3 Day 2 Night Trek / Colca Canyon
4.3
3 Day 2 Night Trek / Colca Canyon
By Trek The Colca
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Ages 12-70, max of 12 per group
Duration: 3 days
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English, Spanish
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Highlights
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Lunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Breakfast
What's not included- Entrance to the Colca Canyon / 70 soles for most of nationalities
- Entrance to the Hot Spring / 15 soles
- Last lunch in Chivay / Buffet for 30 soles.
- Entry/Admission - Colca Canyon
- Entry/Admission - Colca Canyon
- Entry/Admission - Colca Canyon
- Entry/Admission - Hot Springs Chacapi
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.Pickup details
- We pick up participants between 3:00 - 3:30 am. You must be ready for the pick up in the reception of your accommodation from 3:00 am. If your accommodation is not in the list, please select anyone and send us a message with the name of it after you book.
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 167832P3- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
- All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 167832P3
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$154.00
per adult
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- renzoo5850 contributionsHighly recommended!It was my first trek in Peru, and it didn’t disappoint. The hike has some tough sections, but the views and atmosphere make up for everything. The pool at the lodge at the end of the first day felt like a reward after all the effort.Written March 18, 2025
- gustavooI4911SD0 contributionsAwesome experience!The Colca canyon is spectacular and the route lets you appreciate its vastness from different angles. The highlight for me was watching the condors soar at sunrise. This was an experience I’ll never forget.Written March 18, 2025
- marthaelviras20250 contributionsUnforgettableI did this amazing trek with friends, and it was an unforgettable adventure. I’d recommend bringing bottled water and being physically prepared. This trek is not easy but it is 100% worth it!Written March 18, 2025
- CGal70 contributionsTransfer to Puno including Colca CanyonIt is a long day with pick up at 3am and drop off in Puno at 6pm, but the company picked us up when they said they would and the guides were good. We saw Condors, went in the thermal springs and effectively incorporated a travel day so would recommend for anyone doing similar.Written October 20, 2024
- M6501IZcaroleb0 contributionsColca CanyonThe early start warranted this amazing tour. It was well organised and we were rewarded with the spectacular view of Colca Canyon and the Condors. The visit to the hot springs is a must!Written September 15, 2024
- R1987IQronaldd0 contributionsDisappointmentBecause I broke my ankle three four weeks ago, I wasn’t able to go on the tour. I was disappointed! I was also disappointed that I wasn’t able to get a refund; but I knew that in advance .Written September 4, 2024
- V3658BTscotth0 contributionsColca canyon trekkingI came to Peru looking for nice hikes, Colca canyon did not dissapoint me, it is a wonderful place to hike. Although the 2 day trek is quite cahllenging, it is 100% worth it. If you hike regularly this 2 day trek is definitely for youWritten March 18, 2024
- MChBayona0 contributionsNature is beautifulA beautiful landscape, the views are amazing, the weather is good, an experience to connect with nature, I highly recommend it.Written February 17, 2024
- FarAway086345901180 contributionsEfficient and helpfulWe had little time to visit Peru, so this transfer has been incredibly helpful and gave us the opportunity to visit Canyon Colca. It was a long transfer (9h of bus in total), but we couldn't really feel it as there were many breaks. We changed bus 3 times, but it was smooth and they carried our luggages for us. It's still one of the most expensive transfer we've done but it was worth it. We also enjoyed the hot water break and we slept a lot in the busWritten February 12, 2024
- 260wilmerz0 contributionsUnforgettable Romantic Getaway!Our romantic getaway to the Colca Canyon was made unforgettable by David. The distinctiveness of the route compared to others added a touch of romance to our trip. The guide's expertise and friendly demeanor created a comfortable atmosphere, making the journey even more special. Witnessing the breathtaking views together and spotting numerous condors was the perfect backdrop for our couple's retreat.Written February 12, 2024
- danielgB1307HW0 contributionsA Solo Adventure Beyond Expectations!As a solo traveler, my experience with this agency in the Colca Canyon was nothing short of amazing! The unique itinerary provided a fresh perspective, and the knowledgeable guide made the journey even more enjoyable. Exploring the surroundings was an eye-opener, and the friendly atmosphere of the group enhanced the entire experience. Bonus points for the unexpected wildlife sightings, truly a solo adventure to remember!Written February 12, 2024
