THE PATHS OF COLCA
About this journey
Colca is one of the deepest canyons on earth, yet its paths were made for everyday use: they link villages that have no road, carry farmers to their terraces and lead down to the river in the canyon floor. This journey follows those paths on foot. After two days in Arequipa, the white city built from volcanic stone, cross the highlands to the Colca Valley, then spend three days walking with your private guide, staying with village hosts and in a simple lodge at the bottom of the canyon. Carefully chosen hotels in Arequipa and the valley frame days of simple, family-run lodgings on the trail, so that comfort and a close connection to the canyon go hand in hand.
Itinerary
Arrival in the White City
Our team meets you at the airport in Arequipa for the private transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours: rest after the journey, or walk out to the Plaza de Armas, where the cathedral's pale stone glows at the end of the afternoon beneath the volcano Misti.
Arequipa, stone, cloisters & cooking
With your private guide, explore the historic centre, built from sillar, the white volcanic stone that gives Arequipa its character. Step into the Santa Catalina Monastery, a walled town of its own, where narrow lanes painted in blue and terracotta lead between cloisters, kitchens and quiet gardens. Continue to San Camilo Market, where stalls of local cheeses, Andean grains and fruit from the coastal valleys show what goes into Arequipa's celebrated cooking. The afternoon is free before you head into the highlands.
Across the highlands to Colca
Leave Arequipa behind and climb onto the high plains of the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve, where vicuñas graze among the tufted grasses. Stop where the scenery invites it, then cross the high pass before the road drops into the Colca Valley, whose terraces have been farmed since long before the Incas. Settle into your hotel and end the day in the valley's thermal waters. If time allows, a short walk through a nearby village offers a first look at local life.
Condors & the descent into the canyon
Start early at Cruz del Cóndor, where the canyon walls fall away below and condors use the morning air to rise from its depths, often passing at eye level. From the rim, your three-day trek begins. With your private guide, follow a zigzagging path down the canyon wall, stopping to look across at terraces clinging to the far side and to learn how these paths connect communities with no road access. Lunch is served along the way in the canyon. In the afternoon, reach a small village and settle into a family-run guesthouse, where your hosts prepare dinner with produce from their own plots.
Village paths to Sangalle
Walk between the villages on the canyon floor, along paths lined with fruit trees, irrigation channels and small fields of maize and beans. Where the moment allows, stop to talk with families tending their plots or with a local artisan, always at the pace and willingness of the community. In the afternoon, cross the river to Sangalle, a green hollow of palms and natural pools beneath the canyon walls, with time to rest before dinner.
The climb out of the canyon
Set out before sunrise for the steady climb back to the rim, the most demanding stretch of the trek. Your guide sets an even pace with regular pauses, as the first light moves slowly down the opposite walls. At the top, look back over the ground you have covered on foot, then enjoy a well-earned breakfast. Later, private transport takes you back across the highlands to Arequipa for a restful evening.
Departure from Arequipa
At the agreed time, a private transfer takes you to Arequipa Airport or to your next point of departure.
Included / not included
INCLUDED
- Handpicked stays in Arequipa and the Colca Valley, with daily breakfast.
- Family-run lodgings during the trek: a village guesthouse and a simple lodge in Sangalle.
- Private transport and transfers throughout, including the journeys between Arequipa and Colca.
- Private guided walk through Arequipa, with the Santa Catalina Monastery and San Camilo Market.
- Scenic journey through the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve.
- Access to Colca's thermal waters, at your hotel or nearby.
- Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint.
- Private three-day trek through the Colca Canyon with a private guide.
- Meals during the trek, from lunch on Day 4 to breakfast on Day 6.
- Entrance fees to the places you visit, including the Colca tourist ticket.
- Dedicated support throughout your journey from the Nayra Travel team.
NOT INCLUDED
- International and domestic flights, unless otherwise specified in your proposal.
- Meals and beverages not featured in the itinerary.
- Mules or horses for the climb out of the canyon, available as an optional extra.
- Personal walking equipment and clothing.
- Late check-out and additional hotel services.
- Personal expenses.
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and hosts.
- Travel insurance.
HAND PICKED HOTELS
Choose a stop on the journey to see the accommodation available. Warm hospitality, elegance and an unbeatable location; if you have a place in mind that you don’t see here, we’ll book it for you anywhere in Peru.
