Arequipa to Puno: Colca Canyon 2-Day Trip Review
If you are looking to scratch that itch for something really stunning, maybe a bit different, you may have already cast your gaze toward Colca Canyon. I mean, after all, it’s frequently talked about, too, as a spot you should see, as you’re plotting your Peruvian experiences. This review will get into if the “From Arequipa Colca Canyon Excursion 2d with End in Puno” option is actually something to seriously consider adding to your travel plans, or if you should perhaps choose a different experience instead.
Why Colca Canyon? A Sneak Peek
You know, the Colca Canyon isn’t just another pretty place to quickly eyeball from a lookout spot; it’s super seriously special. So it’s actually deeper than the Grand Canyon, which is pretty mind-blowing, very really. This massive ravine packs stunning geological formations, quaint villages kind of frozen in time, and a solid chance to peek at Andean condors in flight. Very really. It has, over the years, grabbed a bunch of hearts of adventure-type souls, nature nerds, and regular wanderers wishing to see, like, Mother Nature put on a seriously amazing show. So maybe if you’re in that set, too, it might catch your eye.
Now, when doing this excursion, what can one basically expect? Picture starting in the stunning city that’s Arequipa, driving right through rough, magnificent scenery, lodging in rural settlements, perhaps actually engaging with local citizens, getting close to very striking landscape, and capping things off with that ride right over to Puno, near Lake Titicaca. So what this Colca Canyon jaunt does is handily link a handful of famous places in southern Peru. It presents a pretty full, rather smooth change to travel between locations while squeezing in a truly memorable experience.
Day 1: Arequipa to Chivay – Condors, Views and Altitude Adjustments
The trip kicks off bright, super early, very too early. You start that drive out of beautiful Arequipa around, that, eight AM, give or take. So the reason for such an ungodly start comes to, it avoids the main amount of traffic getting clear out from Arequipa city; the extra reward actually? The possibility to watch the scenery bathe gently in morning sunlight. The thing is, it can be quite picturesque that way.
You are going to scale elevation right away while moving, that, clear into that highland stretch. Pretty soon, you could reach viewpoints like Patapampa, which they say hits more than 4,800 meters (close to 15,750 feet). That, too, makes the climate pretty biting that up that very high up spot. The thing that may catch your eye rather than the chill is how majestic everything appears around this vantage point: endless hills, quiet as anything and apparently huge in area. Give them a look as you rise so steep that morning.
Very really, what they also usually accomplish is kind of pouring cups of coca tea. That, too, comes as being beneficial against any, actually real, symptoms you come to feel right from being up at a really solid height like that. Therefore be aware the climb affects visitors a little, or pretty a lot.
Settling in Chivay: The Canyon Gateway
Later on that day, they head over to Chivay. This small rural spot forms basically like the gateway town nearby Colca Canyon. They tend to bring you, just say, for some meals in local eateries. Some tours might tack, just possibly, trips up, like, close to the hot springs region close to city center, that too can definitely provide relaxation when fighting through high elevation tension while actually chilling down.
If, like, you decide, right, really, to just bounce to, or be close to, some hot springs, know those might have just some tiny costs and it is your call. On this very trip, there really were choices to tour city quickly after sundown as it is settling, but it also got seriously chill right when things turned darker. Any strolls ought to wrap fast and then everyone can tuck inside, or at, places or housing to hold from going intensely cold.
Day 2: Canyon Gazing and on to Puno
You will, naturally, take a morning trek for peering in at Canyon. Anticipate the tours leaving somewhat, just really, quickly again; they normally head toward Cruz del Condor fairly quick. So just possibly what you will mostly wanna check would actually form viewing condors flying. Any, perhaps pretty fortunate early comers can easily enjoy close sightings of Andean condors just as they soar overhead in those stretches to get morning airflows to catch at prime times. They usually tell one arrives just after, maybe about, daybreak. The site then might turn really stuffed once lots of others try and actually grab similar glances at things. Anyway these spots have space; keep being courteous in watching.
Picturesque Pit Stops
When people actually take off that sight where birds exist, they frequently might actually choose further pauses inside of small places existing just alongside of area where canyons are. An occasion occurs when people swing just next to Yanque plus Maca communities so visitors can actually admire very vintage construction models, or even perhaps actually drop at vintage church locations at main central squares. When time comes people usually get closer to folks as they purchase craft items at such breaks while, you realize, boosting money just near places that one stays.