- leslieaG4776VS0 contributionsBeautiful place!One of our reasons for doing this tour was to be able to walk a lot while enjoying beautiful landscapes. This 2-day tour met our expectations and we were able to walk several kilometers until we reached Sangalle, which was the place where we slept. On day 2 we didn't walk much, but it was challenging having to climb the canyon until we got back to Cabanaconde. The transfer to Puno made things much easier for us, because we did not have to return back to Arequipa to continue our trip in Peru.Written January 26, 2024
- ronaldojosues0 contributionsGreat experience to watch condors!In my opinion, the best part of visiting the Colca Canyon is being able to enjoy nature. My favorite part was being able to see the condors fly. Condors are the second largest flying birds in the world after the albatross.Written January 26, 2024
- leticiamU9529UT0 contributionsConvenient tour!This tour is quite convenient if you want to visit Colca and then head to Puno. The transfer to Puno is done in a different vehicle, since most people return to Arequipa.Written January 26, 2024
- jaimenC3561KR0 contributionsAmazing landscapesWhen I heard about the Colca Canyon, my mind focused on just the canyon and the cliffs (something very beautiful by the way) however, this tour offers much more. Apart from the canyon, during this tour I really enjoyed the beautiful view of the volcanoes that are drawn in the background. Something incredible was also that right next to the road there were many vicuñas, something I did not expect. During the first day's walk our guide made several stops to explain the history of Colca and also told us very interesting things about medicinal plants in the area. Without a doubt, you must visit this place.Written January 24, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.3
18 reviews
Excellent
14
Very good
0
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Stuart L
2 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
We spend 3 days in the amazing colca canyon. We really enjoyed hiking 4 hours during the morning each day. The accommodations were surrounded by lots of trees and it was cool to wake up and take a look to the nature, the river and the huge walls. 100% recommended for travelers who want to spend some days out of the city.
Written May 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luis A
2 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
Our group of friends had an amazing time on this 3 days trek. The itinerary allowed us to take in the stunning scenery and take plenty of photos. The hike was challenging but doable and we were able to enjoy the various stops along the way. The meals provided were delicious and we were able to try local dishes. The hot springs were a great way to relax after the trek. We highly recommend this tour!
Written May 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gion C
Wartau, Switzerland39 contributions
Dec 2019
We were on a 3-day trek in the Colca Canyon. We highly recommend the 3 days tour, it's more relaxing than a 2 days tour. First day we hiked down to San Juan de Chuccho. The second day we went through the canyon to the Oasis Sangalle, where we had the whole afternoon free time to relax and swim. Third day, going up was the strongest part, but also for us - 67/62 year old couple - without problems. We were a great group and had a very nice and competent guide with James. Thank you very much James!
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John L
2 contributions
Apr 2023 • Friends
We had a great time exploring the Colca canyon. We also were lucky to have an amazing tour guide who made our 3 days incredible. I honestly recommend everyone booking this 3-day tour if you have the time, this canyon is just amazing.
Written May 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gabo P
2 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
This tour was a true adventure and I loved every minute of it. The highlight for me was seeing the Condors flying at Condor’s Cross. The trek in general was easy since there was no pressure and we had plenty of time to walk from one place to another. Each day we walked around 4 hours which allowed us to really enjoy the canyon.
Written May 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
asm1105
New York City, NY52 contributions
Jul 2022
This was the trek from hell. I will have nightmares for years about being told to "Vamos!"
tl;dr: Guides don't believe in altitude sickness, won't accommodate slower hikers, rush you throughout the tour, and lie repeatedly. I have never been treated so poorly on a guided tour of any kind, in any country.
Chronologically:
- At Condor’s Cross, we were told to be back to the bus within half an hour. We returned to the bus slightly late by about 10-15 minutes because I had to use the restroom, which was farther away than I expected, and I had to climb a hill back to the bus, which was hard because we were not well acclimatized yet. The bus had LEFT without us, along with all of our stuff. One guide had been left behind to look for us, and together with him, we bummed a ride with a French tour group to rejoin our group. They had not left yet or done anything without us; instead, by abandoning us, the tour company extended the amount of time it took for all of our group to get to that pre-trek location.
