Colca Canyon Trek Without a Guide: Complete 3-Day Itinerary

We’ve always been captivated by condors and the rich mythology of the ancient Inca civilization. According to Incan belief, three sacred animals represented the three realms of existence: the condor symbolized the heavens, the puma stood for the world of the living, and the snake represented the underworld. With their powerful wings soaring high above the Andes, condors were seen as spiritual messengers between the earthly and divine.

So when we heard that Colca Canyon was one of the best places in the world to witness these majestic birds up close, we knew we couldn’t miss it. This 3-day Colca Canyon Trek took us along ancient Incan trails, through one of the deepest canyons on Earth, and gave us front-row views of the legendary condor in flight.

Now that we’ve completed the Colca Canyon Trek without a guide (independently), we’ve put together this in-depth guide to help you do the same. We break down the exact route we took, daily hiking distances, where to stay, how to get there, and all the tips we wish we knew before starting this epic adventure.

Is Colca Canyon Worth Visiting

Having already hiked our way through countless canyons in Utah’s National Parks and completed the epic Salkantay Trek (which we visited as part of our very first Peru itinerary), we honestly weren’t sure if Colca Canyon would wow us. But wow us it did, and then some.

Colca Canyon is so much more than just the challenge of hiking down and out of one of the world’s deepest canyons. Over the course of the 3 days of hiking, you’ll get to experience:

• Jaw-dropping canyon landscapes (we’ve seen the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Fish River Canyon in Namibia, and the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam—and Colca still left us speechless)
• Dramatic scenery changes, from pre-Incan farm terraces and golden brush fields to river valleys and lush cactus gardens
• Soak in one of the most unique geothermal hot springs tucked deep inside the canyons
• Witness the Milky way like never before  
• And up-close moments with the legendary Andean condor

So Yes, the Colca Canyon is definitely worth visiting.

What started as a “sure, why not?” addition to our Peru itinerary ended up being one of our absolute favourite experiences in the country.

Should you do the Colca Canyon Hike Independently or with a Guided Tour?

We ended up doing the Colca Canyon Trek without a guided tour and honestly, we think it is the best way to truly experience the canyon. Trekking without a group gave us the freedom to hike at our own pace, avoid the crowds of the classic route, and explore the canyon in a more authentic and relaxing way.

Exploring a non-crowded alternate route

Instead of sticking to the classic tourist trail, we mapped out an alternate route that led us through remote villages, and tucked-away sections of the canyon not commonly visited by tours. We got to soak in geothermal hot springs for hours and got to witness the Milky Way from there without any distractions. 

More local experience

Going without a tour also gave us a deeper connection to the local culture and understanding the daily life in the canyon that we likely wouldn’t have gotten with the classic itinerary. By passing through these more remote villages, we were able to stop and chat with them and better understand their way of life.

A lot less tiring of an Itinerary

Another big reason we chose not to join a guided tour is that most of them cram the long 6-hour bus rides from Arequipa into the 3-day itinerary. That means on day one, you’re up at 3 a.m., sitting on a bus for 6 hours, and then jumping straight into a 5-hour hike—definitely not the most relaxing start to the trek.

Less Expensive

And finally, from a budget perspective, doing the trek independently cost us only about a third of what most guided tours charge. We provide more details about the exact expenses further down in our guide.

The hike, although challenging, is very easy to navigate, especially with the help of the offline AllTrails Maps. If you have a moderate level of fitness and some experience doing multi-day hikes on your own, this 3-day Colca Canyon trek is totally doable—and so worth it.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to plan your own independent Colca Canyon trek: from crafting your itinerary and choosing where to stay, to mapping out the hiking route each day and sharing all our top tips.

