Epic Colca Canyon Trek: 2-Day Andean Adventure & Condor Views

We really enjoyed the 2-day trek to Colca Canyon. The landscapes are stunning, very different to other hikes in Peru. Our guide Carlos was helpful and informative. He was patient with us when practicing our Spanish and he shared lots of local knowledge with us, as well as allowing us to try fresh figs straight from the tree. He let us go at our own pace and regularly checked in with us. The first day is mainly downhill - I'd recommend hiking poles which can be rented through the company as the trail is steep and uneven at times, with loose gravel making it easy to slip. The accommodation in the Canyon is lovely, particular highlights being the swimming pool which was a perfect place to cool off after hiking. Day 2 is an early start at 4am to beat the heat. It was so beautiful hiking out of the canyon at sunrise! The trail is challenging at times but definitely manageable with a decent level of fitness.

A very worthwhile experience. The views you see during the hike here are spectacular. Our guide Fidel was brilliant. He was very enthusiastic, had great stories and told us so much about the nature of the canyon, vegetation that grows there and about the people that live there. The food provided was decent and there were plenty of opportunities to buy water and snacks in the canyon when required. The accommodations was basic but fine for what was needed which was just sleep after a long day of hiking. I will warn it's a tough challenge for the body. You would need a decent level of fitness for this. On day 1 getting down into the canyon and then onto the Oasis took 7 hrs, 16km in total. Good trek shoes and hiking poles we would highly recommend. The trial down and up have loose rock and sand, which caused us to slip at times. The following morning is a very early start, at 4:20 to climb back up. It's 7km but all up hill and is very steep in places. The hot springs after was a much welcome experience for the muscles.

It was a good hike. It was intense and a really nice guide. Do not underestimate the trail. Good hotel as well. And the spa at the last day was great

Let me start by saying that I consider myself a fit person, I had 2-3 days acclimating in Arequipa before the hike. But this wasn’t enough. The trek is really difficult, the 2D/1N is a high speed trek which almost no time to rest during the first day hike outside of the lunch break. The speed was way too fast, the guide did not care about people left behind. Which I find it hard for safety, as if you ll be suffering of altitude sickness you would not be able to reach him as it would be way far over. We were left at the back of the group, not able to take any breaks, and the tour guide did not help or came to check on us. At the end, we had about 30min-45min more of hike before reach the place to stay (oasis) and he left with the first part of the group to set up the night stay without caring for the rest of people left behind in the canyon. Oasis, let me tell you. The worse night ever, be prepared to have a bare minimum. No light in the “bathroom” even in private or communal one so bring your flash light. Cleaning wasn’t done on the bed; spiders were crawling off the bedsheets. Leak and cleaning wasn’t done on the bathroom. For the way up, on the second day it is 3h hike up hill, but if you need you can rent a mule. Altitude sickness is real even for fit people and speed is very high, therefore be careful when choosing this 2 day hike.

Great tour with Oasis travels. Communication was good, guides were knowledgeable and fun, food was tasty. The hike is beautiful and easy. You only need some good endurance to hike out the next morning

Go on your own! Do not book with a guide! BRING LOTS OF SNACKS. The bus broke down on the way to the canyon and we waited an hour with the bus door open, temperature was 8 degrees Celsius. The guide refused to tell anyone what was going on until the other bus arrived. We got to the canyon and went our own speed to the bottom. The guide did not check in, nor give us recommendations on speed, how many km ahead, incline and descent. You have to have experience hiking to complete this trek!!! We waited for the other hikers for 45 minutes as we could not pass without restaurant tickets. We waited an additional 2hrs for remaining hikers at the restaurant. The lunch food was very good, we ended up joining another group for the remainder of day 1. We stayed at the Oasis Parmesa, the food was not great, water for the pool and shower was cold. The bed sheets had blood stains on them. The guides did not inform us that we would have no food or breakfast before the hike on day 2, so we had no snacks. The oasis did not have any on-the go snacks to purchase. We woke up at 4am and hiked for 3 hrs on an empty stomach up 45 degree incline for a continuous 6km. The guides did not stop nor check in on anyone with altitude sickness or low blood sugar. I ended up hyperventilating from altitude sickness and 3 guides walked passed me. The other hikers were kind enough to check in and give me snacks. The breakfast restaurant food was cold, dry and very minimal compared to previous treks we’ve been on in Peru. The hot springs were very nice, and the all you can eat buffet on day two for lunch was great, both at an additional cost. We paid a total of $600 solos each for the two days one night, including additional costs for entrance to canyon, lunch and hot springs. Definitely not worth the total we paid!!! We recommended booking transportation and tickets on your own and you can do the whole hike in one day, but the upward hike to cabanaconde was very challenging. Staying in a nicer hostel at the bottom and then hiking the next day, would be our choice next time around.

Couldn’t recommend it more! Our tour guide FRANCO was exceptional! Very passionate, friendly and made the challenging hike a lot of fun! We were deciding between the 1 day and 2 day options and so glad we chose the trek down into the canyon. Mostly downhill on the first day, after the condor viewing stop, beautiful lunch spot, then stay at the oasis and early hike straight up was challenging and then volcano and alpacas stops between meal stops. From what I’m heard the 1 day is a little rushed, lots of time on the bus but this felt spaced out, and we got to do a bit of everything

Franco Stev Was absolutely fantastic and such a helpful supportive guide, great trek and the organisation was fantastic

It was the best trip. If you look for a good adventure it will be the best option. Guide Tonny is a good man. He tells you everything about a place where you want to visit. He has a wide knowledge of flora and fauna. The trip was demanding but the atmosphere compesenated.

A fantastic journey through a beautiful canyon, especially when the guide is so passionate about the history, culture, and flora.