BEST COLCA CANYON TREK 4 DAYS
OVERVIEW
Colca canyon trek a la carte on the third day, choose the option that suits you on the third day, according to your physical condition.
This trek is in the western part of the canyon. In this trek there are not many tourists because it is not the classic Colca trek. In this trek we can find typical villages, waterfalls, hot spring, and a beautiful Oasis in the bottom of the Colca canyon.
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: Moderate
DISTANCE OF THIS TREK: Depending on which option you choose on the third day:
With the first option , 37km
With the second option, 39km
With the third option , 47km
With the fourth option, 44km
With the fifth option, 43km
DURATION: 4 days
ELEVATION DIFFERENCE: 1200m but only with fifth option on the third day 1800m
TRIP SUMMARY AND TREKKING TIME BY DAY
Day 1: Cabanaconde (3287 m) to Llahuar (2200 m), 5 hours / 10.5 km
Day 2: Llahuar – Fure – Huaruro Waterfall – Fure, 5 hours / 11.5 km
Day 3:
Option 1.- Trek from Fure 2800m to the Oasis 2100m:
4 hours trek / 11.5
Option 2.- Trek from Fure 2800m-Malata 2500m -Coshñirhua 2600m - Oasis 2100m:
5 hours trek /12km
Option 3.-Trek from Fure 2800m-Malata 2500m -Coshñirhua 2600m-San Juan de Chuccho 2200m -Oasis 2100m: 7-8 hours/14km
Option 4.-Trek from Fure 2800- Malata 2500m-coshñirhua 2600m / We did not go through the Oasis and we spend the night in San Juan de Chuccho village 2200m: 5 hours trek /14 km
If we spent the night in San Juan de Chuccho, the fourth day we walk from San Juan de Chuccho 2200 m. Up to 3300m Cabanaconde, 4 hours uphill
Option 5.-Toccayo trek, we walk from Fure 2800m. to TOCCAYO village 3800m then to the Oasis2100m: But during the trek we cross a high point at 3900m: 9 hours of trek/ 16km.
Day 4: Sangalle Oasis – Cabanaconde, 3-4 hours / 5 km
TEMPERATURE AND WEATHER
Between May and November the mornings and afternoons are sunny, the temperature during the day is 30-35 degrees Celsius and 12 degrees Celsius at night.
Between December and April it rains during the afternoon and in the mornings partly sunny, during the day 18-28 degrees Celsius at night 12 degrees Celsius.
HIGHLIGHTS
Condor Sightings - We can usually appreciate the condor's flight in the morning at the Condor's Cross.
San Galle Oasis - The final destination of the descent, a small tropical paradise at the bottom of the canyon, ideal for relaxing with its natural pools.
Huaruro Waterfall - It has a drop of more than 60 meters, it is the largest waterfall in the Colca canyon.
Llahuar Hot Springs - Thermal water pools with a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, right next to the Colca River.
Hike through a less-visited part of the canyon - there are few tourists on this route.
Aguada Blanca and Salinas National Reserve - Visited on the last day; birds, South American camelids, volcano viewpoint.
Cabanaconde - The starting point for all treks in the Colca Canyon; it is the Ollantaytambo of the Colca, surrounded by beautiful landscapes and mountains.
ITINERARY:
DAY 1 - Arequipa - Condor Cross -Cabanaconde-Llahuar (Bottom of the canyon)
Departure from the city of Arequipa-2320m.
By private car service At 6 am
By tourist bus service 3: 00-4: 00 am
By tourist bus service, you have to wait between 3:00 to 4:00 am to pick up the passengers.
In private transport does not wait for anyone and leaves at 06:00 am, of course in private transport the trek is more expensive and the service on the trek is better.
At the end of the program we will explain the difference between the two services.
Before reaching Cabanaconde we stopped at the condor cross to try to see the condor´s flight.
We travel for more than 5 hours to Cabanaconde village -3287m.
We start the trek towards the western part of the canyon, (descent) until 2100 m. in 4-5 hours at the Colca river. Then we continue half an hour more trek (climb), Here we spend the night very near from Colca river,In Llahuar in small bamboo rooms, basic but clean, the rooms are private however .
This day we enjoyed the hot springs next to the Colca river.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accomodation:Private room
Walking distance: 10.5 km ( 6-7 hours )
Hotel night altitude: 2200 meters (high) Above sea level
Difficulty: Moderate
Area:Canyon
Temperature: 35 degrees Celsius during the day and 12 degrees Celsius at night
DAY 2-Llahuar-Fure-Huaruro waterfall-Fure
7: am, Trek to Fure village 2800m to Huaruro waterfall - Fure village.
This day we walk about 8 hours, and we spent the night in Fure village in basic typical cabins.
This part of the canyon is not visited by tourists and classic travel agency.
The view during the trek is impressive as we will walk through the valley of Huaruro until we reach the waterfall of Huaruro 70 meters fall.
