Overview
The Colca Canyon Trek from Puno to Arequipa connects two of southern Peru's landmark destinations without doubling back, starting on the shores of Lake Titicaca and finishing in the colonial streets of Arequipa. Instead of crossing the altiplano by bus in a single stretch, this route breaks the journey with two days of walking inside the canyon itself.
Departure from Puno is early. The road climbs west across open highland plains covered in ichu grass, passing Lagunillas Lagoon, where Andean geese and giant coots gather along the shallows. Herds of wild vicuña usually graze near the road at Pampa Cañahuas, inside the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve.
After crossing the Patapampa pass at 4,910 meters, the highest point of the whole route, the road drops steadily into the Colca Valley and reaches Chivay at around 3,650 meters. Most travelers spend the first night here, using the afternoon to acclimatise or soak in the La Calera thermal baths just outside town.
The trekking begins at Cabanaconde, 3,287 meters above sea level, where a steep switchback trail descends roughly 1,200 meters over 8 kilometers to the canyon floor. Waiting at the bottom is Sangalle, the palm-shaded oasis beside the Colca River, with natural pools fed by spring water. The climb back out the following morning starts before dawn and takes three to four hours.
Cruz del Condor is the other highlight of the trip. From this viewpoint on the canyon rim, Andean condors ride the morning thermals at eye level, with drops of more than 3,400 meters below in the deepest sections. Mornings between 8:00 and 9:30 give the best chances of seeing them in flight.
The valley is also farmed and lived in. Villages such as Yanque, Maca and Coporaque sit among pre-Inca terraces still worked by Collagua and Cabana families, and their small colonial churches date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Traditional embroidered hats worn in the valley differ from one village to the next.
Choosing the Colca Canyon Trek from Puno to Arequipa saves a full return leg to Puno. The route ends with the drive down to Arequipa at 2,335 meters, arriving in the late afternoon, which makes it a practical option for anyone heading south through Peru after visiting Uros, Taquile or Amantani on Lake Titicaca.