Colca Canyon Hike

Peru is a stunning country. The geography varies so much across the country and there is so much to do. From the beaches to the mountains, Peru will amaze you. While many people immediately think of Machu Picchu when it comes to hiking in Peru, there are a ton of other unbelievable hikes. Colca Canyon is one of them. Colca Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the world- it is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the United States. Located in southern Peru, Colca Canyon is a canyon of the Colca River.

There are a few options when it comes to hiking Colca Canyon. Most people opt for either a 2-day or 3-day hike. The 2-day hike is slightly more strenuous as you have less time to rest while inside the canyon. I decided on the 3-day hike. You will need a guide and you can easily book one while in Arequipa. There are a ton of companies that will set you up with a guide, transportation and a place to stay while in the canyon.

Before I started the actual hike, I went to Cruz del Condor, a popular tourist stop to view the Andean condor, a bird species that has been the focus of conservation efforts worldwide. Seeing the condors fly so close by was amazing.

The first day of the hike through Colca Canyon is pretty relaxed. As you descend into the canyon you will be able to take in some amazing views and won’t strain out your body too much since most of the hike is downhill. I had a fun group that ended up hiking the canyon with me. The 5 of us all got along really well which definitely made the 3 days much more enjoyable. When we arrived at our final destination for day 1, we relaxed, played some cards and found some berries and prickly pear cactuses to eat. We were staying at a “house” in the middle of the canyon. The couple that owned the house gave us our rooms and showed us where the outdoor shower was. We made sure to shower before nightfall because not only does the canyon get really cold, but it also gets really dark at night! I was sleeping in a room with a girl from London. The 3 boys in our group were staying in the room next to us. There were openings between the walls so we could all talk to each other even though we weren’t in the same room. The boys kept trying to scare us as they discussed the scorpion that they found in their room. Funny enough, there ended up being a scorpion in our room as well! Luckily, we found out they weren’t poisonous, but it definitely caused some excitement between our group.

The second day was not too tough, much like the first day. The hike only took us a few hours. We were able to stop and take in the breathtaking views. We also covered ourselves in the “blood” of the prickly pear cactuses. 

When we arrived at our stop for the night, we couldn’t have been more thrilled. We were to stay at Paraiso Ecolodge. The lodge is run sustainably with hot water from solar-heated tanks, recycled wood for the tables & chairs, and armchairs made from synthetic fibers (not animal skins). There is a small pool, hammocks to rest in, gardens, and we had beautiful, cool weather. We were all dreading waking up at 4am the next day to start what would be a very strenuous hike up and out of the canyon, but for the moment, we were in heaven. We spent time relaxing in the hammocks, drank a couple of piscos from the little “café,” ate some Sublime chocolates, and spent a couple of minutes in the way too cold swimming pool. We slept comfortably in the bungalows before waking up at 4am to start our hike up.

The hike up was not easy. We woke up before sunrise to avoid the heat of the sun. The hike was completely uphill and it took between 2-3 hours. While it was difficult, it was definitely worth doing. When we reached the top we felt accomplished. We were sweaty and tired but as we looked out over the canyon we felt alive and grateful for the adventure.