2 Days Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno

Colca Canyon tours are interesting because they mix serious altitude scenery with very human pacing. You start in the high Andean reserves, you relax in thermal pools, and you end with the classic condor viewpoint, then continue right on to Puno.

I especially like two things. First, the small-group setup (max 20) makes the long days feel organized, not chaotic. Second, the bilingual guiding, including names like Flor and Jesus, means you get the story in English and Spanish without losing anything important.

One possible drawback: your biggest extra costs are not the tour price. Food in Chivay and the compulsory income fees are separate, and drop-offs for hotels outside Chivay and Puno may require a short walk or a meet-up point.

Key highlights worth knowing before you go

• Condor timing at Cruz del Condor at about 8:10 am, built for the morning flight window
• Abra Patapampa at 4,910 meters for big view payoff early in Day 1
• Chacapi hot springs near Yanque with optional activities like horseback, cuatrimotos, or zipline (not included)
• Bilingual guidance in English and Spanish, with standout guides such as Flor and Jesus
• Transfer to Puno with a bathroom bus from Chivay, arriving around 19:30
• Hotel included in Chivay at Anita’s House, in the main square area

Day 1 driving through Salinas, Abra Patapampa, and onward to Chivay

This is not the kind of tour where you just ride and look out a window. Day 1 is built around altitude, wildlife, and smart stops that keep you moving while still letting you breathe and take photos.

You’re picked up from central Arequipa area, and if your hotel is away from the meeting point, the pickup is at the main square in front of the cathedral around 7:30 am. From there, you head toward the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve, skirting the slopes of the Chachani volcano. The reserve is a great first hit because you quickly see classic Andean camelids like vicuñas, llamas, and alpacas, rather than waiting until the canyon part to get the wow factor.

Patahuasi warm drink stops for altitude comfort

Before you climb toward the highest viewpoints, you stop at Patahuasi and sip hot drinks used in the region to help with altitude comfort. Options listed include muña and chachacoma, plus mate Inca. This is a small thing, but it helps the day feel thoughtful, especially if you’re not used to high elevations.

You also get a brief break to regroup. At these heights, even a short pause matters because you want your head clear for the next viewpoint.

Salinas y Aguada Blanca Reserve, then Tocrapampa wetlands

After the camelid-viewing moment, you head toward Tocrapampa and natural wetlands. This is where you’re looking for high Andean birds and migratory birds, not just the big scenic moments. If you like bird spotting or you simply want variety beyond alpacas, this stop is worth paying attention to.

Time on the ground is short, so bring your patience and keep your camera ready. If you only care about condors later, at least you’ll understand the geography of the region by the time you reach the canyon.

Abra Patapampa volcano viewpoint at 4,910 meters

Next up is Abra Patapampa, the “volcano lookout” area at 4,910 meters above sea level. The tour frames this as a key high point for looking at volcanic mountain ranges, and it’s the kind of stop where the views do the talking.

This is one of those moments where you need layers. Even if the sun is out, it can feel cold and thin up there. I like that this is scheduled early enough that you still have the rest of the day to warm up and settle in.

Chivay lunch, then Chacapi hot springs at the end of Day 1

You descend toward Chivay for lunch. The buffet or menu options are not included, and you can choose based on your appetite and budget. This is also where the tour shifts from wildlife and altitude viewpoints to the more relaxed canyon base-town pace.

After lunch, you drive to Chacapi Hot Springs in Yanque. The thermal pools are listed as above 35°C, and that alone is a good reason to do this tour format. The hot springs time is about two hours, and you have optional add-ons such as horseback riding, cuatrimotos trails, or zipline, but those are not included in the tour price.

Once the thermal soak is over, you return to Chivay for your accommodation.

Night in Chivay, dinner options, and an easy cultural extra

For the evening, you’re back in Chivay, and dinner is not included. There is also an optional tourist restaurant visit with typical dances and music, which is a fun way to fill the night without scrambling for plans.

I like that this is optional. You can go if you want a low-effort cultural evening, or you can just rest if your body needs recovery after the high points.

Your included lodging is a 2-star hotel called Anita’s House. One detail that makes this a little more comfortable than it sounds on paper is that it’s in a central area in Chivay, and it includes breakfast before Day 2. If you like starting the next day fed, this matters, because Day 2 is viewpoint-heavy.

Day 2: Condor Cross, Mirador Antahuilque, Maca, and the ride to Puno

Day 2 is the classic “big views in the morning, checkpoints on the way back” structure. The early start is intentional, because the condors are most impressive when you’re at the viewpoint with enough morning light and patience.

You start after breakfast, then pass through Yanque. A quick visit to the church and square in Yanque is part of the drive. It’s brief, but it gives you a sense of how the towns sit inside the valley system.

Cruz del Condor at about 8:10 am

The highlight is Mirador Cruz del Condor, with arrival around 8:10 am. The tour emphasizes waiting for condors to fly, and it’s also where you get the dimension of the canyon, described as one of the deepest in the world at 4,160 meters.

This is where you should adjust expectations in a helpful way. Condors are wild birds, so you might see one glide by quickly, or you might get a few passes. Either way, the viewpoint is built for canyon scale, and you’ll feel it even if the bird action is light that day.