We spend the night in Fure village
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accomodation: BASIC Private room
Walking distance: 11.5 km ( 5 hours )
Hotel night altitude: 2800 meters (high) Above sea level
Difficulty: Moderate
Area:Canyon
Temperature: 35 degrees Celsius during the day and 12 degrees Celsius at night
DAY 3- From Fure we have 4 options a la carta until reaching the Sangalle Oasis
Depending on the option you choose, the guide will decide what time breakfast will be and what time the hike will start.
Option 1 .- Trek from Fure 2800m to the Oasis 2100m: 4 hours trek
Option 2 .- Trek from Fure 2800m-Malata 2500m -Coshñirhua 2600m - Oasis 2100m: 5 hours trek
Option 3 .- Trek from Fure 2800m-Malata 2500m -Coshñirhua 2600m-San Juan de Chuccho 2200m -Oasis 2100m: 7-8 hours
Option 4 .- Trek from Fure 2800- Malata 2500m-coshñirhua 2600m -We did not go through the Oasis and we spend the night in San Juan de Chuccho village 2200m: 5 hours trek.
If we spent the night in San Juan de Chuccho, the fourth day we walk from San Juan de Chuccho 2200 m. Up to 3300m Cabanaconde, 4 hours uphill.
Option 5 .- Toccayo trek, we walk from Fure 2800m. to TOCCAYO village 3800m then to the Oasis 2100m: But during the trek we cross a high point at 3900m: With this option 9 hours of trek.
This last option is preferred for people who like to walk more. The views are formidable and in Toccallo valley you will not see any tourist.
Why do we recommend spending the night at the Sangalle oasis?
Because the Oasis is the paradise of the Colca Canyon, here, there is a larger swimming pool, the green spaces are wider and a temperature of between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius, here you can see fruit trees and palms trees.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accomodation:Private room
Hotel night altitude: 2100 meters (high) Above sea level
Difficulty: Moderate
Area:Canyon
Temperature: 35 degrees Celsius during the day and 12 degrees Celsius at night
DAY 4.- Hike from the bottom of the canyon at the Oasis to Cabanaconde
4:30 am, we trek up hill to Cabanaconde village, we walk to the village of Cabanaconde 3287m. Between 3/4 hours of trek depending on the physical condition of each person. During the trek on this day, you can also see condors as it is near to the condor cross.
For this day, we recommend bringing chocolate and energy bars because breakfast is after the trek, when we arrive in the town of Cabanaconde.
We'll leave early this day because the hike is uphill, and this way we avoid the 35-degree Celsius (95-degree Fahrenheit) heat during the day.
If the sky is clear, we can see the sunrise and the stars.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Walking distance: 5km ( 3-4 hours )
Difficulty: Moderate
Area:Canyon
Temperature: 35 degrees Celsius during the day and 12 degrees Celsius at night
About the Condor:
First.- To look condors at the condor cross, it’s not like to looking at any common eagle, it depends on many natural factors. During the trek we’ll have the possibility to see the condors in the same canyon.
Then we continue to Chivay town to enjoy of the hot springs, having lunch and getting back to Arequipa , By private transport we arrive 17:00 hrs or 18:00 by Tourist bus service.
What to bring
Swimming Customs.
Torch / Flashlight.
Sun Block.
Insects Repellent (Specially if you have sweet blood for them).
Towels for the hot spring last day
Basics.
Snacks.
Water (you can buy in all the villages every day).
Cap or hat.
Personal medications.
Each bed has sheets, blankets, a mattress, and pillows. You might want to bring warm pajamas, as there is no heating in the rooms.
In Arequipa, we know a place where you can rent walking sticks. If you'd like, let us know, and we'll set them aside for you.
We also recommend bringing snacks, especially for the last day, because the hike starts at 4:00 AM, and breakfast is after the hike at 8:00 AM.
Important .- Pablo tour is a travel agency that practice a fair and responsible tourism, we can guarantee this.
BAGS FOR THE MULE.- Remember ,we provide on the treks , Backs to transport your personal things ( 8 kilos per person) like this you need during the trek just a day pack to carry your sunblock, bottle of water, camera etc.
ECOLOGICAL BAGS FOR THE RUBBISH.- Pablo tour is an ECO RESPONSIBLE COMPANY , Pablo tour`s team take care the nature. During our tours, treks and expeditions our guides carry a bag for the plastic bottles. Please if you buy plastic bottle of water during the trek put the empty plastic bottle inside our ecological bags, the guide will transport it to our office in Arequipa city. Our guides will provide you this ecological Rubbish Bag.
Important: the rain season in Arequipa region is from November to March But during these months is possible to trek, the only month that sometimes we have many rain is on February .
On the rain season except February in the morning is blue sky, please during the rain season we recommend carry your rain jacket.
Important. - you will sleep in bamboo cabins, in Oasis (Sangalle) there are 4 places where we can sleep, the 4 places are really very basic. But in all the 4 places, each owner informs us that have the best service, but we have checked it ¡ and , for us , the 4 places have the same facilities and services and there are not differences.
In each room there are: Beds and blankets. You will share the room only with the person that you know, you can choose between matrimonial room, double room , triple room and quadruple.
Each hostel has their own swimming pool.
Inside the rooms there is electricity also on the front desk you can charge batteries.
