Colca Canyon Guide: Condors, Cruz del Cóndor, Fees and Days
3 hours from Arequipa over a 4,910 m pass. Condors 8 to 11 a.m. at Cruz del Cóndor, S/70 fee, Colca in 1, 2 or 3 days and the hike down to Sangalle.
The Colca Canyon is about 3 hours by road from Arequipa: 151 km (94 mi) to Chivay, then 42 km (26 mi) to the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint, where condors ride the morning air between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. PromPerú puts its depth at 3,200 m (10,500 ft). The road tops out at 4,910 m (16,109 ft), and foreign visitors pay S/70 (about US$20) to enter.
The Cruz del Cóndor at 8:54 a.m. on a May morning, with visitors along the rail. Photo: Codas, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick facts
| Colca Canyon | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Caylloma province, Arequipa region | PromPerú |
| Depth | 3,200 m (10,500 ft), official figures vary | PromPerú, 2023 |
| Arequipa to Chivay | 151 km (94 mi), about 3 h | PromPerú, 2023 |
| Chivay to Cruz del Cóndor | 42 km (26 mi), about 1 h | MINCETUR, 2024 |
| Highest point on the road | Patapampa, 4,910 m (16,109 ft) | MINCETUR, PromPerú |
| Chivay | 3,635 to 3,651 m (11,926 to 11,978 ft) | Andina |
| Cruz del Cóndor | 3,780 m (12,402 ft) | MINCETUR, 2024 |
| Best hours for condors | 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. | MINCETUR, 2024 |
| Tourist ticket, foreign adult | S/70 (about US$20) | Autocolca, October 2026 |
| Rainy months | December to March | MINCETUR, 2024 |
| UNESCO | Global Geopark Colca y Volcanes de Andagua since April 2019 | Andina |
The short version
- Go in the morning. The condors use the warm air that rises after sunrise, so the viewpoint is at its best before 11:00 a.m.
- Two days beat one. A night in Chivay lets you reach the Cruz del Cóndor early instead of after four hours on the road.
- The pass is the hard part. You cross 4,910 m on the way in. Sleep in Arequipa first.
- Buy the Boleto Turístico. It is collected at the Chivay checkpoint and covers the whole circuit, including the viewpoint and the trail to the canyon floor.
- The canyon floor is a real hike. From Cabanaconde to the Sangalle oasis you drop about 1,400 m (4,600 ft) on a zigzag mule trail.
- We do not sell a standalone Colca tour. Colca is part of our 15-day Peru package, which continues to Lake Titicaca.
How deep is the Colca Canyon, and is Cotahuasi deeper?
It depends on who measures and from where. PromPerú, Peru's tourism board, gives 3,200 m (10,500 ft) in its 2023 guide and on Peru.travel. Another PromPerú page says 4,160 m (13,650 ft). MINCETUR's record for the Cruz del Cóndor measures something more local: at the viewpoint the drop to the river is more than 1,250 m on one side and about 2,700 m measured from Cerro Bomboya across the gorge.
A canyon has no single rim, so depth changes with the peak you take as the top. Use 3,200 m as the official tourism figure.
Cotahuasi, in the same region, is usually called deeper. Andina, Peru's state news agency, reported in 2022 that Cotahuasi reaches about 3,500 m in the Ninacocha sector, more than Colca. A NASA image note from 2001 gave Cotahuasi 3,354 m below the plateau and said Colca, once thought the deepest in the area, is "outdone" by it.
| Colca | Cotahuasi | |
|---|---|---|
| Depth quoted | 3,200 m (PromPerú) | about 3,500 m (Andina), 3,354 m (NASA) |
| From Arequipa | 151 km (94 mi) to Chivay, about 3 h | 375 km (233 mi), about 6 h 30 min |
| Fits a 2-week Peru trip | Yes, on the way to Puno | Only with extra days |
Distances come from PromPerú. For most travelers Colca wins: it is closer, has the condor viewpoint and sits on the road to Lake Titicaca.
What is the road from Arequipa to Chivay like?
From Arequipa the road climbs 2,500 m to Patapampa before dropping to Chivay. Infographic: Viajes Cusco Perú
It climbs from the city to 4,910 m and then drops into the valley, and it is paved the whole way. PromPerú gives 151 km and about 3 hours to Chivay.
Leaving Arequipa, you cross the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve, high grassland where PromPerú names the vicuña as the signature species. Then the climb continues to Patapampa, also called the Mirador de los Andes. MINCETUR's record describes it as cold and very dry, often with snow, and lists seven volcanoes you can see from it: Mismi, Chachani, Misti, Sabancaya, Ampato, Ubinas and Hualca Hualca. Around you stand apachetas, stacked stones left as offerings to the Apus, the mountain spirits, and artisans from Chivay sell alpaca and vicuña textiles. Entry is free, and the record warns that from December to March the view is often closed in by rain and cloud.