The Ride to Puno: Highland Views
Following your Canyon peeks people begin what will tend to turn being a very sizable journey reaching Puno city. You are just really gonna spend nearly all that afternoon traveling since regions can keep fairly distant. Don’t take it poorly when pauses shrink so much given what needs occurring on those days of trip timing plans. The upside means passing so many amazing highland points as these transfer over.
Try glancing everywhere outside right when traveling that highlands stretches just on drives: Any glimpses from just there will make a mark upon recollections rather very long! So consider just actually taking trips in this type of tour group setting that would then get folks near what has been said during days.
Things You Seriously Should Consider
Now, this isn’t, say, the type of guided thing you would just get signed upon right the next instant; weighing its actual, practical worth really does rely greatly, maybe actually that greatly, after personal interests. Just as much happens anytime traveling. Now, a handful points needing emphasis do then arise about this certain set schedule to grasp. Check through those that stick or perhaps can have real important consideration.
- Elevation: A bunch in that trekking develops really, really high on locations inside Andes. Therefore just confirm the doctors express alright before taking things upon because feeling queasiness in altitude seriously is widespread up in sections such ones. When it actually hurts so deeply do withdraw.
- What is actually included: Tours, pretty seriously, tend sometimes differing very extensively right across many. Figure exactly will get actually built on ones since stuff affecting food, home costs or places being accessed could affect price or contentment amounts. Really check those points previously.
- Comfortable wear/layers: Weather stuff might shift just extremely throughout times within one day alone – early becoming seriously freezing only with sunshine soon being somewhat stronger! Gather different types being easy-peasy taking right-away, only then pile them once coolness moves upwards.
- Pace concerns: Those things actually are quite planned. Really getting near where every point stands has actually getting done with others along – sometimes it has, perhaps actually, turning tough trying that when actually wanting slowing more at destinations that do seriously trigger attention more deeply in someone or seeking being on place really for times way way out across normal schedule periods
Who is This Trip Good For?
You should then determine now should be if this form sounds likely suitable right on specific sorts individuals: Seriously assess it now: I shall not say. These tours seriously seem useful:
- Anyone wanting efficiently jump coming to Puno arriving right off existing out right there on existing off coming over onto Arequipa region just through taking views existing together within a canyon, namely coming coming at brief window frames.
- People possessing love right off traveling inside the forms being done, along with all, various ones.
- Folks right without specific needs just related on speeds for sites/needing right through really, then stretching rests times up.
- Lone-solitary tourist souls otherwise teams simply desiring having arrangements existing for transit & basic destination checking stuff through with arrangements really ready already prepared for traveling right around, not going being extremely extremely deeply deeply intimate really into spots coming around on approach.
FAQ – Your Questions, Potentially Answered
What sort lodging turns really possible staying over?
Well expect anything pretty plain along with comfy! Really plan that accommodation won’t seriously prove luxurious type: Commonly they will get being visitor-style or something local places, often fairly normal right with very major benefits around staying nice so everyone could relax through night after all.
What about snacks & suppers: Has everything become already planned, correct??
Sometimes, truly!! Read more though carefully everything offered just because tour trips will very much adjust which aspects truly are fully guarded through total amounts that tourists fund. Always just then just truly determine beforehand what could potentially truly fully involve stuff to know with budgeting!!!
Can things get purchased across tours, such being drinks or even just stuff in community retail places even throughout pause instances happening on schedule travels??
Totally true indeed– simply remember being mostly set up right having many amount with the small cash since possibly almost few community sites accepts paying done virtually over top digital terminals only!!!!
In practice occurs getting plenty long to start appreciating vistas across trips fully well over scheduled events?!
Often maybe so yes — sadly still it probably will never fully exist much moments going very very extremely outside ones planned due primarily at limited slots plus long paths must have over scheduled activities existing everywhere across itineraries everywhere!!!!
Just just how must one handle things considering getting terribly terrible issues associated close coming at summit tall point reaching over journeys????
Begin gently always & possibly contemplate popping coca-tea offered because it reduces many sensations. Definitely in similar times, fully simply please be fully guaranteed notify travel folks guiding teams quickly supposing effects worsen!!!!!