Remember the Oasis is located inside the Colca canyon , on the bottom of the canyon.
Remember you are on the nature ¡ For the nights we recommend carry a trek liner, On the bamboo huts you will have blankets but if you like to have only your personal scent on the bed, please carry your own trek liner.
We can offer private rooms
All the swimming pools and hostel take the water from the only one spring that exist in the Oasis , the temperature of the water is 23 grados centigrados they use the same water for the showers, there are not hot water in the shower.
Accommodations in llahuar inside the canyon is ok.
in Oasis there are room with private toilets and private shower, if you like one room with private bathroom please book it with months in advance.
In Fure the rooms are basic, there is only one accomodfation
In the trek in colca canyon we have 2 kinds of services:
Tourist bus in Shared service and Private car service
Tourist bus in shared service: (20-35 tourists in the bus)
It is a service where there are only tourists, in the tourist bus there are usually 20-35 passengers.
In the first day, this tourist bus in shared service goes through the various hotels to pick up the passengers. This bus picks up passengers from many different hotels.
The client must be waiting between 3:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. for the tourist Bus; you may wait without knowing the exact time of pickup, you need to wait ready at 3 am inside your hotel.
In conclusion, the bus leaves from Arequipa at 4:00 am, and continues to the condor cross without stops along the way. The bus arrives at the condor lookout at 08:30am
-The tourist bus in Shared service is just a transport with some short stops. The last day, 2 stops in colca valley for pictures and another stop for hot spring.
-After lunch on the last day visit of the National Park of Salinas and Aguada Blanca. The transport stop at 4850mhsl (Patapampa/Mirador de los Andes view point) and to see Lamas ,Alpacas,Vicuñas.
- If you take the connection to Puno the last day after lunch , don´t worry you will not skipe the visits on the National Park of Salinas and aguada blanca because the tourist bus to Puno make the same stops and visits along the way arriving to Puno 19:30hrs.
- If on the last day you have the conection to continue to Puno , you will have only 30 min. for the lunch. and not problem for the hot spring in the last day , you will have time to enjoy it.
- -Only if you have the connection to Puno the last day, you have to take your bags to Cabanaconde on the tourist bus. There, In Cabanaconde you can store your bags for a few soles. And at the end of the trek you can keep it.
Negatives aspects in the tourist bus in shared service:
-The first day you have to wait ready inside your hotel , generally a minimum one hour.
-Very early departure.
-In the first day the tourist bus in shared service arrive at 8:30 am, at the condor cross and you wait the condor only 30 min.
- In the Return (fourth day) the bus leaves from Cabanaconde village at 10:00am without stops on the way , only one stop in the Colca Valley for lunch , then hot spring in Chivay village.
-If you need a connection from the Colca canyon (Chivay village) to Puno after the trek it's difficult, because the tourist bus for the trek people leaves from Cabanaconde ( in the last day of the trek ) at 10:00 am and this tourist bus arrive to Chivay village at 12:30 and the bus for Puno leave at 13:30 pm. You will have only 30 min. to take the lucnh. ( is necessary to be 15 min, before the departure).
- The tourist bus (for trek people) leave from Cabanaconde at 10:00 am and arrive to Arequipa city 18:00-19:00hrs.
-We are not responsible for delays or cancellations, change schedule without notice. (Are not ours buses)
Private transport service (Comfortable service, maximum 6 people in the minivan and 6 people in the trek)
-Private transport service is opposite to the tourist bus in shared service.
-With the private transport service we do many stops in the toilets and in places to take pictures and it’s more comfortable. Personalized travel in small group.
-In private car service we pick you up from your hotel at 6:00 am.
-It's a service to people who are interested in visiting also the Colca valley, remember that the trekking is into the Colca Canyon.
-In the transport and in trek will be only the people that you know.
-It’s a service to people who like more comfort in the transport and to know better the Colca valley and the colonial village's along the way. With plenty of stops for toilettes as well.
-In a private service, we visit the Colca valley making more stops for sightseeing terraces, pre- inca tombs, volcanoes, the national reserve of Salinas and Aguada Blanca: Llamas, vicuñas, alpacas and colonial villages, etc.
-If you have a connection from Colca to Puno. You can leave with all your back pack (luggage from ) there is much space inside the private transport. And during the trek, the driver will take care of your backpack or we can provide an storage in Cabanaconde, for the connection Colca to Puno it will be easier for you. You will have enough time for the lunch and hot spring.
-The mule will carry 10 kilos per person during the 4 days
-The Arriero ( horsemen) take care of your things and the mule.
INCLUDED
Transport
All transfers
Oxygen equipment (only by private car)
First-aide kit
Entrance fee to condor cross and national park
Trekking into the canyon
Official guide
All meals,
Accommodation 3 nights in typical houses
Ticket for la Calera (hot spring)
-The mule will carry 10 kilos per person during the 4 days, only by private services
-The Arriero ( horsemen) take care of your things and the mule. Only by private car service
NOT INCLUDED
Water, you can buy during the trek each 6 hours every day
Snacks
Tips
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4 days 3 nights
Please Check difficulty trek and altitude Colca Canyon
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