Colca Canyon Trek: 3 Days Independent Hiking Itinerary Overview

Total Colca Canyon 3 day Trek Stats:

• Hike Duration: 16 hours
• Total Distance: 39km
• Difficulty: moderate-hard

Daily Overview of Colca Canyon Trek

• Day 1 (13.3km, 5 hours, 1,100m descent): Starting from the town of Cabanaconde, hike down towards Llahuar, where you’ll spend the night and enjoy the hot springs. Stay at LLahuar Lodge.
• Day 2 (15km, 6.5 hours, 854m elevation gain): Hike from Llahuar to San Juan de Chuccho (we thought it would be just hiking along the base of the canyon, but you actually hike half way up the canyon and then back down), spend the night at Colibri Lodge in San Juan de Chuccho.
• Day 3 (10.8km, 4.5 hours, 1,236m elevation gain): From Colibri Lodge, hike out of the canyon back to Cabanaconde where you’ll take the bus to Arequipa (we recommend the bus company Andalucia). 

You can then add on two days either at the beginning or end of the trip to stay at La Granja del Colca. This is the perfect base to explore the Condor viewpoints and relax surrounded by the incredible canyon landscapes. 

Detailed Colca Canyon Trek Itinerary

In this section, we’ll walk you through our full 5-day Colca Canyon itinerary – 3 days of trekking through the heart of the canyon and 2 days spent unwinding at the rim, soaking in the views and spotting condors.

Those extra days gave us time to breathe, relax, and really enjoy the area without feeling rushed between those long 6-hour bus rides from Arequipa. It struck the perfect balance of adventure, cultural immersion, and downtime—and we think it’s the best way to experience Colca Canyon.

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Where to Start your Colca Canyon Trek

Colca Canyon is massive, and if you simply type it into Google Maps, you’ll likely be directed to a totally different section of the Canyon, nowhere near where the trek actually happens. Instead, search for the town of Cabanaconde. This is where the Colca Canyon Trek begins and ends, and is also where you’ll find the bus terminal connecting you to Arequipa. 

Recommended: Stay at La Granja del Colca

To kick off your Colca Canyon Itinerary, we recommend spending two days at the canyon rim.  It’s the perfect chance to explore the condor viewpoints and recharge before diving into the three-day trek.

While you can base yourself in the gateway town of Cabanaconde during those two days, we’d highly recommend something a little more special—La Granja del Colca. 

Just a 15-minute drive from town, this stunning lodge sits right on the canyon’s edge, completely removed from civilization. You’ll get panoramic views of the canyon 24/7, and the best part? Condors glide right past your room. And did we mention the three ridiculously cute and affectionate dogs that live there? For us, they made the experience even more memorable!

Alternative: Stay in Cabanaconde, the gateway town to the hike

If however you prefer the convenience of staying in Cabanaconde where the Colca Canyon Trek begins, then we would recommend staying at Kuntur Wassi Colca Hotel. It’s one of the most charming hotels in town and is actually owned by the same lovely team behind La Granja del Colca.

Day 1: Bus from Arequipa to La Granja Del Colca

To get to Cabanaconde from Arequipa, you will have the option of taking the Tourist Shuttle or the regular intercity coach bus.

The Tourist shuttle departs at 3:10am, and takes around 6 hours to arrive at Cabanaconde. The advantage with the Tourist shuttle is that they will come pick you up right from your hotel, and also includes a 30 minute stop at the Condor viewpoint. 

Since we were already going to spend 2 days at La Granja del Colca, we instead decided to take the Andalucia intercity coach departing at 11:30am and arriving at around 5pm. This bus goes to Cabanaconde but you can ask the driver to drop you off at the entrance road to La Granja del Colca, and the hotel will pick you up from there. 

Once you arrive at La Granja del Colca, kick back and relax in the cozy lounge by the fireplace, and treat yourself to a delicious home-cooked meal at the onsite restaurant. By the time you arrive at the hotel, it’ll likely be dark outside so the jaw-dropping canyon views will have to wait until morning. But trust us, they’re worth the anticipation.

Day 2: Explore the Condor Viewpoints with a Short hike

On your second day at Colca Canyon, we recommend visiting the Condor Viewpoint (known as Mirador Cruz del Condor). While you can call a taxi from La Granja del Colca, we suggest taking the scenic one-hour hike that starts right from the lodge.

