4.7 3 Days / 2 Nights 
Arequipa Tours
Arequipa Tours: Colca Canyon, Volcano Climbs and Day Trips
Canyons, volcanoes and the White City
Eleven tours in Arequipa run by our local team, from a half-day city tour to Colca Canyon treks and the Misti and Chachani climbs. Compare them by days, highest point, effort and price, from US$35.
4.7 3 Days / 2 Nights 
4.7 2 Days / 1 Night 4.7 1 day Colca Canyon Tour Traditional
From
US$70
per person
4.7 1 Day 
4.7 1 Day 
4.7 4 Days / 3 Nights 
4.7 2 Days / 1 Night 
4.7 2 Days 
4.7 2 Days 
4.7 1 Day 
4.7 1 Day Our Arequipa tours cover the city and its countryside, the sillar quarries, the Colca Canyon in 1 to 4 days, the Salinas y Aguada Blanca reserve, the Pillones waterfall and the climbs of Misti and Chachani. Arequipa sits at about 2,335 m (7,661 ft), lower than Cusco, and our day trips start at US$35. Choose by days, altitude and style: a panoramic bus, a Chivay hotel, a canyon trek or a summit.
- ≈2,335 m(7,661 ft): Arequipa city, a good first step before Colca, the volcanoes or Cusco.
- From US$35for a day trip: City Tour + Sillar Route, Salinas y Aguada Blanca or Pillones.
- 11 toursfrom half a day to 4 days, topping out at 6,057 m (19,872 ft) on Chachani.
Arequipa day trips
Many of the things to do in Arequipa fit in a single day. The historic center, built in white volcanic sillar stone, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, and our two city tours stay at city level. Salinas, Pillones and Colca go above 4,000 m and bring you back down to sleep in the city, a simple way to start acclimatizing. All five start with pickup from your hotel in central Arequipa and finish the same day.
| Tour | Days | Highest point | Effort | Price from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arequipa City Tour | Half day | ≈2,335 m / 7,661 ft | Easy | US$45 | A first afternoon: the countryside, Sabandía mill, the Founder’s Mansion and Yanahuara on a panoramic bus |
| City Tour Arequipa + Sillar Route | 1 day | ≈2,335 m / 7,661 ft (city) | Easy | US$35 | The Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, the Compañía, Santa Catalina monastery and the sillar quarries in one day |
| Salinas y Aguada Blanca Tour | 1 day | ≈4,300 m / 14,100 ft | Easy | US$35 | Flamingos, vicuñas and a first step up in altitude; back by early afternoon unless you add the hot springs |
| Pillones Waterfall Tour | 1 day | ≈4,600 m / 15,100 ft | Easy, short rocky walk | US$35 | A high Andean waterfall plus the Imata stone forest, a field of wind-sculpted rock |
| Colca Canyon Tour 1 Day | 1 long day | ≈4,900 m / 16,100 ft (Patapampa, by road) | Easy, very early start | US$70 | Seeing Cruz del Cóndor when you only have one day; pickup is between 2:30 and 3:00 a.m. |
Colca Canyon tours with nights
A night in the valley gives a calmer pace. All four cross the Patapampa pass, also called the Mirador de los Volcanes, at about 4,900 m (16,100 ft), and all four stop at the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint. The difference is where you sleep and how much you walk.
| Tour | Days | Highest point | Effort | Price from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colca Canyon 2 Days by car, with hotel | 2 days / 1 night | ≈4,900 m by road; night in Chivay at about 3,600 m / 11,800 ft | Easy | US$135 | Condors and the La Calera hot springs without a 3 a.m. start: pickup is at 8:00 a.m. |
| Colca Canyon Trek 2 Days / 1 Night | 2 days / 1 night | ≈4,900 m by road; the trail drops ≈1,100 m / 3,600 ft from the rim near Cabanaconde (≈3,300 m / 10,800 ft) | Moderate, with a steep climb out | US$159 | Fit hikers who want to walk into the canyon and sleep at the Sangalle oasis |
| Colca Canyon Trek 3 Days / 2 Nights | 3 days / 2 nights | Same route as the 2-day trek | Moderate, effort split over 3 days | US$165 | Hikers who prefer a slower pace and more villages: San Juan de Chuccho, Cosñirhua and Malata |
| Arequipa & Colca Canyon 4 Days | 4 days / 3 nights | ≈4,900 m by road; night in Chivay | Easy | US$350 | A planned package: airport transfers, two hotel nights in Arequipa, the city tour and Colca |
Volcano climbs from Arequipa
Both climbs are non-technical but serious high-altitude ascents, done in 2 days with one night at camp, a mountain guide and 4x4 transport. Leave them for the end of your stay, after Colca or a high day trip.
