Most visitors see Colca from the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint on a 3 a.m. bus tour from Arequipa and never go down into it. On foot from Cabanaconde, you drop more than 1,000 m to the river, cross to hanging villages like San Juan de Chuccho, Cosñirhua and Malata, sleep at the palm-shaded Sangalle oasis, then climb out at dawn. Trails are well enough marked to go without a guide; a mule out of Sangalle costs about S/70 if your legs give up. It pairs naturally with a few days in Arequipa, which also helps you acclimatise.
On the trail now and the next 7 days
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The route
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On the map
Colca Canyon · Open in Google Maps ↗
The climb
How to reach the start
Arequipa (AQP) → Cabanaconde: Andalucía or Transandino bus from Arequipa's Terminal Terrestre, about 5-7 hours, around S/25 (fares quoted between S/17 and S/30). Departures are mostly in the small hours (around 1-4 a.m.) and early afternoon; tickets are sold only at the terminal, so buy the day before. FCDO advises avoiding night buses where possible, so the early-afternoon bus is the safer choice. Alternative: colectivo to Chivay (around S/20), then a colectivo to Cabanaconde (around S/10).
Step 3 of 7Next: Permits↓Permits and rules
Official permit or booking page ↗
Rules change. Check the park office or official booking system before you travel.
Step 4 of 7Next: Gear↓What to carry
What it costs
Covers local transport, permits or entry, a guide where needed and food on the trail. Getting to Cabanaconde (about 3 is extra.
Photos
Questions people ask
How hard is the Colca Canyon trek?
Moderate grade. It takes 2-3 days and climbs to about 3,300 m. Most visitors see Colca from the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint on a 3 a.m. bus tour from Arequipa and never go down into it. On foot from Cabanaconde, you drop more than 1,000 m to the river, cross to hanging villages like San Juan de Chuccho, Cosñirhua and Malata, sleep at the palm-shaded Sangalle oasis, then climb out at dawn. Trails are well enough marked to go without a guide; a mule out of Sangalle costs about S/70 if your legs give up. It pairs naturally with a few days in Arequipa, which also helps you acclimatise.
Do I need a permit for Colca Canyon?
AUTOCOLCA Boleto Turístico (Colca Valley tourist ticket), required to enter the Colca valley districts, including Cabanaconde and Tapay: S/70 for non-Latin American adults, S/40 for Latin American adults, S/20 for children aged 6-15 (official AUTOCOLCA price list). Buy it online on the AUTOCOLCA site, at the Arequipa ticket office (Portal de la Municipalidad 112, Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-3 p.m.) or at the Chivay checkpoint (daily 5 a.m.-6 p.m.); cards and QR wallets are accepted there. Carry your passport; tickets are checked on the road. No trekking permit or guide is required.
How do I reach the Colca Canyon trek?
Arequipa (AQP) → Cabanaconde: Andalucía or Transandino bus from Arequipa's Terminal Terrestre, about 5-7 hours, around S/25 (fares quoted between S/17 and S/30). Departures are mostly in the small hours (around 1-4 a.m.) and early afternoon; tickets are sold only at the terminal, so buy the day before. FCDO advises avoiding night buses where possible, so the early-afternoon bus is the safer choice. Alternative: colectivo to Chivay (around S/20), then a colectivo to Cabanaconde (around S/10). Base: Cabanaconde (about 3,300 m), 5-7 hours by bus from Arequipa.
What is the best season for Colca Canyon?
April-May is the pick (green valley, snow still on the peaks), and the dry months that follow are reliable. January-March is the rainy season, with rain almost every day; trails get slippery and roads can be disrupted..
How much does the Colca Canyon trek cost?
From about ₹5,600 per person from the base, covering local transport, permits or entry, a guide where required and food. The journey to the base is extra.
What should I carry?
Daypack only if you sleep in canyon lodges. Good shoes with grip for the long, steep, loose descent; trekking poles help on the 1,200 m climb out. Sun hat and sunscreen (the canyon floor is hot by mid-morning), warm layer for Cabanaconde nights, head torch for a 5 a.m. start, cash in soles, and bottled water or a filter: tap water is not drinkable and the river may carry mining waste. Download an offline map.
Sources and last check
Checked 11 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- colcaperu.gob.pe OfficialOfficial AUTOCOLCA Boleto Turístico prices: foreign adult S/70, Latin American adult S/40, child 6-15 S/20; covers districts including Tapay and Cabanaconde
- colcaperu.gob.pe OfficialAUTOCOLCA e-ticket page (Feb 2026) with the same S/70 foreign adult price
- colcaperu.gob.pe OfficialSales points: Arequipa ticket office (Portal de la Municipalidad 112, Mon-Fri 8-3) and Chivay checkpoint (daily 5-6); card and QR payment
- gov.uk OfficialAdvise-against only near the Colombian border (Loreto) and the VRAEM; no mention of Arequipa/Colca; updated 9 Oct 2026
- gov.uk OfficialStreet crime in Arequipa; protests in Arequipa region; night bus crashes and bus hold-ups; do not pass blockades; rainy-season slides
- worldlyadventurer.comCabanaconde 3,300 m, Sangalle 2,100 m; 2-day route 12.5 km + 4.6 km, 3-day route 29.6 km; lodge prices; Andalucía bus S/25; colectivos via Chivay; mule S/70; best months April-May, rains Jan-Mar; water not drinkable (updated Oct 2023)
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By Gokul · Updated 11 October 2026 · Photo: Kotasik · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Steve Bennett · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Joao Paulo de Vasconcelos · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: Pethrus · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Thomas Fuhrmann · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
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