Hike to Condor Viewpoint

This route winds through peaceful countryside and offers stunning panoramic views along the way. One of the lodge’s friendly dogs even joined us for the entire hike, which made the experience even more fun and memorable. In total, the hike should take around 1 hour.

Explore the Condor Viewpoint

Aim to arrive at the Condor Viewpoint around 9 or 10am, as that’s when the Condors are the most active. We got there just before 10am and counted over 15 Condors soaring right above our heads. It was magical! 

Plan to spend about 1–2 hours at the viewpoint to take in the spectacle. Most of the tour buses start leaving around noon, so if you linger a little longer, you might just get the place (mostly) to yourself. There are also local vendors selling souvenirs and a man in a full condor costume if you’re in the mood for a fun photo op.

Don’t miss the lady selling the green cactus drink, and you can also ask her to spike it with a splash of pisco. It’s surprisingly delicious and great for digestion.

Return to La Granja del Colca

Once you’re ready, simply retrace your steps along the same hiking trail back to the Lodge. On the way back, nearby the parking lot of the lodge, make sure to also check out their little animal farm with alpacas, guinea pigs, ducks, and more! 

Spend the afternoon and especially the golden hours before sunset enjoying the view from one of the many outlooks around the Lodge. We recommend going to the one located behind the restaurant (West of the restaurant) which provides one of the most breathtaking views. 

Spent the night at La Granja del Colca.

Day 3: First day of Colca Canyon Trek (Cabanaconde to Llahuar)

To kick off your Colca Canyon trek, make your way to Cabanaconde and head toward the trailhead near the Plaza de Toros. If you stayed the night at La Granja del Colca, simply ask the hotel to arrange a taxi to drop you off.

Start of Colca Canyon Trek

The trek begins with a fairly easy descent as you wind your way through scenic farm terraces. But don’t get too comfortable—the trail soon takes a sharp turn as you begin a steep zigzag descent along the canyon wall after about 3 km. The path is clearly marked but consists of loose gravel, so sturdy hiking shoes are a must. Trekking poles will also be your best friends here. There’s little to no shade on this part of the hike, so a wide-brimmed hat is essential. We grabbed one last-minute in Cabanaconde, and it ended up being a total lifesaver!

The day’s hike is roughly 13 km, with the majority being a challenging downhill descent. It should take around 5 hours to reach Llahuar Lodge. We started hiking at 10 am and arrived around 2:30–3:00 pm—just in time to reward ourselves with a long soak in the natural geothermal hot springs.

Trust us, after all that downhill, your knees and quads will thank you. In fact, we’d argue that going down is often tougher than climbing up, so don’t underestimate this section.

Arrive at Llahuar Lodge

Llahuar Lodge has a simple but satisfying restaurant where you can grab dinner and wind down. But if you’ve still got a little energy left after your meal, we highly recommend heading back down to the hot springs after dark to admire the stars. We stayed there for a solid two hours gazing up at the Milky Way and it was one of the most magical moments of the entire trek.

Day 4: Second Day of Colca Canyon Trek (Llahuar to San Juan de Chuccho)

We initially thought Day 2 would be a breeze—after all, we were just walking along the bottom of the canyon, right? Wrong. This ended up being one of the most physically demanding days of the entire Colca Canyon Trek. 

Challenging route of Day 2 of Colca Canyon Trek

The route from Llahuar to San Juan de Chuccho is a rollercoaster of terrain.

You’ll start by climbing from 2100 meters to nearly 2800 meters, followed by a mostly flat 6 km traverse, and then finish with a descent back down to around 2400 meters.

That is nearly 800 meters of uphill (which is practically 3/4 of the way out of the canyon), followed by another 400 meters of descent, all across 15km of rough trail. It took us about 6.5 hours in total.