Photo stops on the return: Wayrapunku, Antahuilque, Choquetico

On the way back, you stop at Mirador viewpoints including Wayrapunku, Antahuilque, and Choquetico. The tour calls these “photographic hiking” stops, and in practice that means you’ll likely get short opportunities to step out, walk a bit, and photograph from angles you cannot get from the bus.

I like this structure because it keeps Day 2 varied. You’re not only waiting in one spot, you’re getting moving photo moments.

Maca for Colca Sour and the Santa Ana church

Next you visit Maca, known for keeping its colonial church Santa Ana. You also get time to taste a Colca Sour. This part is short and simple, but it adds flavor, literally and culturally, before you leave the canyon region behind.

Laguna Lagunillas near Puno, then arrival around 19:30

Finally, you return to Chivay for lunch, then board the bus toward Puno from Chivay station. The bus includes a bathroom, and you arrive at about 19:30.

Along the route, there’s a short visit at the viewpoint of Cordillera Volcánica, and you can stop again in Patahuasi for a drink or snack if you want. The last viewpoint stop is Laguna Lagunillas, described as a sector of Puno for photographing birds and South American camelids. If you want your final photos to include living wildlife, this helps.

Once you reach Puno, if your lodging is in the city center, you may be able to get dropped at or near your accommodation.

Price and what you are really paying for

At $100 per person, the headline number looks easy. The value is better understood when you look at what’s included that would cost you separately: a small-group tour, an English and Spanish accredited guide, transportation with air conditioning, a Chivay hotel (Anita’s House), and a transfer day that gets you all the way to Puno.

What you should budget for beyond that price is also clear. Food in Chivay is not included, and that means two lunches and one dinner are extra. The listing gives prices for buffet lunch at 10 USD and dinner at 8 USD, so you can roughly plan your spend if you want to stay cost-controlled.

Then there are compulsory income fees listed by category: foreign income 70, Latino 40, and domestic 20. These can be a surprise if you only look at the tour price. I’d rather you plan for them upfront, so you feel calm at check-in.

Also keep in mind that hotel transfers are not included if your place is outside Chivay and Puno. The tour can still work, but you may need to be okay with a short walk or meeting point.

Transport comfort on a long route, and how to time your day

The driving is a core part of the experience, and it’s not a quick, light jaunt. You’re doing a loop that climbs high viewpoints, returns for hot springs, then starts early again for condors and viewpoints. The good news is that the vehicle is air-conditioned.

If you’re sensitive to motion, bring basic comfort supplies. The bus is described as having a bathroom for the section from Chivay to Puno, which helps for the long ride when you land close to dinner time in Puno.

One practical note: pickup time is 7:30 if you’re away from the meeting point, but if you’re near central pickup, your exact time still comes from confirmation. I suggest you plan a relaxed breakfast and be ready a bit early, because mornings at altitude can feel faster than you expect.

Who this tour fits, and who should consider something else

This is a great match if you want a lot of “Colca classics” without dealing with logistics. The small group size helps, the bilingual guidance helps, and the itinerary rhythm keeps you from spending all day just sitting.

You’ll likely love it if you:

• want condor viewing timed for the morning flight window
• want hot springs right at the end of Day 1
• care about wildlife and birds across multiple stops, not only the canyon viewpoint
• are moving on to Lake Titicaca or Bolivia after Puno

It may not be ideal if you:

• have a tight budget for add-ons, since meals and income fees are separate
• need hotel door-to-door service for places outside Chivay and Puno
• hate early mornings, because Day 2 aims for the condor viewpoint at about 8:10 am

My booking advice: should you choose this Colca plus Puno route?

If you’re trying to cover Colca Canyon and still reach Puno the same trip, this is a smart way to do it. The biggest win is that you are not stuck backtracking. You go from canyon viewpoints to a Puno arrival around 19:30 with a bus that has a bathroom.

I’d book it if you want an organized, small-group day with clear priorities: reserve wildlife, high viewpoints, hot springs recovery, and then condors. I’d also book it if you like the idea of a bilingual guide, and you’ll enjoy the human touch that names like Flor and Jesus bring, based on how they handle information in both languages.

If you’re traveling ultra-budget or you hate paying fees that are separate from the tour price, plan your extra spend before you book. Once you do that math, the $100 price feels more fair, because you are buying time, transport, guiding, and an actual included bed in Chivay.

FAQ

How long is the Colca Canyon tour, including the transfer to Puno?

It runs for about 2 days. The schedule is designed so you arrive in Puno around 19:30 on Day 2.

What is the pickup time in Arequipa?

If your hotel or Airbnb is away from the meeting point, pickup is at the main square in front of the cathedral at 7:30 am.

Is the tour guide available in English?

Yes. The tour includes an accredited professional guide in English and Spanish.

Is the hotel included?

Yes. You get a 2-star hotel stay at Anita’s House in Chivay.

What meals are included, and what should I pay for?

Food in Chivay is not included, including 2 lunches and 1 dinner. The listing shows a buffet option for lunch at 10 USD and dinner at 8 USD.

Are the entry fees included in the price?

No. The tour lists compulsory income fees separately, including foreign income 70, Latino 40, and domestic 20.

Does the tour include activities at the hot springs?

Chacapi hot springs are included, but optional activities like horseback, cuatrimotos trails, and zipline are not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, free cancellation is offered. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.