| Tour | Days | Highest point | Effort | Price from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climb to Misti Volcano 2 Days | 2 days / 1 night | 5,822 m / 19,101 ft | Challenging | US$145 | Fit, acclimatized hikers; camp at about 4,700 m / 15,400 ft above the city |
| Climb to Chachani 2 Days | 2 days / 1 night | 6,057 m / 19,872 ft | Challenging | US$145 | Acclimatized hikers who want a 6,000 m summit; camp at about 5,200 m / 17,100 ft, minimum 2 people |
How many days in Arequipa?
Two or three days cover the city and one trip out; four days let you add a night in Colca without rushing. Every plan follows the same altitude ladder: start in the city, go higher on a day trip or in Colca, and leave the volcanoes for last.
| Step | Altitude | Our tours |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Arequipa city | ≈2,335 m / 7,661 ft | Arequipa City Tour, City Tour + Sillar Route |
| 2. Colca or Salinas | Salinas ≈4,300 m / 14,100 ft and Pillones ≈4,600 m / 15,100 ft, back to sleep in the city; Colca: night in Chivay at about 3,600 m / 11,800 ft, over a pass of about 4,900 m | Salinas y Aguada Blanca, Pillones, any Colca tour |
| 3. Volcanoes | Camp at about 4,700 m (Misti) or 5,200 m (Chachani); summits at 5,822 m and 6,057 m | Misti, Chachani |
- 2 days: day 1, the City Tour + Sillar Route; day 2, Salinas y Aguada Blanca or Pillones. If you arrive already acclimatized from Cusco, day 2 can be the Colca Canyon 1 Day; otherwise spend a day or two in the city first, because the Colca road crosses about 4,900 m.
- 3 days: day 1, the city tour of your choice; days 2–3, Colca Canyon 2 Days by car, or the 2-day trek if you are fit and want to walk.
- 4 days: the Arequipa & Colca Canyon 4 Days package (arrival and city tour, two days in Colca, departure day). To build it yourself: city tour, then Salinas or Pillones, then two days in Colca; or one city day followed by the 3-day trek.
- Adding a volcano: after Colca, add Misti or Chachani for two more days, about 6 days in total. Allow two or three days at altitude first.
Coming from Lima or going to Cusco: Arequipa, at about 2,335 m, works as a middle step between the coast and Cusco at about 3,400 m (11,200 ft). The logical order is Lima, then Arequipa and Colca, then Puno or Cusco, so you reach Cusco with several days at altitude behind you. Arriving from Cusco, already acclimatized, you can do Colca or a volcano sooner. For the flight or bus to Cusco, see Lima to Cusco: flight vs bus.
Colca in 1 day, 2 days by car or a 2–3 day trek?
| 1 day | 2 days by car | Trek, 2 or 3 days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | US$70 | US$135 | US$159 (2 days) · US$165 (3 days) |
| Pickup in Arequipa | 2:30–3:00 a.m. | 8:00 a.m. | About 3:00 a.m. |
| Night | None | Hotel in Chivay | Bungalows at the Sangalle oasis (the 3-day trek adds San Juan de Chuccho) |
| Walking | Short walks at viewpoints | Optional 40-minute walk along the canyon edge | ≈1,100 m down into the canyon and the same back up, starting around 5 a.m. on the last day |
| Choose it if | You have one day and some acclimatization | You want condors and hot springs at an easy pace | You want to hike, not only look |
For the depth of the canyon, the condors and the AUTOCOLCA tourist ticket, read our Colca Canyon guide.
Misti or Chachani?
Misti (5,822 m / 19,101 ft) starts lower, at about 3,300 m, and adds up to about 2,500 m (8,200 ft) of climbing over two days on loose ash, so it is harder on the legs. Chachani (6,057 m / 19,872 ft) starts from a 4x4 track at about 5,000 m with less climbing, but you sleep at about 5,200 m, so it is harder on altitude. Most climbers do Misti first, and neither needs technical climbing experience. The full comparison, with how to acclimatize for each, is in Misti vs Chachani.