We recommend starting the hike around 9-10am so you can be sure to arrive at Colibri Lodge before sunset. 

Despite the effort, this was one of our favourite days on the trail. The variety of landscapes is just incredible. You’ll wind through shaded groves of avocado and other native fruit trees, walk along the ridgeline with sweeping views of the oasis valley and the river far below, and pass through entire forests of towering cacti.

Late Lunch break

Midway through the hike, you’ll also pass through the small village of Malata. This is a great place to take a break and grab some lunch. There are apparently a few restaurants in town but we couldn’t actually find any of them. Luckily, we stumbled upon a small eatery inside one of the local hotels. The food was simple, delicious, and incredibly affordable, which was exactly what we needed to power through the rest of the trek.

Spend the night at Colibri Lodge in San Juan de Chuccho

You’ll be spending the night at Colibri Lodge which turned out to be an incredibly modern hotel tucked away in the canyon groves. After two days of hiking, the cozy queen-size bed felt like absolute luxury. They also have an on-site restaurant, and the food was equally delicious!

Day 5: Final Day of Colca Canyon Trek (San Juan de Chuccho to Cabanaconde)

Today is all about the uphill grind and getting back out of the Canyon. Starting from Colibri Lodge in San Juan de Chuccho, you’ll have a brief flat trek to cross over the river before the steep ascent kicks in. To our surprise, despite being the final push, we found this day to be the least challenging of the entire trek. 

You’ll hike a total of 10.8 km with an elevation gain of 1,236 meters, which took us about 4.5 hours. The trail is well-maintained, and in many sections, you’ll even find built-in stone steps, making the climb feel more manageable than the first day’s descent.

And don’t worry—the views make every step worth it. As you zigzag up the canyon wall, you’ll be treated to sweeping vistas of the valley below and dramatic rock pillars towering around you.

We recommend starting the hike at around 8am after a light breakfast since you’ll need to catch the bus in Cabanaconde at 1:30pm. From there, the bus will take you back to Arequipa along the 6 hour journey. 

Where to stay during the Colca Canyon Hike

Over the course of our 5-day Colca Canyon itinerary, we spent the first two nights on the canyon rim at La Granja del Colca, soaking in the views of the condors and preparing for the trek. If instead you prefer to stay in Cabanaconde for the first two days before the trek, then we would recommend staying at Kuntur Wassi Colca Hotel.

Once on the trail, we stayed at Llahuar Lodge on night one, where we unwound in their amazing natural hot springs. On night two, we settled into Colibri Lodge — a surprisingly modern and cozy stay tucked away deep in the canyon.

• Day 1-2: La Granja del Colca (or at Kuntur Wassi Colca hotel if staying directly in Cabanaconde)
• Day 3: Llahuar Lodge (in Llahuar town, First night of the hike)
• Day 4: Colibri Lodge (in San Juan de Chuccho, second night of the hike)
• Day 5: Returning to Arequipa by bus

How many days do you need to hike Colca Canyon?

When searching online, you will notice that most Colca Canyon trips range from 1 to 3 days. But since the canyon is located about 6 hours from Arequipa, we strongly recommend spending at least 3 full days hiking to truly experience the landscape—not just see it.

In fact, we ended up extending our trip by 2 more days to enjoy the canyon rim from the beautiful La Granja del Colca hotel, and also fully explore the famous condor viewpoints. 

If your schedule allows, we highly recommend dedicating 5 total days to the Colca Canyon, where 3 of those days are spent doing the hike. 

Here’s a breakdown of what each length of Colca Canyon Trek Tour typically includes:

• 1-Day Colca Canyon Trips: You’ll spend nearly 12 hours on the road just to peek into the canyon from the rim. You will visit the condor viewpoints but there’s no time to hike down into the canyon.
• 2-Day Colca Canyon Trips: Most guided routes descend to the Sangalle Oasis on Day 1, where you’ll stay overnight, then return the same way you came on Day 2.
• 3-Day Colca Canyon Trips: This is the sweet spot. You can stay overnight at the Llahuar hot springs, hike across the canyon floor, spend another night in San Juan de Chuccho, and then ascend via a completely different route. This itinerary offers more variety, better scenery, fewer crowds, and a much more enjoyable pace.

