Colca Canyon Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Colca Canyon. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• 2-Day 1-Night Trek / Colca Canyon

• Colca Full-Day Tour

• Colca Canyon Trek 3-Day 2-Night

• 2-Day 1-Night Trek / Colca Canyon

• 12-Day The Best of Peru

While most people visit the Colca Canyon on a tour, all visitors must pay a mandatory entrance fee called the Boleto Turístico del Colca, and the price depends on where you're from. International (non–Latin American) adults pay 70 soles, while visitors from neighboring Latin American countries pay 40 soles, and Peruvian citizens with a national ID pay 20 soles. Discounts are also available for students with a valid ID.

Yes, the Colca Canyon is worth visiting. It's home to dramatic terraced landscapes, traditional Andean villages, and the famous Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint, where you can watch giant Andean condors soaring on thermal currents. A guided tour is a great way to experience it—options range from full-day trips out of Arequipa, to multi-day treks with expert guides, offering some of the most striking scenery in Peru.

Per one customer who booked the 2-Day 1-Night Trek / Colca Canyon, "My partner and I highly recommend this fantastic experience. Our tour guide, Alex, was highly organized, knowledgeable, professional, and caring. The two days were packed with activity, aside from the strenuous hike through the breathtaking Colca Canyon. The overnight accommodation was very comfortable and the hosts were welcoming. This was not just a hike but a two day experience."

While it’s possible to explore part of the Colca Canyon on a day trip from Arequipa, it’s recommended to spend at least two days in the Colca Canyon area. The shortest hiking route around one of the world’s deepest canyons is around eight hours, and the longest is around 12—you can spread these out over two or three days.

The best time of year to visit the Colca Canyon is from May through November—this is southern Peru’s dry season, so you can almost guarantee clear, dry conditions ideal for hiking. It’s also the best time of year to spot the Andean condors the region is famous for.

How long it takes to hike Colca Canyon depends on which of the hiking routes you choose to embark on. You can opt for a short route that shows the main viewpoints in just a few hours or opt for either 2- or 3-day hike that involves staying overnight in one of the villages on the cusp of the canyon.

The rocky, uneven terrain and steep surfaces of the Colca Canyon mean that a pair of sturdy hiking boots are a must—standard trainers just don’t have the kind of grip you need to explore this rugged natural wonder. Make sure you bed them in a few days before your hike.

The temperatures in the Colca Canyon remain steady throughout the year, but during the evening, you can expect temperatures to drop to around 46°F (8°C), so make sure you take plenty of layers to wrap up in at night. The coldest months are June and July.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting Colca Canyon. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Arequipa:

• Historic Center of Arequipa

• Santa Catalina Monastery (Monasterio de Santa Catalina)

• Plaza de Armas

• Yanahuara

• La Compañía Church (Iglesia de la Compañía)

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Arequipa.