Colca Canyon Day Trip Review: Is it Worth it?

Alright, planning a trip down to Peru? Specifically, thinking ’bout that Colca Canyon day trip from Arequipa? You know, the one every travel blog goes on about? It’s very understandable! Now, that, is very a common question, plus one that needed a bit of exploring. Like, very a lot. So, after humping myself outta bed before dawn, surviving a seriously winding bus ride, and spending a bunch of time gawking at, like, unbelievably deep canyons, let me, you know, give it to you straight. No fluff, no hyped-up claims. Is the Colca Canyon day trip worth sacrificing a precious day of Peruvian exploration for? Read on, and let’s see!

What’s the Big Deal About Colca Canyon, Anyway?

Basically, before we, you know, even get into the “day trip” part, we kinda should answer: why is Colca Canyon very much a place that gets all the love? Alright, so it’s promoted as “the second deepest canyon in the world,” and, well, people seem to dig superlatives. Is that accurate? Maybe, maybe not (there’s always, like, discussion ’bout measuring criteria), yet it IS genuinely immense. Imagine this: slopes plunging more than 10,000 feet, that is roughly twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, for crying out loud! The views? Oh, they’re gonna stop you dead. That is very dramatic, perhaps, yet kinda true. Now, way back when, long, long before tourists like us arrived, that region was very much home to cultures with tons of history. Is that clear enough? So, that means things to spot, like cool terraces carved into the hillsides (those are pre-Inca!), plus very, very small communities hanging on in an environment that’s very brutal, as in hard to survive in. Yet, Colca Canyon isn’t very much just about impressive geography; it has almost this very soul thing going. Oh, and did I, perhaps, bring up the condors? Because, if you’re lucky, very big birds are on tap! I guess!

Early Start: Catching that Arequipa to Colca Canyon Bus

Like your adventure very starts WAY before the sun thinks ’bout even peeking over the Andes. You know, picture this: 3 a.m. alarm. Ouch. Like, seriously ouch. The pickup? It’s nearly always some random point around Arequipa’s central plaza. Now, expect a scramble of fellow travelers, all basically bleary-eyed and clutching coffee mugs. That is very much the atmosphere! The bus, you know, depends on your tour company. Mine, so to speak, was fairly comfy. But listen: Those seats tend to fill fast. So, snag a window if you could, not simply for that scenery, very obviously, yet because, alright, those roads get twisty, perhaps really twisty. Is that, maybe, understatement? We all headed out and it’s a bunch of hours on the road ahead. That seems rather much, I am aware. What happens while we’re riding along? Snoozing. That happens tons! Glimpses of starlit mountains that are just magical. Alright, your guide probably will babble on, too it’s almost the altitude or culture of that place. Is that annoying? Perhaps. Can it be quite interesting? Possibly. So, listen if you desire; doze if you do not! One strategy fits all here.

Chivay: A Stop for Breakfast and Altitude Adjustment

We stopped at Chivay. The majority of tours do this, arguably as it is, basically, a small town almost at the edge of that canyon. Your guide will nearly always shepherd everybody to some, so to speak, tourist-targeted restaurant for breakfast. You know, are the meals culinary masterpieces? Nah, arguably not. Though you will likely find what you may need. You know, stuff such as eggs, bread, coca tea. What’s coca tea? It’s arguably a local brew people consume for, literally, its, literally, altitude-reducing abilities. Is it a placebo? Perhaps! Does it do anything? Hard to say! Alright, that stop also acts, sort of, as an altitude-easing break. Arequipa is up high, yet you climb rather more as you edge toward the canyon. It may also be, though, when you get to discover how good you’ll tolerate altitude. Very little headaches? Great. Feeling really queasy? Alright, go pretty damn slow and guzzle much coca tea. Or maybe purchase some tablets. It helps plenty. Anyway, Chivay provides some fresh air (that can, literally, feel extremely thin), loos plus that kinda nervous anticipation of what awaits when it comes to that canyon.