If you’re serious about experiencing Colca Canyon beyond the surface, 3 days on the trail (and ideally a couple more to explore the surrounding area) is the way to go.

How to go from Arequipa to Colca Canyon

If you are doing the Colca Canyon Trek without a tour, then you will need to arrange your own transportation to Cabanaconde. 

Tourist Shuttle (most convenient)

You have the option of either taking the Tourist Shuttle or the intercity coach buses. The advantage of the Tourist Shuttle is that they pick you up right from your hotel in Arequipa, includes a 30 minutes stop at the Condor Viewpoint, before bringing you to Cabanaconde. This is ideal if you will not be spending those 2 extra days at La Granja del Colca or Cabanaconde, but want to still experience the Condor Viewpoint (where you’ll see the biggest concentration of condors, and it is absolutely worth it). The Tourist Shuttle departs at around 3am, so you’ll arrive quite early in Cabanaconde at around 10-11am.

Intercity coach bus (Cheaper)

If you’d rather travel by intercity coach, both Andalucia and Transandino operate buses from the Arequipa Bus Terminal to Cabanaconde. The ride takes about 6 hours and typically includes a brief stop in Chivay. We took the 11:30 am bus and arrived at La Granja del Colca around 5:00 pm. Below, you’ll find a summary of all available departure times from Arequipa to Cabanaconde.

Bus company	Departure from Arequipa	Arrive to Cabanaconde
Transandino	12:00am	5:00am
Transandino	3:00am	8:00am
Andalucia	3:30am	8:40am
Andalucia	11:30am**	4:50pm
Transandino	12:30pm	5:30pm
Andalucia	1:30pm	7:15pm
Andalucia	11:45pm	6:15am

It is also possible to take a bus from Cabanaconde to Puno, if you’re looking to continue your journey at Lake Titicaca. The bus ride takes around 10 hours.

This post is part of our series about Peru. If you want to learn more about Peru, planning your trip, and some of the best experiences there, check out the guides below:

10 Day Itinerary Peru: Machu Picchu hike, Cusco, and Lima (2025)

What to Expect on the 4 Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

Essential Tips for Colca Canyon Trek

To help make your Colca Canyon hike as smooth as possible, here are some essential tips.

Bring a Hat

I’m not usually a hat person, but picking one up for the Colca Canyon Trek was one of the best decisions I made. The sun at 3000 meters is intense, and with almost zero shade along the trail, you’ll feel it fast. A wide-brimmed hat is your best friend out here — ideally one with a neck flap for extra protection. I grabbed one in Cabanaconde right before the hike, and it seriously saved me from getting scorched.

Bring Sunscreen

Even with a hat, we recommend getting some sunscreen. This will be useful for putting around your neck and arms, which will still be exposed to the sun. We forgot to bring ours so bought a few little packets of sunscreen in Cabanaconde.

Start the Hike early

Start the hike early to avoid the sun: If possible we recommend starting your hike early to avoid the peak hours of sun. During midday, with the sun right above you, there will be no respite from the heat. 

Use Alltrails Offline Maps

While the initial descent into the canyon and the final climb back out follow well-defined paths, the middle section of the trek can get a bit confusing. That’s because these trails wind through villages and farmland, where locals have created multiple route options. To avoid taking a wrong turn, we highly recommend downloading the AllTrails map for offline use. It was a lifesaver for navigating this less straightforward part of the hike.

Bring a lot of water

Make sure to prepare a lot of water for your hike. Due to the heat and dryness, you’ll need to drink a lot of water throughout the hike. Also, to our surprise, there were only very few shops where you can purchase more water. On Day 1, the only shop we found was a village maybe 10 mins before arriving in Llahuar. On Day 2, there’s a village with shops only about halfway through the trek. and on the final day, there are no shops. 