Best time to visit Arequipa for these tours
For the volcanoes and the Colca trek, the dry months bring the most stable weather and clear skies: May to October on Chachani, and roughly April or May to November on the trek. Nights at altitude are very cold, between −5 and −15 °C at the Misti camp. Chachani departures run from March to January. From about December to March there is more water in the landscape: Pillones runs fullest, and the Salinas lagoon holds water and draws flamingos, mainly from December to May, before turning into a white salt flat in the dry season. Wildlife and lagoons: see our Salinas y Aguada Blanca guide.
What our Arequipa tours include
Every tour includes transport and a professional guide, and every itinerary starts with pickup from your hotel in central Arequipa (the 4-day package starts at the airport). The city and Colca tours have English-speaking guides. Arequipa tours are paid in full when you book.
| Tours | Also included | Not included |
|---|---|---|
| City tours | Panoramic bus on the City Tour; tourist transport for both parts and a first-aid kit on City Tour + Sillar Route | Optional entrances such as the Carmen Alto viewpoint, the Founder’s Mansion and the Sabandía mill |
| Salinas and Pillones | A first-aid kit on Salinas | Food and personal expenses |
| Colca 1 day | Continental breakfast | Lunch, the Colca tourist ticket, the hot springs entrance |
| Colca 2 days by car | Hotel in Chivay, folklore show, Colca tourist ticket, 1 breakfast and 2 lunches | La Calera hot springs entrance, the first breakfast, drinks and snacks |
| Colca treks | Bungalows; 2 days: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner; 3 days: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners | Hot springs entrance and the Colca tourist ticket; on the 2-day trek, the final lunch |
| Arequipa & Colca 4 days | Airport transfers, 2 hotel nights in Arequipa and 1 in Chivay with breakfast, city tour with entrance fee, Colca tourist ticket, 1 breakfast, 2 lunches and 1 dinner in Colca | Meals on the city tour, hot springs entrance, travel insurance, drinks and tips |
| Misti and Chachani | Mountain guide, 4x4, tents and mats, crampons and ice axes, meals on the mountain, first-aid kit with oxygen | Sleeping bag, mountain boots, headlamp, warm clothing and gloves; on Misti, the 2.5 L of water you carry |
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Arequipa?
Two or three days for the city and one trip out, such as Salinas or Colca. Four days let you spend a night in Colca without rushing, and a volcano adds two more days after that.
Is a Colca Canyon day trip worth it?
It covers Cruz del Cóndor and the main viewpoints, but it is a long day: pickup between 2:30 and 3:00 a.m., back around 5:30 p.m., and the road crosses about 4,900 m. It works if you have one day and some acclimatization. With 2 days by car you add the hot springs and a calmer pace.
What is the altitude of Arequipa, and will I get altitude sickness?
The city is at about 2,335 m (7,661 ft), lower than Cusco. The tours out of the city go much higher: about 4,300 m at Salinas and about 4,900 m on the road to Colca. Spend a day in the city first, go up step by step and drink plenty of water.
Should I visit Arequipa before or after Cusco?
Before, if your route allows it. Arequipa sits about 1,000 m lower than Cusco, so a few days there and in Colca make a gentler start. Coming from Cusco works too: you arrive acclimatized and can do Colca or a volcano sooner.
What are the best day trips from Arequipa?
Colca Canyon in one day for the canyon and the condors; Salinas y Aguada Blanca for flamingos and vicuñas at about 4,300 m; Pillones for a waterfall and the Imata stone forest; and the City Tour + Sillar Route for the historic center and the quarries of white volcanic stone.
Can I climb Misti or Chachani without experience?
No technical climbing is needed, but both are demanding high-altitude ascents. Acclimatize for at least two or three days in Arequipa or higher, ideally after Colca, and for Chachani ideally after Misti.
Is the Colca tourist ticket included?
It is included on the Colca Canyon 2 Days by car and on the 4-day package. On the 1-day tour and the treks it is not included and is paid in cash at the checkpoint. Current prices are in our Colca Canyon guide.
When is the best time to see condors?
Our Colca tours reach Cruz del Cóndor in the morning, and in our guides’ experience about 8–10 a.m. is the best window. Sightings depend on the day.
What is the best time of year to visit?
May to October for the volcanoes and the Colca trek, with stable, dry weather and cold nights. December to May for flamingos at the Salinas lagoon, and December to March for Pillones at its fullest.