- When we rejoined our group, our stuff was waiting for us. However, the bus was gone. Because we could not check the bus ourselves to make sure we had everything, we did not realize until we were at our accommodations 3000ft down in the canyon that the company had left our ALTITUDE SICKNESS MEDICATION (Diamox) on the bus. We had only been in Peru 2 days before the trek began and were having altitude related symptoms. This could have been an extremely dangerous situation.
- The trek itself is actually quite miserable - the paths in and out of the canyon are 100% switchbacks. JUST down, and then JUST up. No breaks for your muscles to do something even slightly different. No ups and downs. Just one or the other. To be fair, this is not the fault of the tour company, just something to know going in.
- On the way down the mountain, we were significantly slower than the rest of the group, which was better acclimatized. In addition, I was coming down with a bacterial infection, which would become clear on day 2. As we trekked down, our guide would check up on us only to say, “Vamos! Vamos!” As if we were not trying our best. It was extremely insensitive and just made us feel bad. To his credit, he took my bag for the last 15 or so minutes to the bottom of the canyon.
- It was not clear why there was such a rush to get to the bottom; after lunch, there was absolutely nothing to do. This was a theme; the second day, we arrived at the Sangalle Oasis, and lunch wasn’t even for another hour and a half. Why all of this hurrying up to wait?
- Our guide lied MULTIPLE times about the availability of drinking water throughout the trek. At the first accommodation, we asked in Spanish whether we needed to purchase more water here, or whether there would be opportunities on the way to Sangalle. He said clearly there would be NO opportunities in between. There were TWO, and we stopped for a nice long break at one of them. Given how much he saw me and my husband struggling on day 1, it was incredibly mean of him to force us to carry extra liters of water, when we could have bought it later and saved some energy.
- On Day 2, our guide said the trek would be flat. It is not flat. There is a big uphill at the beginning and an even bigger downhill at the end.
- On Day 2, when I was struggling, our guide told us that altitude sickness is all in the mind. On the way out of the canyon, he apparently saw a man vomit, and our tour mate asked how he explained the vomiting. He pointed to his head. This is an absolutely unacceptable attitude for a tour guide to have; altitude symptoms and sickness are of course established medical fact, and people can actually die if they go untreated. It is not safe to have guides leading tours who do not believe this disease exists.
- At the Oasis, they serve dinner at 7:30 and then expect you to get up for a 4:30 ascent. Why not serve dinner earlier to enable people to sleep as soon as it’s dark? It makes no sense.
- As I was getting sicker, my husband and I opted to ride mules out of the canyon instead of hiking. However, we also asked the guide what happens if we try to hike out but don’t make it by 8am, when we were supposed to go to breakfast in Cabanaconde. Our guide said “IT IS NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY.” They would have abandoned us again!!! What on earth are you paying a tour company for, if not to take you to the site, and bring you back from the site safely?!
- The vans are extremely small and cramped. Whenever we reached a stop, they wanted us to get off the bus IMMEDIATELY (“VAMOS!”) and get back on IMMEDIATELY (“VAMOS!!!!”). But inside the bus, there was no space to look through your bag and grab the things you needed in advance of the stop. We were treated like poorly behaved school children 100% of the time, when in fact, we were on vacation, paying a tour company to show us around the country.
- Lunch on the last day is basically a scam. It’s framed in the description as if there are other options and you don’t have to do the buffet for 35 soles - you can just go somewhere else. Well, there is nowhere else. Our vegan friend ate French fries and some melon. Not exactly worth 35 soles.
- Throughout the tour, DRINKS ARE NOT INCLUDED. Do you think I mean alcohol? Think again! I mean DRINKING WATER! Run out of soles? Probably you’ll just die in the Canyon while being told to “Vamos!”