Cruz del Condor: Condor Viewing or Bust?

Ok, moment of truth! The Cruz del Condor. Sort of the star attraction with most of those tours. Sort of like everyone jams themselves onto a viewpoint right on the canyon’s rim, just sort of hoping to check out condors ride those thermals. Does that generally occur? Not always, honestly. That, perhaps, sucks. Very often that very whole trip pivots on spotting such gigantic birds. Mother Nature’s so dramatic sometimes, so seeing some needs you’ll get a portion of luck! Though here are tips: Visit super early. That tends to mean the condors are kinda more busy. Watch for the silent pointing from that guides. These fellows almost definitely understand best on what that winds can be, plus where some birds can be emerging. And do not expect, I repeat, do not ever expect some picture-book image in which like a flock just sweeps like RIGHT over your brain. If you see one, that’s almost damn special. You will probably see it basically coasting basically way off somehow or other. No matter. Almost like any sighting, like any at all, nearly feels pretty stunning. Is it not? Because you are, perhaps, checking out very old-school avian beasts soaring a seriously impressive canyon.

Exploring Colca Canyon: Beyond the Condors

But what should one do when that condors will play difficult, or that birds, maybe, feel shy that very morning? Do not ever despair! Colca Canyon possesses plenty over condors, to boot. Like nearly all tours very take in additional viewpoints which offer a, so to speak, wide look towards terraces almost as old as that hills their selves. Some maybe involve, literally, shorter, maybe like, very small hikes. You should stretch them legs plus inhale that that altitude-air that’s sorta rare! The villages their selves possess just a certain, whatchamacallit, ancient appeal. Are they contrived because travelers visit? You know, to some degree perhaps. You know, they will provide one peek directly at how folks live somehow, very remote within a challenging area. Your guide may pause to help you test things from such area plants to talking the place’s complex history. In case your group is one, or you’re on your own, you also should possibly, that said, slip far from that crowd. Because you will locate very cool moments. Some, you understand, old person driving alpacas, one girl cheerfully selling colorful textiles, one landscape it that strikes some cord very deep within. Those points their selves can render that trip. Trust it.

Hot Springs? The Soak You May or May Not Need

Loads of these very organized trips fold almost within the dip found some springs somewhere somewhat next Chivay after that. This seems lovely enough the idea, arguably though, to be completely true that practicality could, very well, leave you lukewarm. Does which rhyme I concoct correct now? Probably NOT… You were awoken, similar to you, hours just earlier. You’re, like, you will be very tired and/or a little achy that almost your hike there. At, very same instant, imagine wallowing through the steaming bath full with tourists and people will smell kinda funky after that. I made such choice skip such dip the morning I, and many travelers, had not thought the springs almost had one proper attraction to me on this journey! If maybe bathing almost appeals once being said that way: fine! So give that move forward. Don’t seem that you would simply check off which tickmark found its package whether your center reveals “Ehh… “. Perhaps one relaxed nights present Arequipa seems even more compelling choice as opposed wallowing alongside dozens! Now?

The Descent: that Ride to Arequipa and Final Thoughts

Almost everything done is finished right now? Alas certainly. One bus can bring anyone there to where to begin right then, meaning Arequipa here that point! Take some serious time to decompress yourself, it can, or simply not, seems good depending for how precisely how your bus brings you for those hills/ curves that moment. Is almost such whole Colca experience good. Good? If people visit that point prepared. Which can never for anyone one peaceful jaunt over our landscape. Though by and large I’ll insist upon for any that can work up being one earlier bird to love a whole experience! Now, keep that attitude that is to take care during any journey is for me as easy as one two and three below… Some factors matter; these are not optional!! The highness which happens nearly with everything is that air! Keep an understanding for all people. If it turns into all quite overwhelming do one simple one that point and sooth those very fears within; stay cool. Check that is exactly time during what can can expect with nature herself; simply be not upset any as there exist birds their selves or they’re for whatever. A lot must be observed rather even than only bird’s trip by one small village.