Get off the bus slowly at Patapampa. At 4,910 m the air is thin enough that a few quick steps leave you breathless. After the pass the road falls 29 km (18 mi), about 40 minutes, to Chivay.
| Point on the Colca route | Altitude | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Arequipa | 2,335 m (7,661 ft) | DIRESA Arequipa |
| Patapampa pass | 4,910 m (16,109 ft) | MINCETUR, PromPerú |
| Chivay | 3,635 to 3,651 m (11,926 to 11,978 ft) | Andina |
| Cruz del Cóndor | 3,780 m (12,402 ft), Andina gives 3,287 m | MINCETUR |
| Cabanaconde | about 3,300 m (10,830 ft) | MINCETUR |
| Sangalle oasis, canyon floor | about 1,900 m (6,230 ft) | MINCETUR |
If Arequipa is your first stop, our Arequipa guide explains why two nights there make this climb easier. For the warning signs of altitude sickness, read our acclimatization guide.
When is the best time to see condors at the Cruz del Cóndor?
Between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m., according to MINCETUR's record for the viewpoint. Andina explains why: in those hours the warm air currents rise out of the canyon and the condors use them to go out looking for food.
The viewpoint is open from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. all year. It stands on the left bank of the canyon, in the Pinchollo annex of Cabanaconde district, 42 km from Chivay, about an hour by tourist bus. That is why the two-day visit works so well: you leave Chivay just after 6:00 a.m. and are at the rail when the first birds lift off.
Then you wait. People stand quietly along the stone wall, cameras ready, looking down into the gorge. A dark shape appears far below, turns in slow circles and rises until it passes at eye level. PromPerú notes that the Andean condor's wings can reach 3 m (about 10 ft).
What about the best months? No official source names a best month for condors. MINCETUR's record counted 24 condors in May 2013 and 23 in May 2014, and it warns of heavy rain from December to March. The months outside the rains give you more clear mornings, which is what matters at the rail. Condors are not guaranteed on any given day.
An Andean condor over the Colca Canyon at 8:32 a.m. on a February day, in the middle of the rainy season. Photo: Thomas Fuhrmann, CC BY-SA 4.0
How much is the Colca tourist ticket, and where do you buy it?
Foreign adults pay S/70 (about US$20). The Boleto Turístico is charged by Autocolca, the public authority that manages the circuit, and it covers the Colca Canyon, the Salinas y Aguada Blanca reserve and the Valley of the Volcanoes. These are Autocolca's published prices:
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Foreign adult | S/70 (about US$20) |
| Latin American adult (citizens and residents of listed countries, Brazil included) | S/40 (about US$12) |
| Foreign or Latin American child, 6 to 15 | S/20 (about US$6) |
| Peruvian adult | S/20 (about US$6) |
US, Canadian and European visitors pay the foreign rate. The ticket is valid from the day you buy it and can be used once, and you must carry your passport with it. Autocolca sells it at its office on the Portal de la Municipalidad in Arequipa and at the Chivay checkpoint on the road in, and accepts cards as well as the Peruvian wallets Yape and Plin. MINCETUR's records confirm the ticket covers both the Cruz del Cóndor and the trail to Sangalle.
Colca in 1, 2 or 3 days: which one fits?
Two days is the best balance for most travelers. One day works if you are short on time, and three days only if you want to hike to the canyon floor.
| 1 day from Arequipa | 2 days with a night in Chivay | 3 days with the canyon trek | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road time | About 4 h each way to the viewpoint, same day | About 3 h on day 1, 1 h to the viewpoint on day 2 | As 2 days, plus Cabanaconde |
| Condor timing | Hard. You leave in the dark to arrive before 11:00 a.m. | Easy. You are at the rail early | Easy |
| Highest sleep | Arequipa, 2,335 m | Chivay, about 3,635 m | Chivay, then the canyon floor or Cabanaconde |
| Hot springs | No time | Yes, on the first afternoon | Yes |
| Effort | Long, tiring day in a van | Moderate | Hard: about 1,400 m down and back up |
| Good for | A tight schedule | Most travelers, and the way on to Puno | Fit hikers with time |
Road times are worked out from PromPerú's 3 hours to Chivay and MINCETUR's hour from Chivay to the viewpoint. The two-day format is also the one our 15-day tour uses: day 5 from Arequipa to Chivay, day 6 out at 6:20 a.m. to the Cruz del Cóndor and, around 1:00 p.m., on to Puno.
Can you hike to the bottom of the Colca Canyon?
Yes. The classic descent runs from Cabanaconde, at about 3,300 m, to the Sangalle oasis, at about 1,900 m. MINCETUR's 2025 record describes a zigzag mule path of about 4.5 km (2.8 mi) that takes 2 to 3 hours down, depending on fitness. A longer route goes through the San Miguel pampas to San Juan de Chuccho, about 4 hours, often with a night there, then 2.5 hours more to Sangalle through Cosñihua and Malata.
The record's advice is practical: go with a guide, carry water and sun protection because the trail is hot and dusty, and start the climb back to Cabanaconde very early to avoid the heat. You can walk out or hire a mule. The trail is open from 4:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is covered by the Boleto Turístico. PromPerú suggests February to April if you want the slopes green.
