Arequipa and Colca Canyon: An Adventure Travel Review

Thinking of visiting Peru? Then maybe you’re mapping out your trip, trying to figure out what’s doable. The Colca Canyon should be right up there at the top of your list. Seriously, this spot is something else. Arequipa, often called the “White City,” happens to be the usual jumping-off point, and Chivay, that’s a town you’ll probably pass through too it’s almost on your way to the canyon. So, let me walk you through what this Arequipa and Colca Canyon tour is really like, hopefully giving you a better picture of what you could experience!

The Appeal of Arequipa: More than Just a Starting Point

Okay, so Arequipa is not just a place you blow through, that. Give yourself at least a day or two to check it out. That Plaza de Armas, the main square, is framed by these buildings made of sillar, which is volcanic rock. The stuff gleams bright white, which is why they call it the White City. Very pretty, really pretty. Then you’ve got the Santa Catalina Monastery, it is like a city within a city. Back in the day, wealthy families would send their daughters there, that. It is really a unique place, so cool to wander around, almost a step back in time. So if you can, take your time, check out Arequipa, check out that monastery, you probably won’t be sorry!

Another must-see is the Museo Santuarios Andinos, which houses the famous “Ice Maiden” Juanita. This young Inca girl was offered as a sacrifice to the mountain gods centuries ago, very a long time ago, and her remains were incredibly well-preserved in the ice. That museum might sound morbid, too it’s almost a little bit on the dark side, but it’s such a window into the past, too it’s almost one you might consider making time for.

Chivay: A Gateway to the Canyon and a Charming Stop

Chivay is basically your last stop before the really intense Colca Canyon stuff kicks off. It is much smaller than Arequipa, is that, and a lot of tours spend the night here so that you can get an early start to see the condors at the Cruz del Condor, but honestly that part is way worth it. In Chivay, La Calera Hot Springs is one of the spots. A lot of travelers soak in the mineral-rich waters, a pretty good spot to chill and get those muscles relaxed, which they may appreciate after all that travel, which in some ways that is where you are.

If you’re up for some shopping, Chivay’s local market can be fun, very fun, and filled with locally crafted textiles and souvenirs, maybe something to remember your trip by, who knows. Getting to wander around there is cool and something worth doing, so plan accordingly, to be honest!

Colca Canyon Viewpoint: Cruz del Cóndor

This. Is. It. Cruz del Cóndor. Maybe that’s why you came here, at least partly, this alone justifies the trip. If you get there pretty early in the morning, you can see condors riding the thermals. And seriously? It is spectacular. The Colca Canyon itself is very seriously deeper than the Grand Canyon, very deep, and seeing these massive birds soaring around, or the deep gorge of that location. It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime kind of things, could be a time that defines your life, for that matter.

You probably won’t be the only one there. It’s something pretty popular, is that, so get there early to grab a good spot. That being said, that doesn’t take away from the experience. When those condors start to fly, well in that case, everybody is just watching them in amazement, more or less spell bound, if you know what that means.

The Trekking Options in Colca Canyon

Want to get even closer to the Colca Canyon? Then you can actually trek down into it, for the next few days anyway. There are tours of different lengths and difficulties, which is why you’ll want to see which fits you best. One route is heading down to the so called Oasis Sangalle. It is known for its swimming pools and almost tropical vibe at the bottom of the canyon, a good spot to relax. You might think that trek back up the canyon looks tough, yet know what to do, maybe take some donkeys on the path that can actually help, that’s right.

If you decide to do a longer trek, keep in mind that this is tough stuff, as that stuff is no joke. Come prepared. I mean, wear the right footwear, in fact maybe you’ll need broken-in hiking boots. The temperature can change a lot, in that case layer up. So the sun really beats down in the daytime, is that, and things get quite cold at night. And you should bring water. It’s essential to stay hydrated, really essential, even, very!

Things to consider: Acclimatization and Altitude Sickness

Okay, heads up, because both Arequipa and the Colca Canyon are at pretty high altitudes. So a lot of folks might get altitude sickness. Arequipa is about 7,600 feet above sea level. Cruz del Cóndor is up around 12,000 feet. This means give yourself time to adjust, that.

Spend a day or two chilling in Arequipa before heading up higher, and that is to help you acclimate. It means just take it easy, very easy. Avoid doing a lot of really tough stuff as soon as you get there. Then you can drink lots of water and sip on coca tea. That really helps some folks with the altitude sickness. So if you start to feel unwell, like a bad headache, in that case tell someone and maybe descend to a lower altitude, and descend fast, to be safe. Plan, and listen to your body.

Tour Options: What to Look For

Lots of tour operators offer trips to Colca Canyon from Arequipa. This means decide what’s important to you. A tight budget? Or a luxury experience, maybe both? A lot of standard tours just take you to Cruz del Cóndor and a few other viewpoints. If you really want to get into it and maybe experience the place more fully, so find a tour that offers hiking. Do you want a tour with just a big group, or would you rather do one with a few people?

Reading reviews is a fantastic move before you book anything. You learn what other travelers thought, what others like your find more amusing, or what their actual journey felt like. The prices can vary wildly, too it’s almost like they aren’t priced the same. So, very a comparison helps, yet you also have to ask how. And that matters because the cheapest option isn’t always the best, and it could cost you money elsewhere, at some point!

The Wildlife and Landscapes: Appreciating the Beauty

Besides the condors, keep an eye out for other wildlife! The Colca Valley has got a special ecosystem, a place unlike other similar ones, so be sure to take some time. You’ll probably see llamas and alpacas grazing in the fields, which looks different. And maybe some vicuñas. So they are wild relatives of the llama, very a cool thing to see if you get that opportunity. Those views from the canyon? Are seriously mind-blowing. So take your time to enjoy them, basically take some time to breathe everything in, and also feel really connected to what surrounds you.

Enjoying the Culture and People

Getting to travel isn’t just seeing spots, you know. Connecting with people could just change your thinking. In the Colca Valley, you have Quechua communities. In this way many of them are still living a more or less traditional lifestyle, very, if nothing else pretty darn. If you get a chance, that might be interesting, just go visit local villages. The thing is learn a bit about their traditions and their culture. Being respectful as you travel is something really important, that is just part of being decent, actually decent, in some ways, too.

Key Takeaways

• Arequipa: Plan time to appreciate the ‘White City’ before heading to the canyon.
• Altitude: Acclimatize in Arequipa to prevent altitude sickness.
• Cruz del Cóndor: Get there early for the best condor viewing.
• Trekking: Consider a Colca Canyon trek but come prepared.
• Culture: Respect and enjoy the local Quechua communities.