To be fair and complete in this review:
- The accommodations were adequate, with the second one being fairly nice
- The food was good and they did accommodate us being vegetarian
If you are a super fit hiker in your early 20s who is already well-acclimatized, with no problems flying up and down extremely steep trails, you probably won’t encounter some of the problems we did. Otherwise, I would strongly encourage you NOT to book this tour.
tl;dr: Guides don't believe in altitude sickness, won't accommodate slower hikers, rush you throughout the tour, and lie repeatedly. I have never been treated so poorly on a guided tour of any kind, in any country.
Chronologically:
- At Condor’s Cross, we were told to be back to the bus within half an hour. We returned to the bus slightly late by about 10-15 minutes because I had to use the restroom, which was farther away than I expected, and I had to climb a hill back to the bus, which was hard because we were not well acclimatized yet. The bus had LEFT without us, along with all of our stuff. One guide had been left behind to look for us, and together with him, we bummed a ride with a French tour group to rejoin our group. They had not left yet or done anything without us; instead, by abandoning us, the tour company extended the amount of time it took for all of our group to get to that pre-trek location.
- When we rejoined our group, our stuff was waiting for us. However, the bus was gone. Because we could not check the bus ourselves to make sure we had everything, we did not realize until we were at our accommodations 3000ft down in the canyon that the company had left our ALTITUDE SICKNESS MEDICATION (Diamox) on the bus. We had only been in Peru 2 days before the trek began and were having altitude related symptoms. This could have been an extremely dangerous situation.
- The trek itself is actually quite miserable - the paths in and out of the canyon are 100% switchbacks. JUST down, and then JUST up. No breaks for your muscles to do something even slightly different. No ups and downs. Just one or the other. To be fair, this is not the fault of the tour company, just something to know going in.
- On the way down the mountain, we were significantly slower than the rest of the group, which was better acclimatized. In addition, I was coming down with a bacterial infection, which would become clear on day 2. As we trekked down, our guide would check up on us only to say, “Vamos! Vamos!” As if we were not trying our best. It was extremely insensitive and just made us feel bad. To his credit, he took my bag for the last 15 or so minutes to the bottom of the canyon.
- It was not clear why there was such a rush to get to the bottom; after lunch, there was absolutely nothing to do. This was a theme; the second day, we arrived at the Sangalle Oasis, and lunch wasn’t even for another hour and a half. Why all of this hurrying up to wait?
- Our guide lied MULTIPLE times about the availability of drinking water throughout the trek. At the first accommodation, we asked in Spanish whether we needed to purchase more water here, or whether there would be opportunities on the way to Sangalle. He said clearly there would be NO opportunities in between. There were TWO, and we stopped for a nice long break at one of them. Given how much he saw me and my husband struggling on day 1, it was incredibly mean of him to force us to carry extra liters of water, when we could have bought it later and saved some energy.
- On Day 2, our guide said the trek would be flat. It is not flat. There is a big uphill at the beginning and an even bigger downhill at the end.
- On Day 2, when I was struggling, our guide told us that altitude sickness is all in the mind. On the way out of the canyon, he apparently saw a man vomit, and our tour mate asked how he explained the vomiting. He pointed to his head. This is an absolutely unacceptable attitude for a tour guide to have; altitude symptoms and sickness are of course established medical fact, and people can actually die if they go untreated. It is not safe to have guides leading tours who do not believe this disease exists.
- At the Oasis, they serve dinner at 7:30 and then expect you to get up for a 4:30 ascent. Why not serve dinner earlier to enable people to sleep as soon as it’s dark? It makes no sense.
- As I was getting sicker, my husband and I opted to ride mules out of the canyon instead of hiking. However, we also asked the guide what happens if we try to hike out but don’t make it by 8am, when we were supposed to go to breakfast in Cabanaconde. Our guide said “IT IS NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY.” They would have abandoned us again!!! What on earth are you paying a tour company for, if not to take you to the site, and bring you back from the site safely?!
- The vans are extremely small and cramped. Whenever we reached a stop, they wanted us to get off the bus IMMEDIATELY (“VAMOS!”) and get back on IMMEDIATELY (“VAMOS!!!!”). But inside the bus, there was no space to look through your bag and grab the things you needed in advance of the stop. We were treated like poorly behaved school children 100% of the time, when in fact, we were on vacation, paying a tour company to show us around the country.
