We believe this to be a preferred trek for those who enjoy hiking and contact with nature. The hours of trekking per day are not too long.

This trek starts from the city of Arequipa. We can also start from Puno, and end in the city of Arequipa: (Puno-Colca-Arequipa). We can also start in Arequipa and end in Puno (Arequipa-Colca-Puno) and obviously Arequipa-Colca-Arequipa
To differentiate ourselves from other travel agencies, we walk and sleep in tapay Village.

Following the travel style of Pablo Tour we always do something different and this is our hallmark.
We always avoid the large masses of tourists and walk more.
In this circuit other travel agencies organize treks with only
3 hours trek very day

Doesn't that seem like too little?
You pay to walk, or not?

The question would be:

Why don't other travel agencies sleep in Tapay?
Because these agencies need a standard circuit to be able to organize large groups.
Both hotels and travel agencies need to offer the same circuit to form large groups among themselves.
This makes tours in large groups cheaper and ultimately you don't know who the real tour operator is.
This is dangerous because you won't know if the guide is good and if the transportation is in good condition.

We do not send our clients to other travel agencies.

For us, safety and quality are the most important things.

COLCA CANYON TREK DIFFICULTY

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.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: It is not a technical trek but it is physically difficult
DISTANCE: 22.5Km
DURATION: 3 days
ELEVATION DIFFERENCE: 1200m

ITINERARY:

We pick you up from your hotel 06:00 am by private car service or by toursit bus service from 3:00am to 3:40am.

If we take the tour by tourist bus service, we take the breakfast 6:30 am , and we arrive to the condor croos 8:30am, we wait the condor`s flight during 40 minutes and we arrive to Cabanaconde 10:00 am

Cabanaconde is the starting point trek (3,287 mhsl).

If you take the private car service , we leave from Arequipa , 5am, we arrive to Cabanaconde , 10am. Only by private car service we visit the condor cross , the third day.

in both options we start the trek 10:00 am, We trek down to the Colca canyon dowhill (4 hrs. Aprox). to the village of San Juan de Chuccho 2200 mhsl.

In the bowels of the canyon we will find a variety of volcanic stones.

We take the lunch in San Juan de Chuccho.

After the lunch, we trek 2 hours uphill from 2200mhsl to Tapay village 2980mhsl.

We will visit a place not visited by the the classic tourists .

From Tapay the view of the canyon is amazing.

This colonial village is known for its Quechua-speaking population. Also, it affords us a lookout to the opposite side of the Canyon.

Wel spend the night in Tapay village (home stay) with dinner prepared and served by a local family.

This day we walk: 11km / 6 hours trek

6:00 AM - Get up and have a breakfast.

We make a 2 hour descent to the villages of Coshńirhua (2350 mhsl) and Malata (2350 mhsl), and then 2 hours of hiking descent to arrive at the oasis of Sangalle (2000 mhsl). Lunch.

The oasis of Sangalle is a great place to relax and appreciate nature, while also taking advantage of the lukewarm swimming pools (23 degrees Celcius). The owners of the oasis.

After lunch, we have time to enjoy this beautiful place surrounded by palm trees.
We have dinner and spend the night in private rooms.

Our guide will explain the various native fruits growing in the oasis, such as the lucma, the pacay, and the chirimoya. You will also have the opportunity to taste them.

This day we walk: 6.5km / 4 hours

4:30 AM - Back up to Cabanaconde (1200 m up). We will be setting out a little early to catch the sunrise over Colca Canyon, and also to make time for our stop at the Condor cross to watch for condors. There is also a possibility of spotting condors on the trek up to town from the oasis. We will have breakfast when we arrive in Cabanaconde. here wi finish the trek.

This day we walk: 5km / 3-4 hours

Only by private car service

8am, you take our private transport to the Condor’s Cross (25 minutes with transport.) to admire the condor in flight (we wait the condor flights about 1 hour and a half)

Then we continue to Chivay village to relax in the thermal hotsprings (38 degrees C). In order to enjoy more time in the hotsprings we will bring along a lunch of sandwiches and fruit.

