the Uyo Uyo ruins. You can walk to the ruins from the hotel. They also have their own thermal baths with a small bar nearby so you can sit in the hot springs and order a drink while watching the river flow by. The lodge itself is nicely done with thatched roofs and beautiful grounds. The location is very peaceful and the food is magnificent.
Excelent new budget hostel in Cabanaconde is PachaMama hostel. Run by a Peruvian with great English, that has 6 years experience as a tour guide in the canyon. Rooms are basic and cheap (8-10 soles), but the restaurant at night is a lively place with a great fire-oven pizza and a rich alcohol bar. The website includes some possible itineraries in the canyon, more tips available when you will ask .
A great place to stay is in the canyon at a place called LLAHUAR lodge. They have hot springs and a great view. The best trip is a 4 day hike from Cabanaconde to Llanhuar Lodge then to the remote an sweet village of Fure to visit the waterfall then back via the Sangalle area (Oasis).
Fees/Permits
There is a fee (USD 12) that is charged to any tourist entering the canyon area. They claim that it is used to improve roads.
Contact & location
Be the first one to add a review
The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
Joe, Ken Lund, Steve Taylor, DAVID HOLT, gudi&cris, Island Spice
Some photos courtesy of:
. The photos provided by Flickr are under the copyright of their owners.
This travel guide also includes text from Wikitravel articles, all available at
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Dr David Irons, Marius Mollersen, James and Colin Jensen, Jonboy
This travel guide also includes text from Wikipedia articles, all available at
View full credits