- Lunch on the last day is basically a scam. It’s framed in the description as if there are other options and you don’t have to do the buffet for 35 soles - you can just go somewhere else. Well, there is nowhere else. Our vegan friend ate French fries and some melon. Not exactly worth 35 soles.
- Throughout the tour, DRINKS ARE NOT INCLUDED. Do you think I mean alcohol? Think again! I mean DRINKING WATER! Run out of soles? Probably you’ll just die in the Canyon while being told to “Vamos!”
To be fair and complete in this review:
- The accommodations were adequate, with the second one being fairly nice
- The food was good and they did accommodate us being vegetarian
If you are a super fit hiker in your early 20s who is already well-acclimatized, with no problems flying up and down extremely steep trails, you probably won’t encounter some of the problems we did. Otherwise, I would strongly encourage you NOT to book this tour.
Written July 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
globetrotter
1 contribution
I’m so worried about others having the same experience that I did that I’m writing this right after leaving the tour...
First, as others have mentioned, please know that Trek the Colca is just a booking agency (led by Ronny) — they don’t do the actual tours! They instead contract them to Peru Andes. This can be confusing if you, like me, saw some concerning reviews about Peru Andes and thought you’d be better off with Trek the Colca — not so — they’re practically the same!
Regarding Trek the Colca: Ronny, to put it bluntly, lied to me. I don’t know whether he did so intentionally, but like many of you, I read concerning reviews regarding the guide Paul. When I communicated with Ronny that I would do the tour but not with Paul, he assured me that Paul no longer worked as a tour guide with the agency. Much to my surprise then to find that Paul was our guide!! When I messaged Ronny to ask if this was the same Paul he had told me had been fired, he had no response... I regret to say that I simply cannot recommend such a dishonest company.
Regarding Peru Andes:
The tour: Basic, and you truly are charged for everything — water (4x as much in the trek as in Arequipa), any snacks, mule you might need to get out if you cannot walk (60 soles)... I recommend that Peru Andes also offer an all-inclusive option, including water and snacks, and maybe even an option for upgraded accommodations. This would expand their business model and meet the expectations of customers looking for a less basic trek option.
Management: Seems questionable to send groups of up to 16 people out with just one guide. This is not standard practice in my experience to keep a group safe. Moreover (more detail below), calling employees/guides to yell at them seems like bad management to me.
The guide (Paul): Many reviews have been written about Paul, who indeed still works for the company... To add my two cents, I don’t by any means wish for Paul to lose his job, but I do hope he works on being more empathetic toward the people on his trips. A number of people in our group felt uncomfortable during the trek, as it seemed he was upset with us (I heard from another group member that he felt that our group and the one before had been no good... what a thing to say to a customer and for us to then have to feel bad about!). This all started on the first day, when all of the group but two reached the bottom of the canyon. After waiting for over an hour, with no clue about what to do at that point, we became very worried about the other group members and Paul and agreed that, since we had service, it’d be a good idea to ask the company for Paul’s phone number. As such, I messaged Ronny (at this point not knowing he wasn’t even part of Paul’s company).
After the Paul finally arrived, flustered, we learned that his boss had called him to yell at him (which sounds like poor communication from Paul’s boss). Paul requested that the person who called Ronny (me) be identified. He said he didn’t want to single anyone out, but if that were true, that there would have been no need to identify the person... For the rest of the tour, Paul pulled a 180 and was excessively nice to me, touching me, my clothes, my gear... Call me paranoid, but I was very uncomfortable and did not want to be alone with him. More uncomfortable yet, Paul pulled me aside on the second day to explain that his boss was continuing to call him and yell at him (again, this sounds like very poor management to me). He asked me to re-contact Ronny to explain that everything was fine and Paul was going great...! I’d have been happy to do this at the end of the trip of my own accord if I felt that this were true, but imagine how forced into this I felt — of course I couldn’t say no, alone with Paul and him leading us for the next two days... He had me message Ronny and then took a picture to send to his boss.
Overall, I’d like to think Paul is a good person who genuinely cares about the people on his tour and who values this kind of feedback and wants to improve... Becoming a better guide, however, has to mean truly wanting to put your group first and thinking about how they feel. I wish Paul the very best and hope he looks back at our group as a good learning opportunity for how to communicate more clearly with the group and think about how his emotions might affect them, too. I hope his boss recognizes that instead of yelling at employees, he can instead work with them to be better at their jobs.
