2-Day Tour Colca Canyon in Arequipa with end in Puno

Colca Canyon is not just a viewpoint with a quick photo stop. This two-day trip takes you through the high Andes to vicuña country, alpaca pastures, volcanic viewpoints, and the condor lookout before ending in Puno. The overnight in Chivay breaks up what would otherwise be a long bus journey.

I like the practical route and the range of scenery. Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve gives you a chance to see wild vicuñas, while the Chacapi hot springs offer an easy way to relax after the first day. The main caution is altitude: you reach 4,800 meters at the Volcanoes Viewpoint, and the second day ends with a long ride to Puno.

Key points at a glance

• Wild vicuñas in Salinas Reserve: Watch for these elegant Andean camelids near the road.
• 4,800-meter Volcanoes Viewpoint: The highest point on the route brings wide views of the western mountain range.
• One night in Chivay: You get a bed and a slower pace instead of rushing through the canyon in one day.
• Cruz del Cóndor at the right time: The morning visit is planned around the famous Andean condor flight.
• Chacapi hot springs: The pools range from 35 to 38 degrees Celsius, with entry costing about $5.
• Direct onward travel to Puno: The second vehicle leaves Chivay after lunch and arrives near Puno’s main square.

Why this two-day route works

At $78 per person, this is a low-cost way to connect three useful pieces of a southern Peru trip: Arequipa, Colca Canyon, and Puno. Transport, an English or Spanish guide, the Colca to Puno transfer, and ongoing assistance are included.

The price needs a little context. You still pay for your Chivay hotel, meals, the hot springs if you choose them, and the mandatory $20 entrance ticket to the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint. Add those costs before comparing this trip with a more expensive package.

I like the route because it does not force you back to Arequipa. After the canyon visit, you switch vehicles in Chivay and continue toward Lake Titicaca’s gateway city. That saves you a return journey and makes the tour useful for anyone moving south through Peru.

The tradeoff is time on the road. Day one takes about four hours from Arequipa to Chivay with stops. Day two includes the canyon visit, lunch, and a long afternoon transfer, with arrival in Puno around 7:30 p.m. This is efficient, but it is not a restful bus holiday.

Day one: from Arequipa to the high Andes

Pickup runs from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. at hotels in central Arequipa. If your hotel is remote, you meet at the door of the Cathedral on the main square. The vehicle goes as close as traffic rules allow, but you should be ready at the stated time since early pickup delays can affect the day.

The road climbs quickly from the city. Your first major stop is the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, a broad high-altitude protected area where vicuñas live. These smaller wild camelids are different from the domesticated alpacas you see later. Keep your camera ready, but remember that sightings depend on where the animals are near the road.

At Patahuasi, you stop for traditional coca tea. The drink is closely tied to travel at altitude, and the pause gives you a chance to stretch and adjust before climbing higher. It is not a guaranteed cure for mountain sickness, so take the operator’s acclimatization advice seriously.

The next stop is the Toccra wetlands, or bofedales. Alpacas graze freely here, and the wet ground creates a sharp contrast with the dry, open highlands around it. This is one of the more appealing parts of the route because you see working rural Peru rather than only a grand viewpoint.

The biggest altitude test comes at the Mirador de los Volcanes. At 4,800 meters above sea level, it is the highest point on the drive. You can look across much of the western mountain range, but keep the stop calm and short if you feel lightheaded, nauseated, or unusually tired.

You are advised to arrive in Arequipa at least one day before the tour to acclimatize. Eating lightly can also help. This is not a minor suggestion: the altitude changes are a real part of the experience, and the first day includes several hours at high elevation.

Chivay: a useful overnight stop

From the Volcanoes Viewpoint, it is about 40 minutes to Chivay. The town is the practical base for the canyon, with accommodation, restaurants, and access to the thermal baths. Your hotel must be inside Chivay. If it is outside town, extra transfer charges may apply.

Lunch is not included, and the group eats in Chivay before checking in. The exact restaurant and menu can vary, so think of this as a chance to choose whether you want a buffet or another local meal rather than a fixed dining highlight.

The afternoon is the best time for Chacapi hot springs. Entry costs about $5 per person, and the pools range from 35 to 38 degrees Celsius. After a morning of mountain roads, a warm soak is a sensible use of the free time.

Dinner is also at your own expense. You can join an optional folklore evening with local music and traditional dances. This is not essential if you prefer a quiet night, but it adds a cultural element and gives you something to do after the hot springs.

I would keep the evening easy. The next morning starts with breakfast and an early transfer to the condor viewpoint. Chivay’s overnight is valuable mainly because it lets you sleep near the canyon instead of spending the whole first day going there and returning.

Day two: condors and the Colca Valley

After breakfast, the group drives about 30 minutes to the Mirador de la Cruz del Cóndor. The mandatory entrance ticket costs $20 per person, so include it in your budget from the start.

The viewpoint is the trip’s main event. From here, you look into the Colca Canyon and wait for Andean condors to ride the air currents below and around the cliffs. The visit lasts about 45 minutes. Timing matters, and the tour is arranged to reach the viewpoint during the morning period when condor activity is expected.

There is no guarantee that a condor will pass close to the viewing area, but the route gives you a strong chance to see the canyon and its most famous bird in one stop. One guide, Lorena, was praised for reaching the viewpoint at a good time for the condor flight, which points to the value of a guide who pays attention to timing rather than treating the stop as a box to check.

On the way back to Chivay, the bus pauses at several viewpoints. These look over the Colca Valley’s agricultural terraces, known locally as the andenería. The terraces show how people have shaped steep Andean slopes for farming, and they give the canyon area a human scale beyond the dramatic cliffs.

