Experience the Colca Canyon on a 2-day trekking adventure that combines dramatic canyon landscapes, Andean viewpoints, local culture, and an overnight stay in the natural oasis of Sangalle. Trek through the canyon with a professional guide, enjoy meals along the route, meet a local family in San Juan de Chuccho, and relax in Sangalle before the challenging climb back to Cabanaconde.
Day 1: Arequipa – Cruz del Cóndor – San Juan de Chuccho – Sangalle
Your adventure begins early in the morning with pickup from your hotel near central Arequipa or from the meeting point at Plaza de Armas. Travel for approximately three hours to Chivay, where you will stop for breakfast before continuing deeper into the Colca Canyon.
Visit the Antahuilque viewpoint to see ancient pre-Inca terraces carved into the mountainsides. Continue to Cruz del Cóndor, arriving at around 8:30 AM, where you can watch Andean condors soaring above the canyon and appreciate the immense depth of the landscape.
From Pampa San Miguel, begin your trek into the canyon. Walk for approximately four hours towards San Juan de Chuccho, following mountain trails surrounded by dramatic scenery. Along the way, your guide will accompany you and share information about the area. In San Juan de Chuccho, enjoy lunch with a local family and experience a more personal connection with the communities living inside the canyon.
In the afternoon, continue trekking for approximately three more hours towards Sangalle Oasis. After reaching the oasis, take time to rest, enjoy the natural surroundings, and relax in the pools. Spend the night in a bungalow in Sangalle in a shared room and enjoy dinner before resting for the next day's early climb.
Day 2: Sangalle – Cabanaconde – Chivay – Arequipa
Wake up early and begin the challenging ascent from Sangalle towards Cabanaconde at around 4:30 AM. The exact departure time may be adjusted by your guide according to the group's physical condition. Trek uphill through the canyon as the landscape gradually changes with the rising morning light.
After approximately four hours, reach Cabanaconde, where you will have breakfast and time to recover. Continue to the thermal baths and enjoy approximately one hour to relax in the warm waters.
Then travel to Chivay, where you will have free time for lunch at your own expense. At around 1:00 PM, begin the return journey to Arequipa, stopping at the Mirador de los Andes at 4,910 metres above sea level and at the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve.
Arrive in Arequipa at approximately 5:00–5:30 PM, with drop-off about three blocks from Plaza de Armas, completing your Colca Canyon trekking experience.