Regarding the trek itself: As another reviewer alluded to, you will not be in the deepest part of the canyon. It is certainly a beautiful landscape, but also good to not set your hopes too high in terms of scenery (it’s not a Nat Geo top 20 hike or anything). Three days is good if you prefer a slower pace and more downtime (bring a book or cards or something to do as you’ll have a lot of this!). Two days is good if you prefer to be more active.
Lastly, many people in our group commented on the difficulty of the trek. As Peru Andes doesn’t share a ton about this, don’t forget that it’s at altitude! A number of people in our group felt quite ill. Also note that it’s fairly arduous! Although everyone in our group made it, I did hear anecdotes of older folks who had to turn around... Know that the first day is all downhill, the second day some up and down but not as arduous, and the last a 2.25-3 hour ascent.
Water was typically 15 soles for the 2.5 liter bottles, though the stand before the oasis at the top of the hill is cheapest.
First, as others have mentioned, please know that Trek the Colca is just a booking agency (led by Ronny) — they don’t do the actual tours! They instead contract them to Peru Andes. This can be confusing if you, like me, saw some concerning reviews about Peru Andes and thought you’d be better off with Trek the Colca — not so — they’re practically the same!
Regarding Trek the Colca: Ronny, to put it bluntly, lied to me. I don’t know whether he did so intentionally, but like many of you, I read concerning reviews regarding the guide Paul. When I communicated with Ronny that I would do the tour but not with Paul, he assured me that Paul no longer worked as a tour guide with the agency. Much to my surprise then to find that Paul was our guide!! When I messaged Ronny to ask if this was the same Paul he had told me had been fired, he had no response... I regret to say that I simply cannot recommend such a dishonest company.
Regarding Peru Andes:
The tour: Basic, and you truly are charged for everything — water (4x as much in the trek as in Arequipa), any snacks, mule you might need to get out if you cannot walk (60 soles)... I recommend that Peru Andes also offer an all-inclusive option, including water and snacks, and maybe even an option for upgraded accommodations. This would expand their business model and meet the expectations of customers looking for a less basic trek option.
Management: Seems questionable to send groups of up to 16 people out with just one guide. This is not standard practice in my experience to keep a group safe. Moreover (more detail below), calling employees/guides to yell at them seems like bad management to me.
The guide (Paul): Many reviews have been written about Paul, who indeed still works for the company... To add my two cents, I don’t by any means wish for Paul to lose his job, but I do hope he works on being more empathetic toward the people on his trips. A number of people in our group felt uncomfortable during the trek, as it seemed he was upset with us (I heard from another group member that he felt that our group and the one before had been no good... what a thing to say to a customer and for us to then have to feel bad about!). This all started on the first day, when all of the group but two reached the bottom of the canyon. After waiting for over an hour, with no clue about what to do at that point, we became very worried about the other group members and Paul and agreed that, since we had service, it’d be a good idea to ask the company for Paul’s phone number. As such, I messaged Ronny (at this point not knowing he wasn’t even part of Paul’s company).
After the Paul finally arrived, flustered, we learned that his boss had called him to yell at him (which sounds like poor communication from Paul’s boss). Paul requested that the person who called Ronny (me) be identified. He said he didn’t want to single anyone out, but if that were true, that there would have been no need to identify the person... For the rest of the tour, Paul pulled a 180 and was excessively nice to me, touching me, my clothes, my gear... Call me paranoid, but I was very uncomfortable and did not want to be alone with him. More uncomfortable yet, Paul pulled me aside on the second day to explain that his boss was continuing to call him and yell at him (again, this sounds like very poor management to me). He asked me to re-contact Ronny to explain that everything was fine and Paul was going great...! I’d have been happy to do this at the end of the trip of my own accord if I felt that this were true, but imagine how forced into this I felt — of course I couldn’t say no, alone with Paul and him leading us for the next two days... He had me message Ronny and then took a picture to send to his boss.
