Oasis Sangalle
Oasis Sangalle
4

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.


4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles168 reviews
Excellent
63
Very good
58
Average
30
Poor
15
Terrible
2

Stevey T
London, UK4 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2015 • Friends
We bought the two day your through an agency in Arequipa and in hindsight we should have probably gone by ourselves. The reason we booked it with an agency was to have a guide and to stop in various stops along the way and I guess to have the commodity to not think about food and accommodation. The package we got (for 140 soles) was:
- 3 a.m pick from the hotel
- stop in Chivay for a very frugal breakfast
- stop at the mirador of the Cruz del Condor
- lunch in Tapay (very small portions after 5 hours walking!!)
- dinner and night in the Oasis of Sangalle.

Now this place... It's oversold by agencies. It is a very primary accommodation without electricity, the walls of the toilets and showers are made of bamboo, in other words, everyone sees you doing your business. Not great.

The rooms are very basic, no light nor electric plugs so charge up your phones before you go and save your battery!

The plus side: a nice pool.

Now the trek... It's a very demanding trek!!! I had no idea. You'll start by descending 1,200 meters which will take you. Some uphill bits are particularly hard and I was out of breath more than once. Do not go with sufficient water and a soroche pill.

The next day, you'll start at 5 a.m with 3 hours of going uphill. Non stop.

The guides (more like compasses as ours gave us no information whatsoever about the canyon - disappointing) don't like slow trekkers, they'll make you get that by suggesting mules that cost a lot. Our guide literally shook her head at us when we got to the top the second day and dared say "come on, I've been waiting for you" - not professional at all.

The canyon in itself is impressive but did not beat the Grand Canyon for me.

Hope it helps, happy travels people.
Written August 7, 2015
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.

Alexandre D
Hong Kong Island, China59 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
You can find a lots of organization that offers Colca Canyon with all included for a different price.
We decided to live the real adventure and didn't choose one of those !
From Arequipa, there are bus (company Andalucia) that cost 17 NS and 5/6 hours on the road. (Tips: sit on the right side of the bus if you want to admire the incredible landscapes).
There, you can find hotels (Cabanacondé: Pachamama 30Ns/pers; Oasis:L'Eden 15NS/pers; Fure: only one place 15NS/pers).
The pass are well indicated and you can find not good maps but really sufficient in the hotels.
We really recommend to trek there by yourself: enjoy the adventure !!!
Written August 5, 2014
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.

CareerBreakAdventure
United States234 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2018 • Couples
An very beautiful trekking area and unlike anywhere else in Peru. We spent two days trekking this area without a guide or tour, which is totally unnecessary in this canyon. The trails couldn’t be easier to follow and the whole area is perfect for fit hikers but beginner trekkers. Don’t be fooled though, the steep drop into the canyon and painful return climb to the rim are harder than most hikes, and reminiscent of those found in the Grand Canyon.

We did the long classic route which descends to Llahuar and loops to San Juan before climbing back up to Cabanaconde. This is typically done over three days but we got to Llahuar by 10:00 on day one so competed the second days hike as well. That day was around 20+ kilometers and tough but rewarding. The next morning, we climbed from San Juan to the rim, which was quite a bit longer and tougher than expected. We had decided to skip San Galle which is on most trek itineraries as it is the most touristy of the villages in the canyon.

We stayed at Colibri Lodge for our night inside, which was one of the nicer guesthouse we found in South America. No reservation, just got lucky with a walk in and they had availability for us.

The only downside of trekking here are the ridiculously limited bus options. Unless you are coming from or going to Arequipa, there really aren’t any public buses available. There are a handful of tourist buses, but they all make lame stops at expensive restaurants, viewpoints, etc and cost $50-65 USD for Puno or Cusco. We didn’t want to go all the way back to Arequipa since we were headed to Cusco, and managed to find a public bus option to get there without backtracking. It included a few steps and a little adventure, but cost just 50 soles and was actually pretty easy. And let’s face it, you wouldn’t be trekking in Peru if you didn’t like adventure.

If you want specific info on the trekking routes and distances, how to do this without a guide, or most importantly all of the transport options for accessing the canyon and then getting to places other than Arequipa, search our name, Career Break Adventures and Colca Canyon or something of that nature. Have fun and enjoy the trek!
Written October 22, 2018
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.

federicafabiani
Verona, Italy83 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2015 • Friends
The 2-days trek in the Canyon of Colca deserves to be done (preferably on your own) but you need to be aware of everything that you will find, or not find over there.

