Tours in Arequipa and the Colca Canyon: Sillar, Volcanoes, and Condors
Explore the "White City," built of volcanic ashlar at the foot of Mount Misti, and descend into the Colca Canyon—one of the deepest canyons on the planet—where the Andean condor soars right before your eyes.
- 12 tours available
- From $12.00
- April through November · Dry season, condors in the morning
- 3 days
Why Visit Arequipa and Colca
- Flight of the Andean condor at Cruz del Cóndor, at 3,287 meters
- A canyon 3,270 meters deep, nearly twice as deep as the one in Colorado
- Historic Center Built of White Ashlar Stone, a World Heritage Site
- Traditional eateries and one of the most renowned regional cuisines
Tours and Experiences in Arequipa and Colca
Santa Catalina Monastery City tour
Santa Catalina Monastery · Arequipa · City Tour
Colca Canyon Full day
Colca Canyon
Sillar Route
Arequipa · Sillar Route
Packages that include Arequipa and Colca
20 days, 19 nights
Peru Adventurer
- LIMA
- Paracas
- Nazca
- Arequipa and Colca
- Puno and Lake Titicaca
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
15 days, 14 nights
Lima – Arequipa – Cusco – Puno – Huaraz
- LIMA
- Arequipa and Colca
- Puno and Lake Titicaca
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
11 days, 10 nights
Southern Peru
- LIMA
- Arequipa and Colca
- Puno and Lake Titicaca
- Ica and Huacachina
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Nazca
- Paracas
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
14 days, 13 nights
Magical Peru
- LIMA
- Paracas
- Nazca
- Arequipa and Colca
- Puno and Lake Titicaca
- Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
3 days, 2 nights
Colca Canyon Trek | 3 Days - 2 Nights
Arequipa and Colca
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
2 days, 1 night
Colca Canyon Trek | 2 Days - 1 Night
Arequipa and Colca
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
2 days
Colca Canyon 2 Days 1 Night
Arequipa and Colca
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
2 days
Colca Canyon 2 Days 1 Night + Transfer to Puno
Arequipa and Colca
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transfers
- Guide
Things to Do in Arequipa and Colca
Cruz del Cóndor
A viewpoint overlooking the canyon where condors soar on the morning thermal currents, sometimes just a few meters away from visitors.
Trekking in the Colca Canyon
Descent to the bottom of the canyon with an overnight stay at the Sangalle oasis, followed by a return hike up a challenging trail. Two- and three-day programs.
View the tour
Monastery of Santa Catalina
A 16th-century religious citadel within the city, with streets, squares, and houses painted in indigo and ochre.
Historic Center and Mount Misti
Plaza de Armas, the cathedral, and the grand mansions built of sillar—the white volcanic stone that defines the city—with Mount Misti in the background.
How to Get to Arequipa and Colca, and When to Visit
-
From Lima
1 hr 30 min
Daily direct flights. By car, the trip takes more than fifteen hours.
-
From Arequipa to Colca
3 hours 30 minutes
On to Chivay, crossing the Salinas y Aguada Blanca Reserve, with vicuñas along the way.
-
From Puno
5 hours 30 minutes
A common route for exploring southern Peru, including Lake Titicaca and Cusco.
When to Visit
The dry season runs from April to November, with sunshine almost every day and clear skies: this is the best time of year to visit both the city and the canyon. From December to March, it rains—especially in the afternoon—and some sections of the hiking trails become slippery. Arequipa has one of the most pleasant climates in Peru, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year and temperatures ranging from 10 °C to 24 °C, although the sun’s rays are intense due to the city’s elevation of 2,335 meters. To see condors at Cruz del Cóndor, it’s best to arrive early: they take flight as the morning thermal currents rise.
Before Traveling
- You should arrive at Cruz del Cóndor between 8 and 10 a.m.
- The viewpoint is at 3,287 meters and Chivay is at 3,635 meters: acclimatize before the trek
- The sun's rays are strong all year round; wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses
- Mornings in the canyon are very cold, even though the day eventually warms up.
- If you go down to the bottom of the canyon, the return trip is a strenuous climb that takes several hours
- Try the stuffed rocoto peppers and Arequipa-style adobo at a traditional picantería
Frequently Asked Questions About Arequipa and Colca
Three days is a reasonable amount of time: one for the city and two for the canyon, with an overnight stay in Chivay or at the bottom of the canyon. You can visit the Colca Canyon in a single day from Arequipa, but that means leaving at dawn and returning at night.
There's no guarantee—they're wild animals. Your chances are high if you arrive between 8 and 10 a.m., when they soar using thermal currents, and they're even better during the dry season.
The descent is long but manageable. The challenge lies in the return climb: three to four hours of continuous ascent at high altitude. You can hire a mule for the ascent.
Arequipa is at an elevation of 2,335 meters and is easy to acclimate to, but Chivay is at 3,635 meters and the mountain pass exceeds 4,900 meters. It’s a good idea to spend at least one day in Arequipa before heading up into the canyon.
It is a white, porous, lightweight volcanic rock formed by eruptions from nearby volcanoes. The historic center was built with this rock, which is why Arequipa is known as the "White City."
Guide to Arequipa and Colca
Arequipa lies at an elevation of 2,335 meters at the foot of three volcanoes: El Misti, El Chachani, and El Pichu Pichu. Its historic center, designated a World Heritage Site, is built of sillar, a white volcanic stone that earned the city the nickname “the White City” and defines the appearance of its churches and mansions. The jewel of the city is the Santa Catalina Monastery, a 16th-century religious citadel with its own streets and plazas, painted in indigo and ochre.
A three-and-a-half-hour drive away lies the Colca Canyon, which is 3,270 meters deep—almost twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. The Cruz del Cóndor overlook is the most visited spot: there, Andean condors soar on the morning thermal currents and often fly just a few meters away from visitors. The valley is home to pre-Hispanic agricultural terraces that are still in use, as well as colonial towns such as Chivay, Yanque, and Maca.
Those looking for a more active experience hike down to the bottom of the canyon on two- or three-day treks, spending the night at the Sangalle oasis, and return via a continuous climb lasting several hours.
Arequipa is also home to one of the country’s most renowned regional cuisines, served in traditional picanterías: stuffed rocoto, Arequipa-style adobo, and shrimp chupe. The weather is pleasant almost year-round, with more than 300 days of sunshine and a dry season that runs from April to November.