Overall, I’d like to think Paul is a good person who genuinely cares about the people on his tour and who values this kind of feedback and wants to improve... Becoming a better guide, however, has to mean truly wanting to put your group first and thinking about how they feel. I wish Paul the very best and hope he looks back at our group as a good learning opportunity for how to communicate more clearly with the group and think about how his emotions might affect them, too. I hope his boss recognizes that instead of yelling at employees, he can instead work with them to be better at their jobs.
Regarding the trek itself: As another reviewer alluded to, you will not be in the deepest part of the canyon. It is certainly a beautiful landscape, but also good to not set your hopes too high in terms of scenery (it’s not a Nat Geo top 20 hike or anything). Three days is good if you prefer a slower pace and more downtime (bring a book or cards or something to do as you’ll have a lot of this!). Two days is good if you prefer to be more active.
Lastly, many people in our group commented on the difficulty of the trek. As Peru Andes doesn’t share a ton about this, don’t forget that it’s at altitude! A number of people in our group felt quite ill. Also note that it’s fairly arduous! Although everyone in our group made it, I did hear anecdotes of older folks who had to turn around... Know that the first day is all downhill, the second day some up and down but not as arduous, and the last a 2.25-3 hour ascent.
Water was typically 15 soles for the 2.5 liter bottles, though the stand before the oasis at the top of the hill is cheapest.
Written November 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jacques g
Montreal, Canada89 contributions
Dec 2019
I booked this 3 days tour directly with Peru Andes office in Arequipa and i got a good deal including the park entrance fee + transfer to Puno the last day for less than 100 $.
Peru Andes is a reliable company . Our guides Paul was very good and helpful.
The food and accommodation were basic but it was fine for me, beds wre ok for the night and food was also fine with vegetarian options. The 3 days tour is the same as the 2 days tour but gives more time to rest so i did not find the last day too difficult as i was rested. The tour is really wonderful and Colca Canyon is definitely worth spending 2 or 3 days.
Peru Andes is a reliable company . Our guides Paul was very good and helpful.
The food and accommodation were basic but it was fine for me, beds wre ok for the night and food was also fine with vegetarian options. The 3 days tour is the same as the 2 days tour but gives more time to rest so i did not find the last day too difficult as i was rested. The tour is really wonderful and Colca Canyon is definitely worth spending 2 or 3 days.
Written December 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Piero aldair c
2 contributions
Oct 2019
The 3 days we spent in Colca Canyon were spectacular. We walked around 4 hours everyday which was enough for us because we wanted to have more time to enjoy the nature and take short extra walks by ourselves. We were very lucky we could see many condors and our guide Omar was very good at giving information and also very king. I would recommend!
Written November 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Al J
Washington DC, DC81 contributions
Sep 2019 • Solo
Colca Canyon is amazing. Peru Andes (website is “Trek the Colca”) is a fine if unspectacular company.
Note: the two day trek and three day trek take the same route (you don’t do more hiking on the three day trek). You have more time in the Canyon on the three day trek but it can be done in two days.
Peru Andes is fine. Guides were good, food and accommodation were average. You take the same path as all the other groups so it can get crowded (companies tend to pool resources). They are a totally fine group to book with— safe, complete, etc. but you’ll remember the Canyon not the company.
Note: the two day trek and three day trek take the same route (you don’t do more hiking on the three day trek). You have more time in the Canyon on the three day trek but it can be done in two days.
Peru Andes is fine. Guides were good, food and accommodation were average. You take the same path as all the other groups so it can get crowded (companies tend to pool resources). They are a totally fine group to book with— safe, complete, etc. but you’ll remember the Canyon not the company.
Written September 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are just two persons, is a 3 days tour from Sept. 9 until Sept. 11 still available? (The tour we originally booked was cancelled today) Will you bring us back to our Hotel in Arquipa at the end of the tour so we can leave our luggage there? We hope for a Quick answer . With Kind regards
Written September 5, 2019
Hello my name is Philip and Fiona from Austria.we wold like to come for the trip for 3 days .
But is it possible for 140 dollar or 475 soles? Or say whats your last price ?
We wold come on saturday when its possible.
Thanks for the answer Philip and Fiona.
Written August 5, 2019
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