- No ATMs or casas de cambio
- very little food (after a hole day spent hiking in the sun it is not acceptable)
- overpriced water (12 soles for 2,5 liters)
- 5 soles for every liter of BOILED water, not even fresh.
- Dirty pools that you can't even enjoy seeing the time you usually get there
- No hot water
- Careless guides. They don't actually tell you anything about the place you are at and are completely useless for the trek. We've met a few and not one was either pleasant nor kind. Even annoying if you had a faster or slower pace than the rest of the group.
- No breakfast included before the 3 hours hike on the second day (you leave at 5 a.m.) again, not acceptable when you have to walk 5 km for a 1000 mt of ascent.

Do it yourself, it's gonna be way much better.
Written August 12, 2015
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.

Aurelie
15 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2016
If you go for the colca canon trek, avoid Sangalle Oasis. Better to trek via Lluhar, Fure and Tapay. They are by far authentic places where people are amazingly welcoming and kind.
Sangalle is a tourist trap and we were treated with no manners. We were given a room where water leaked all over. Our bags were totally wet and our clothes drown. The owners did not even apologize and just sent us to another room with no consideration. In a nutshell: rude people and extreme poor quality service.
Written May 23, 2016
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.

Gabachoviejo
Knoxville, TN278 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2015 • Solo
There were great views of the canyon on the trek going down which made the hike worth it. You don't have to be a geologist to see 10 different types of rock embedded in a small space on the canyon wall. The oasis is aptly named, a wonderful contrast to the arid canyon walls. The river does not have a pleasant odor, but it is nice to lie down on the "beach," recover from your trip and look at the canyon walls.

If you are not in above average condition, are not acclimated, and aren 't used to hiking, you probably should not do the hike. The most common estimate is 3 hours down and 5 hours up. I am a jogger, not a hiker, and over 60 - it took me 3 and a half hours down and I was dead tired when I arrived. I was lucky not to slide on the rocks going down and lucky that it did not rain. It is 1200 meters down on a steep slope. In other words I should not have done this hike. My thighs were sore from the trip down. I estimated that it would take me at least 7 hours back up so I took a mule. (60 soles). A woman 40-50 who had walked the Inca trail also took a mule up. If you are fairly large you are taking a risk with a mule. At close to 100 kilos, the largest mule was too small for me. Mules take 2 hours going up, mine tripped, his head hit the ground, but he recovered.

The Tropical cost 15 soles (5$) for a reed hut with private bathroom, a rough door with no locks,but no towel or toilet paper. Cabins without private bath room cost 10 soles. The bed was fine. I used insect repellant, but bugs were not a problem. Dinner, choice of two dishes, cost 7 soles and was simple but good. Beer and some drinks are available during happy hour and you can buy drinks or snacks. The Paradiso Hostal has nicer grounds, a very nice swimming pool area, but unlike the Tropical, it didn't have lights in the cabin.
Written January 19, 2015
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.

Jessleeweston
17 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2015 • Friends
My friend and I hiked colca canyon by ourselves for 2 nights and spent our last night here.
Firstly it was like a maze! Without a guide it was a terrible place to try navigate our way around.
All the people were friendly but it was extremely touristy.
Make sure you but your water before getting there as it's about s/. 15 for a 2.5 litre of water!!

IF YOU ARE CAMPING BY YOURSELF IN THE CANYON -
There is a little track down to the river from 'Paraíso' a hostel. There is only one sandy part next to the river and this is the best way to access it.
It's about a 10 walk down hill or 15 up. If you have trouble finding it ask the staff at Paraíso, they are helpful.
My friend and I slept there without our tent as it was a good temperature for this.
A nice wee hideaway spot. Even went skinny dipping in the river away from all the tourists!
Written August 11, 2015
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.

Ruperto
Victoria235 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
The Colca Canyon is beautiful but the trek from Cobacande to the Oasis is dangerous and the height change and conditions not disclosed by companies such as Colka Trek. It's a burning hot descent and ascent of 1200 mts. On a trail of volcanic rock and sand pulverized by mules in 4kms. Steep. My wife broke her leg and we stretchered her down then paid to get back up by mule and transport to hospital in Arequipa. No first aid. Apart from the swimming holes the Oasis is primitive, one "lodge" has electricity, lots of mule flies. Be very careful with this trek.
Written January 12, 2015
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.

Andyjbass
Johannesburg, South Africa32 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2016
We did this walk in one day stopping for lunch at the bottom (near the oasis). It was tough and we walked pretty fast down and up, but it's definitely doable. It's absolutely exquisite and highly recommended! Take more water than you think and the sun is stronger than you think!
Written December 5, 2016
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.

Morgan A
5 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2016 • Couples
It looked good from the mountains when hiking around but the 3 hostels are really bad, and the whole place is purely made for tourists, nothing typical here. There are much better places in the canyon like Llahuar, San Juan, etc.
Written September 13, 2016
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.

…
Showing results 1-10 of 68

Oasis Sangalle - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

All things to do in Cabanaconde
RestaurantsFlightsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars