Day Trips from Arequipa: Colca and Beyond
Arequipa is a good base for long day trips into the Andes and the desert. Each trip below starts at an altitude of about 2,335 m and some climb far higher, so give yourself a full day in the city before the big ones. Fares and fees are in soles (S/).
Colca Canyon
This is the classic trip, and it is a long day, not a casual outing. Pickup is about 3:00 to 3:30 AM. Chivay is about 160 km and 3.5 to 4 hours away, with breakfast on the way. The road crosses the Patapampa pass at about 4,800 m, so go slowly and drink water. Cruz del Cóndor is about 45 km beyond Chivay, and groups arrive around 8:30 to 9:30 AM to watch the condors. Sightings are not guaranteed. You return to Arequipa about 5 to 6 PM, after 12 to 15 hours out.
The boleto turístico is S/70 for foreign adults, S/20 for foreign children aged 6 to 15, and free for ages 0 to 5. It is valid from the day of purchase, for a single use. Buy it at colcaperu.gob.pe, at the Chivay control post, or at the Arequipa office at Portal de la Municipalidad 112 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM). The official site lists tariffs. Most group tours do not include it.
Hot springs add a stop. La Calera is about 3 km from Chivay and costs about S/15. Chacapi, at Yanque, is simpler. Two days are the comfortable way to do Colca, and the multi-day page covers that.
Salinas y Aguada Blanca
This 4x4 day trip is about three hours each way to Laguna de Salinas, at about 4,300 m. Expect vicuñas, volcano views and, in some seasons, flamingos. You cannot swim or boat here, and the air is cold and thin.
Toro Muerto and the Majes valley
The Toro Muerto petroglyphs are in the Uraca district, Castilla province. The bus from Arequipa to Corire takes about 3 hours and runs hourly, with a fare of about S/12. A taxi onward with waiting is about S/45 round trip. The site covers around 5 km and holds about 5,000 boulders by the usual count. Entry is usually included in tours. Pair the trip with river shrimp only from April to December, as fishing is closed from early January to 31 March.
Before you go
Wet-season rain, roughly December to March, can cause landslides on the Colca roads, so check the day before. Peru is Level 2 on the US scale, and protests can block roads, so ask your hotel or operator. Cotahuasi canyon is too far for a day trip.
Read more: Attraction tours in Arequipa .
Compare day tours: Arequipa day trips on Viator . Safety notes: UK FCDO for Peru .