We visit the Colca valley to take pictures for sightseeing terraces, and the national reserve of Salinas and Aguada Blanca: Llamas, vicuñas, alpacas and in the Patamapa viewpoint at 4850mhsl. From there we can see the andes range and volcanoes.

Afterward we make the return trip to Arequipa, arriving at approximately 5 PM.

By tourist bus service, after the breakfast you take the tourist 10:00 am and the the transport makes 2 stops on the best viewpoints another for the hot spring and another for the retaurant in Chivay.

The 3 more stops in the national park of Salinas and aguada blanca, in the antes viewpoint 4850mhsl, and to see lamas, Alpacas, vicuñas and also birds

We arrive to Arequipa 5:30pm

Bus Colca to Puno

If you want to save time and instead of continuing to the city of Arequipa, you can take a connection to the city of Puno.

-If you take the tourist bus service for the trek, you can take your suitcases on the transport to the beginning of the trek which is in the town of Cabanaconde.

This transportation arrives at Cabanaconde at 9:45 am and immediately returns to the city of Arequipa with the clients who have finished the trek  in the canyon.

That is why you cannot leave your suitcases on the transport.

In Cabanaconde there is secure luggage storage.

After the trek you can recover your suitcases and continue with your trip.

-If you take the Private car option, no problem you can leave your suitcases inside the transport.  

From Colca Canyon (Chivay) after lunch on the last day of the tour, you take the tourist bus in shared service at 13:00 to Puno city arriving at 19:30h.

This transport makes stops for the toilet and visits the National Park of Salinas and Aguada Blanca.

Inside the transport there is a guide

Along  the way you will visit:

1.-On the high viewpoint Patapampa (4912 mhsl) to see the Andes range and volcanoes,

2.- In Pampas Cañahuas, to see Lamas, Alpacas, vicuñas and also for toilets

3.- in Lagunillas to see birds and flamingos.

And not problem they have enough space for your suitcase

Price of the transfer Colca by tourist bus service – Puno is 

50.00 American dollars per person (20-30 people in the bus).

We can arrange it for you. 

If the tour starts from the city of Puno, the tour would be like this:

Day 1.- 06:00 hrs the tourist bus picks you up from your hotel in the city of Puno and arrives at the Colca Valley at 12:00 hrs, Lunch.

Then with another transport we continue for 1 hour to Cabanaconde and start the 3-4 hours trek to San Juan de Chuccho.

Day 2.-Trek to Tapay and Trek to the Oasis

Day 3.-Trek to Cabanaconde and return to the city of Arequipa

Important. - in Oasis (Sangalle) there are 4 places where we can sleep, the 4 places are basic. But all the 4 places (owners) informed 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.

Also there are rooms with private bathrooms ( Extra cost if you take the tourist bus service)
Each hostel has their own swimming pool.    
Inside there are electricity.
Remember the accommodations is located inside the Colca canyon , on the bottom of the canyon, Remember you are on the nature ¡

If you like one room with private bathroom please book it with months in advance
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.

See the colca canyon trek map (Classic Route)

TOURIST BUS IN SHARED SERVICE VS PRIVATE CAR SERVICE

TOURIST BUS SERVICE: 20 tourists in the bus, yes we share the transport with others travel agencies. This is not our transport.

We trek maximun with 6-12 customers with one guide of Pablo Tour. Sure, we share the tourists bus with other travel agencies but on the trek we avoid the crowd , we trek more, All is included on the price. Pablo tour is one of the few companies that work only with official trekking guides.

We don´t receive tourist from other travel agencies , You will trek allways with a Pablo tour´s guide.

The biggest advantage of this type of service (tourist bus service) is that it is less expensive than the private transport service.
Obviously, more people in transport is cheaper.
But do not be mistaken, if you take this service with Pablo tour : Our trek is always different, we walk more and avoid the masses of tourists by taking different routes or walking in the opposite direction.