The way up is the real test: more than 1,400 m of climbing in the sun. We do not sell this trek. If you want a multi-day hike near Cusco instead, look at our Cusco treks, such as the Salkantay trek in 5 days.
The canyon from the path that drops from Cabanaconde to the Sangalle oasis. The green patch by the river at the bottom is where the trail ends. Photo: Kotasik, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where are the hot springs in the Colca valley?
The best known are at La Calera, about 3 km (1.9 mi) from Chivay. Andina describes five pools with water above 38 °C (100 °F), fed by springs from the Cotallumi volcano. Near Yanque, PromPerú points to the Chacapi baths, with two pools that can reach 50 °C (122 °F). After a morning on the 4,910 m pass, an afternoon soak in Chivay is the easiest way to warm up before a cold night.
What else is there in the Colca valley besides condors?
Terraces, villages and dances. PromPerú's guide explains that the valley was home to the Collagua and Cabana peoples, and that today's villages still tell themselves apart by their hats and embroidered clothes, an art declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation. The churches of the valley towns are more than 400 years old. The Wititi dance, which you may see performed in Yanque, is listed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The road from Chivay to the Cruz del Cóndor passes Yanque, Achoma, Maca and Pinchollo, with terraces stepping down to the river on both sides. In April 2019 UNESCO declared the area, together with the Andagua volcanoes, the first UNESCO Global Geopark in Peru.
Terraces near Uyo Uyo, in Yanque district, in May. The fields are still farmed. Photo: Draceane, CC BY-SA 4.0
How Viajes Cusco Perú includes Colca, and what we do not do
We are a tour operator based in Cusco. To be clear:
- We do not sell a standalone Colca tour, a Colca trek or an Arequipa day trip.
- Colca is part of the Complete Peru 15 Days, from US$2,084 per person. On day 5 the group leaves Arequipa, crosses the Salinas y Aguada Blanca reserve and reaches Chivay around 2:00 p.m. On day 6 it leaves at 6:20 a.m. for the Cruz del Cóndor through Yanque, Maca and Pinchollo, then takes the road to Puno, arriving around 7:00 p.m.
- The package lists Colca Canyon and Chivay among its included tickets, and a night in Chivay among its hotels.
- We do not run the hike to Sangalle, Misti climbs or rafting in the canyon.
Frequently asked questions
How deep is the Colca Canyon? PromPerú gives 3,200 m (10,500 ft). Other official pages give different figures because depth changes with the point you measure from.
Is Cotahuasi deeper than Colca? Yes, by most measurements. Andina reports about 3,500 m for Cotahuasi, and a NASA image note says Colca is outdone by it.
What time do condors fly at the Cruz del Cóndor? Between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m., according to MINCETUR, when warm air rises out of the canyon. The viewpoint is open from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
What is the best month to see condors in Colca? No official source names one. Rain is heavy from December to March, so the other months give more clear mornings, but sightings are never guaranteed.
How much is the Colca Canyon entrance fee? S/70 (about US$20) for foreign adults and S/40 for citizens of listed Latin American countries, according to Autocolca in October 2026.
How far is the Colca Canyon from Arequipa? 151 km (94 mi) to Chivay, about 3 hours, and 42 km more to the Cruz del Cóndor, about 1 hour.
What is the highest point on the way to Colca? The Patapampa pass, at 4,910 m (16,109 ft), according to MINCETUR and PromPerú.
Can you visit the Colca Canyon in one day? Yes, from Arequipa, but it means about 4 hours each way and a very early start. Two days with a night in Chivay is easier.
How long is the hike to the bottom of the Colca Canyon? From Cabanaconde to the Sangalle oasis is about 4.5 km (2.8 mi) and 2 to 3 hours down, with a drop of about 1,400 m. The climb back takes longer.
See the Colca Canyon with us
Our route through Colca is the Complete Peru 15 Days, from US$2,084 per person: Lima, Paracas, Nazca, Arequipa, a night in Chivay, the Cruz del Cóndor at dawn, then Lake Titicaca, Cusco and Machu Picchu. After Colca, the trip continues to Puno for the Uros and Taquile islands. If you only want the Titicaca part, look at Lima, Cusco and Puno in 10 days, from US$1,720, or the Peru and Bolivia in 10 days route, from US$1,817. All our multi-region trips are on the Peru tours across the Andes page. For a different number of days, ask for a tailored itinerary through our contact page. Before you pack, read our Peru packing list and our Nazca Lines guide for the stop before Arequipa.
Updated October 2026. Altitudes, distances, hours and fees checked on October 20, 2026, against MINCETUR's tourism inventory records for the Mirador de la Cruz del Cóndor, the Mirador de Patapampa and the Valle de Sangalle, Autocolca's official ticket page, PromPerú's 2023 practical guide to Arequipa and Peru.travel, a 2001 NASA image note and reports by Andina, Peru's state news agency. Fees can change, so confirm them before you go.