The town of Maca is another stop. You can see its church and, if you wish, try a local drink such as Colca Sour. This is a short village visit, not a full cultural tour, so keep your expectations in line. It is useful as a break and a glimpse of local life, though some people may find parts of the stop program more worthwhile than others.

Back in Chivay, lunch is at your own expense. Buffet meals are available, but quality can vary. Some meals have been considered good value, while others have felt underwhelming, so I would choose based on what is available rather than treating lunch as a guaranteed highlight.

The long road from Colca to Puno

After lunch, around 1:15 p.m., you change to another vehicle for the trip to Puno. The onward ride includes a professional guide and stops at points of interest and protected natural areas between Colca and Puno.

This transfer is included, but it is still a long afternoon on the road. The journey can feel tiring after the early canyon visit, especially if you have spent the morning standing at viewpoints or dealing with altitude. On the other hand, it is far better than returning to Arequipa and arranging a separate trip to Puno.

Arrival is scheduled around 7:30 p.m. in Puno. The drop-off points are either Hotel Conde de Lemus or the Gran Unidad School in San Carlos, depending on traffic. Both are about two blocks from the city’s main square, which makes the final arrival reasonably convenient if you have a central hotel.

The second bus has received mixed practical feedback. Some people found it comfortable and appreciated the midway stop, while others felt the ride was painful and long. I would treat this tour as a transport link with scenery, not as a gentle sightseeing afternoon.

Guides, vehicles, and group size

The group is limited to 18 people, which is small enough for a guide to answer questions without turning the trip into a private tour. Guides named in the feedback include Juan Pablo, Roy, Cecilia, Mike, and Lorena. Their strengths included explanations about villages, crops, geology, history, animals, and birds.

The guide matters most at the viewpoints. A good explanation can turn a quick stop into a useful lesson about the valley, farming terraces, wildlife, and the road itself. Driver quality matters too, since you spend many hours in the vehicle. Edgar and Pablo were specifically praised for safe, helpful driving.

English and Spanish guiding is available. Confirm your preferred language when booking, especially if the history and nature explanations are important to you.

Pickup organization may not be perfect every morning. One account described a first-day delay of about an hour, while the second day ran better. I would avoid scheduling a fixed afternoon activity in Puno on arrival day.

What the $78 price really buys

The base cost covers:

• Tourist transport during the Arequipa and Colca portion
• An English or Spanish professional guide
• The guided transfer from Colca to Puno
• Ongoing assistance during the trip

You pay separately for accommodation in Chivay, meals, the $5 hot springs entry, and the $20 Cruz del Cóndor ticket. The optional folklore dinner also costs extra if you join.

The value is strongest if you need to travel from Arequipa to Puno and want the canyon included. You are not paying for a luxury package, and the separate expenses mean the final total will be noticeably higher than $78. Even so, combining transport, guiding, canyon access, and the overnight route in one booking can be simpler than piecing everything together.

The service has a 4.6 rating from 248 reviews, with especially strong praise for the guides, drivers, scenery, condors, and the comfort of staying overnight in Chivay. The less positive points focus on delays, some unnecessary stops, variable buffet quality, and the long ride to Puno. That is a fair picture of a budget group tour.

Who should book this tour

I would choose this trip if you want to see Colca Canyon without hiking for several days. It suits you if you want wildlife, high-altitude scenery, viewpoints, and a direct route to Puno more than an extended stay in one town.

It also works well for a first visit to the region. The guide handles the route, the group visits the main stops, and you do not need to arrange separate buses between Arequipa, Chivay, the canyon, and Puno.

You should think twice if you dislike long road journeys, need a fully private schedule, or want guaranteed control over meals and hotels. The second day is especially demanding, and the altitude can make the schedule feel harder than the clock suggests.

Book the Chivay hotel carefully, pack warm layers, bring water, and allow time in Arequipa before departure. A small daypack with sun protection and basic altitude supplies will be more useful than a large suitcase on the sightseeing vehicle.

Should you book it?

Yes, if your Peru route already runs from Arequipa toward Puno. The tour packs wild vicuñas, alpacas, a 4,800-meter mountain pass, Colca Canyon, condors, hot springs, and an overnight in Chivay into a practical two-day trip.

Book it with realistic expectations. This is a budget small-group journey, not a leisurely private escape. The guides and scenery are the strongest reasons to go, while the altitude, possible pickup delays, extra fees, and long Puno transfer are the points to accept before you reserve.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts two days, beginning in Arequipa and ending in Puno.

Where does pickup take place in Arequipa?

Pickup is from hotels in central Arequipa between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. If your hotel is remote, the meeting point is at the door of the Cathedral in the main square.

Where do I stay overnight?

You stay in the town of Chivay. You must book a hotel within Chivay, or extra transfer costs may apply.

Is accommodation included?

No. Accommodation in Chivay is not included in the tour price.

Is food included?

No. Meals are paid for separately. This includes lunch and dinner in Chivay.

Is the hot springs visit included?

The hot springs visit is optional. Entry costs about $5 per person, and the pools range from 35 to 38 degrees Celsius.

Is the Cruz del Cóndor entrance ticket included?

No. The entrance ticket is mandatory and costs $20 per person.

What languages are available?

The live guide service is available in English and Spanish.

How large is the group?

The tour is described as a small-group experience limited to 18 participants.

Where does the tour end in Puno?

Drop-off is at either Hotel Conde de Lemus or the Gran Unidad School in San Carlos, depending on traffic. Both points are about two blocks from Puno’s main square.