• In the first day, this tourist bus goes through the various hotels to pick up the passengers. This bus pick up passengers from many different hotels.
• The client must be waiting between 3:00 a.m. to 3:40 a.m. for the tourist Bus; you may wait without knowing the exact time of pickup, you need to wait ready from 3 am inside your hotel.
• In conclusion,The fist day the bus leaves from Arequipa at 4:00 am, and continues to the condor cross with only one stop for the breakfast.The bus arrives at the condor lookout at 8:30 am, the bus wait 40 min. in the condor cross.
• On the last day, in the morning the tourist bus service stop only 2 times in Colca valley to take pictures for sightseeing terraces. One stop 40 min, for the hot spring in Yanque village.
• After lunch in the last day, you make 3 more stops on the national reserve of Salinas and Aguada Blanca: Llamas, vicuñas, alpacas and in the Patamapa viewpoint at 4850mhsl. From there you can see the andes range and volcanoes.We arrive to Arequipa 18:00hrs at 4 blocks from Arequipa´s Main square.
• 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.

NEGATIVE ASPECTS IN THE TOURIST BUS IN SHARED SERVICE

-The first day you have to wait ready inside your hotel , generally a minimum one hour from 03:00 am to 03:40 am

-Is not included , mules and horsemen to carry your personal things.
-Very early departure.
-In the first day The tourist bus in shared service arrive at 8:30 to 9:00 am, at the condor cross and you wait the condor only 40 min.
-If you need a connexion from the Colca canyon (Chivay village) to Puno after the trek it's possible but the tourist bus leaves from Cabanaconde ( in the last day of the trek ) at 10:00 am and this tourist bus arrive to Chivay village at 12:10 and the bus for Puno leave at 13:15 pm. You will have only 30 min. to take a lunch. ( is necessary to be 15 min, before the departure).
- The tourist bus leave from Cabanaconde at 10:00 am and arrive to Arequipa city between 18:00hrs.

-We are not responsible for any delays or cancellations, change schedule without notice. (it´s not ours buses) But normally we don´t have problems , this information is only on case of.

-On the tourist bus there is not a suitcase hold, the suitcases are put in the transport aisle, between the two rows of seats.
We will not be responsible for future claims.
Of course, in Cabanaconde we know a place to store your suitcases for a few soles, but if there is any loss, we will not responsible. This is only in case of , we never had at the moment any problem.

-This is not a Pablo Tour transport, is not our driver. Normally people complain because they drive fast.

PRIVATE TRANSPORT SERVICE Comfortable service, maximum 4 people in the transport and 4 people in the trek. When you book, if your familly or friends are more than 4 people , you will be in the transport and during the trek only with the people that you know. For sure we will use a bigger tranport.

• 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. (climatized).Personalized travel in small group. You can stop anywhere.       
• In private car service the first day we pick you up from your hotel at 5:00 am. and the last day we arrive to Arequipa 16:30/17:00 hrs, we drop you to your hotel.
• 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 there are maximum 4 people.
• 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 conextion from Colca to Puno the last day , you can leave with all your back pack , there is much space inside the transport. And during your trek, the driver will take care of your backpack. For the conexion Colca to Puno it will be easier for you. You will have enough time for the lunch and hot spring. This bus leave at 13:15pm from Chivay village and arrive to Puno city 19:30hrs.
• Only by private car service we include during the 3 days trek , one mule and one horsemen (arriero) .The mule will carry all your things, you will carry during the trek just your camera. The horsemen will take care of the mule and your things. Like this you will help the local economy, thanks to this work the local people will stay on their village . Yes you will help to conserve the folklore.
  The arriero ( horsemen) will be proud if you ask to speak in Quechua, also he can learn you a little the quechua language.
  -The mule will carry 10 kilos per person during the 3 days
  -The Arriero ( horsemen) take care of your things and the mule.