Best Colca Canyon Tours

If you are less comfortable with embarking on this 3 day hike without a guide, there are a lot of excellent guided tours available that will handle all the logistics, hotels, and guided navigation during the hike. Most of the tours will be following a similar trail, starting from Cabanaconde and descending to San Juan de Chuccho, then going to Sangalle Oasis, before hiking back up. Then on the way back to Arequipa by bus, there will be an included stop at Chivay where you’ll get to enjoy some natural hot springs. 

Do note that the classic guided tour itinerary is different than the one we did independently. They do the route counter-clockwise, visit San Juan de Chuccho, but do not go all the way to Llahuar where there are natural hot springs. Instead, they stop at the popular town of Sangalle (around mid-point between San Juan de Chuccho and Llahuar) where you’ll find the oasis and swimming pools. 

For guided tours, you can either do a 2 day hike or 3 day hike. Given that it takes 6 hours each-way to get to Cabanaconde from Arequipa, we suggest doing the 3 day hike and having more time to experience the canyon.

Recommended Colca Canyon Tours:

• 3 Day Colca Canyon Hiking Tour: This tour recommended by 96% of travellers, with a 4.8/5 rating brings you through San Juan de Chuccho and Sangalle Oasis. You’ll also get to visit the Condor Viewpoint on the way there, and experience the hot springs of Chivay on the way back to Arequipa! 
   
• 2 Day Colca Canyon Hiking Tour: This highly rated tour (4.5/5) takes you on a condensed version of the classic trek. On day one, you’ll descend into the canyon and pass through San Juan de Chuccho, continuing all the way to Sangalle, where you’ll spend the night. The next day, you’ll tackle the steep ascent back up to Cabanaconde. This tour follows a similar route to the 3-day trek, but with longer hiking distances packed into each day — making it a more intense option for those short on time.
  
• 1 Day Colca Canyon Guided Tour with Meals: If ever you don’t have the time to do the hike, but would still like to enjoy the breathtaking canyon views and spotting condors, then we would recommend this Full-day Colca Canyon Guided tour. Watching these majestic birds soar above one of the world’s deepest canyons is absolutely worth the trip — even if it’s just for the day.

FAQ

Is the colca Canyon Hike Hard?

We’ve done our fair share of multi-day hikes around the world — from the Salkantay Trek in Peru to hut-to-hut hikes in the Dolomites, volcano trekking in Guatemala, and hiking across Patagonia — and we’d rate this hike around a 7.5 out of 10 in terms of difficulty.

What makes it challenging is the near-constant steep incline or descent. There are very few flat sections to catch your breath.

You’ll also be hiking under the open sun with little to no shade, in dry air that can really sap your energy and thirst. And don’t forget the altitude: you’ll be hiking at around 3,000 meters, so every step takes a bit more effort and oxygen than you might be used to.

With that said, this trek is absolutely worth it. If you’re in decent shape and comfortable hiking for 4–5 hours at a time, you should be fine. Just pace yourself, stay hydrated, and get ready for some incredible views!

Is it safe to do the Colca Canyon Hike without guide?

Whenever we embark on hikes without guide, our primary concern is always safety.

Having now completed the 3 day trek independently, we would say the hike is quite safe to do without a guide.

The route navigation is fairly easy, especially with the AllTrails offline maps, and the trail is fairly well trafficked, you’re unlikely to feel isolated. If anything were to happen, chances are there will be other hikers nearby.

To our surprise, there was also cellular reception for most of the trek, which added an extra layer of reassurance. Just be sure to go through our guide carefully — we’ve packed it with tips and recommendations to help you feel fully prepared.

Cost of doing the Colca Canyon Trek without a tour

By doing the hike without guide, it will cost you around 50-60% of what a guided hiking tour would cost in Colca Canyon.

In total, we spent around 265 CAD (190 USD) for the two of us, including return transport from Arequipa to Cabanaconde, the 2 nights accommodation in Colca Canyon (in private room with en-suite bathrooms), the park entrance fees, and all meals.

In comparison, a 3 day guided Colca Canyon tour would cost for two people 250 USD + 140 PEN (40 USD) for the park entrance fee, for a total of 290 USD. Keep in mind that for most tours, you’ll be in shared rooms with shared bathrooms.

Should you hike Colca Canyon clock-wise or counter-clockwise?

If you plan to hike Colca Canyon independently, we highly recommend following the same clockwise route we did. The main reason? You’ll get to enjoy the hot springs right after your first day of trekking, exactly when your muscles will need it most!

In our experience, the first day’s steep descent was the toughest on our legs and knees and we were pretty sore after. Soaking in the geothermal baths that evening made a huge difference, helping us recover and feel ready for the next two days on the trail.

We also found that the most breathtaking views of the canyon were on the second and third days of the hike. And honestly, we’re big believers in saving the best for last. This way, it gives you that extra motivation to keep going, knowing the most rewarding scenery is still ahead!

Can you visit Colca Canyon in two days?

Yes, there are several guided Colca Canyon hiking options that are 2 days and one night. By following this route, you will be descending from Cabanaconde to San Juan de Chuccho and then hiking straight to Sangalle Oasis. Then the next day you’ll be hiking straight back up to Cabanaconde. It’s the same route as the 3-day version, just condensed into fewer days, meaning longer hiking days and a tougher challenge overall.

Where to see the Condors in Colca Canyon?

While it’s possible to spot a few condors during the Colca Canyon trek, the best place to see them up close is definitely at the Mirador Cruz del Condor viewpoint. During our 3-day hike, we only saw two condors flying far in the distance. But at the mirador, we easily saw over 30 soaring right above our heads. Most guided tour options will include a 30-40 minute stop at the Mirador on the first day. 

If you’ll be doing the hike independently, you’ll need to arrange the visit to the Mirador yourself. But by staying at La Granja del Colca like us, you can easily hike over directly to the Mirador, avoiding the pricey taxi from Cabanaconde. 

Where are the hotsprings in Colca Canyon?

The only hot springs during the hike in Colca Canyon are in Llahuar. Most tours do not seem to visit there, hence why we decided to hike the canyon independently. However, the tours will bring you to the town of Chivay, where there are some hot springs. 

Where to stay before Colca Canyon Hike?

We recommend staying at La Granja del Colca (like we did) and enjoy one of the most spectacular views of the entire canyon right from your room! If instead you prefer to stay in Cabanaconde, the gateway town to the hike, then we recommend Kuntur Wassi Hotel. 

Where to go after Colca Canyon Hike?

After doing the Colca Canyon hike, you can either return to Arequipa and explore the rest of the coast (Huacachina, Paracas, Lima), or head south to Puno to discover Lake Titicaca. 

Using WISE card in Peru

When taking cash out of an ATM while abroad, you will most likely be charged both a foreign exchange fee and a foreign transaction fee by that country’s ATM. With my Canadian card, this can easily be 3-4$ + 2.75% + a markup on the exchange rate charged by my bank, and then another 3-5$ charged by the foreign ATM.

This can be really costly. For this reason, we recommend using WISE card which has only minimal fees and just about no foreign currency exchange markup. This helps me save at least 5-7$ every time I take out money from an ATM. If you want to see our full review of the card showing exactly how WISE can help you save, check out our WISE Travel card Review post.

Summary: Colca Canyon 3 days Hike without Guide

Trekking through Colca Canyon was one of the most rewarding adventures we’ve done, not just for the stunning scenery and breathtaking views of the Milky Way, but for the chance to witness the majestic condors soaring just overhead. Whether you’re drawn by the mythology, the landscapes, or the thrill of hiking one of the world’s deepest canyons, we hope this guide helps you feel prepared and excited to take it on. Trust us — it’s 100% worth it.

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