Colca Canyon hits you fast. This 2-day tour connects Arequipa to Puno while you work in big-sky viewpoints, old colonial town stops, and a real chance to spot South American camelids.

I love that the schedule is built around two clear wow moments, the thermal baths at Calera and the viewpoint at Cruz del Condor. I also like the small group setup, limited to 17 people, which keeps the day from feeling like a cattle drive.

One consideration: altitude can be a dealbreaker. This tour is not suitable for people with altitude sickness, and the Colca area is high enough that you should take it seriously.

Key things I’d underline before you go

• Two “wow” stops in 48 hours: Calera hot springs and Cruz del Condor viewpoints
• Good value for the transfer: guided sightseeing plus Arequipa to Puno transportation
• Small group feel: limited to 17 participants over two days
• Wildlife and camelids are part of the plan: llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas can show up
• Entry fees are extra: Colca Canyon and Calera hot springs each have separate costs

Colca Canyon, Calera, and Cruz del Condor: the tour’s real payoff

This tour is designed around the Colca Canyon’s scale and the people living around it. You get the dramatic canyon views from a dedicated viewpoint, plus downtime to relax in thermal waters. That combination matters because you are doing a lot in two days, and your body will thank you for the thermal bath stop after time on the road.

I also like how the experience is not only about cliffs and photos. The tour includes chances to see local culture, including old colonial towns, typical costumes, and folklore. Even if you only catch bits of it between viewpoints, it adds texture to the canyon story.

And yes, there is wildlife potential. The plan specifically calls out the chance to observe llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas, and it also gives you a shot at condors flying above the viewpoint. Just remember: seeing condors is always a bit luck-based, even when you time it well.

Day One from Arequipa to Chivay: pickup, canyon countryside, then Calera hot springs

Your day starts with hotel pickup from downtown Arequipa. Then you head out into the countryside with an English-speaking guide for the tour. The driving portion is not just “getting there.” It is part of the sightseeing, with guided stops along the way so you do not feel like you are stuck in a bus the whole day.

Eventually you arrive in Chivay, where you check in for a one-night stay. You get some time for lunch, but it is not included, so it is smart to budget for a meal that fits your appetite and altitude comfort. After lunch, the tour shifts from travel mode into relaxation mode.

Calera thermal baths (35º to 38º Celsius)

Next up is the thermal springs in Calera. The temperature range is listed at 35º to 38º Celsius, and that is exactly the sweet spot for many people who want comfort without it feeling scalding. The water is described as thermal and medicinal, and the point here is simple: you are letting your body recover before the condor day.

This is also where the tour’s value shows. A lot of shorter canyon trips skip the recovery part. Here, you get an actual break that makes the next morning’s early viewpoint easier to handle.

Practical note: entrance to the hot springs is not included. You will pay the on-site fee listed for the thermal baths (S/ 15.00). Plan to bring cash or be ready for the payment method used on the ground.

Day Two: breakfast in Chivay, Cruz del Condor viewpoint, then onward to Puno

After the overnight in Chivay, you start with breakfast included on the second day. Then you head to Cruz del Condor, the canyon viewpoint that is the centerpiece of the second morning.

Cruz del Condor viewpoint and condor spotting

At Cruz del Condor, the tour is all about scale. You get to see the great Colca Canyon from a scenic viewpoint, and the plan specifically notes that you can try to spot condors flying above and around you. If you are lucky, you will see them riding the air currents. If you are not, you still get a serious canyon look, so the morning is not a total loss.

I suggest treating this moment like a mission. Wear layers you can adjust quickly and take your time at the viewpoint area. The condor window can be quick, and people who rush tend to miss the best angles.

The ride back to Chivay includes more than scenery

On the way back to Chivay, the tour includes guided stops for beautiful landscapes and also covers some of the local culture pieces from the highlights, including colonial towns and folklore elements. Lunch is provided as a guided break, but it is not included, so you can choose what fits your taste and budget when you arrive at lunch time.

Then you finally transition out of the canyon experience and into the transfer to Puno. You will ride onward and get dropped off at your hotel in downtown Puno.

Price and what you truly pay for: $103 plus canyon and hot spring entry

The listed price is $103 per person for two days. On paper, that is the base cost for pickup, guiding, transportation, one night of lodging, and the Arequipa-to-Puno transfer. What makes the pricing feel fair is that the tour is doing two jobs at once: sightseeing in the Colca Canyon area and then moving you onward to Puno without requiring separate bookings.

What costs extra

Two important add-ons are explicitly stated:

1. Colca Canyon entrance tickets

Foreigners: S/ 70.00

Latin America: S/ 40.00

Peruvians: S/ 20.00

1. Hot springs entrance in Calera

S/ 15.00, listed as optional service

Also, lunch and dinner are not included. Lunch and dinner options are listed from S/ 25.00 per person. In other words, you can manage your costs, but you should not assume meals are “free inside the package.”

My value read

If you want a guided, structured way to do Colca in two days, plus a real transfer to Puno, this is a practical price. If you are already planning to self-drive and you do not need lodging or an English-speaking guide, you could compare alternatives. But for most people, the big savings come from not having to piece together transportation, timing, and entry tickets across multiple days.

Lodging in Chivay and how it affects your comfort

You get one-night accommodation in a 2-star hotel with a private bathroom. That matters more than the star rating. A private bathroom is the comfort baseline you want after a long driving day and a thermal bath session.

The lodging is simple and functional, and the tour does not sell it as luxury. The value is that the overnight places you close to the viewpoint schedule for day two. In a two-day tour, location and timing are often more important than fancy amenities.

Your guide and small-group format: fewer people, easier pacing

You travel with an English-speaking guide for both days, and Spanish is also supported. The group size is limited to 17 participants.

That small cap changes the feel of the trip. You are not competing for attention all day, and it is easier for a guide to explain what you are looking at, especially at viewpoints. It also tends to keep timing smoother, because fewer people means fewer delays when you regroup for transport.

This kind of guide-led structure is especially useful for condor day. Even without guarantees, a good guide helps you understand what the viewpoint is for and where to stand for the best chance.

Wildlife, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and the cultural stops you should not rush

The highlights mention a chance to see llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas. You will not be in a zoo. Think of it as a roadside and countryside wildlife possibility. If you spot them, pause long enough to watch calmly. These animals tend to show up in quiet moments, not during the loudest photo stops.

The tour also flags colonial towns, typical costumes, and folklore. The practical way to think about this is that the guide will build in opportunities to experience local life while keeping you on schedule for canyon viewpoints and the transfer to Puno. If you want only scenery, you might be tempted to rush through. But these cultural snippets are often what makes a canyon day feel more like a place you visited, not just a photo stop.

Altitude reality check: who should and should not pick this tour

The activity is explicitly not suitable for people with altitude sickness. That single line is worth treating as a hard rule, not a suggestion.

This matters because you are not just sightseeing from a low altitude. You are operating in the Colca region and moving through high-elevation zones. If altitude affects you anywhere in your travel history, plan accordingly. Consider speaking with a clinician before booking anything in high-altitude areas.

If altitude is not a problem for you, the tour can still feel intense. It is 2 days, guided, with driving time, viewpoint time, and a hot spring stop. If you like structure and want the day packed but not chaotic, you will likely do well.

Should you book the Arequipa to Puno 2-day Colca Canyon tour?

I’d book this tour if you want three things in one package: the canyon viewpoint experience, a meaningful relaxation stop at Calera hot springs, and an organized transfer to Puno. The small group size, English-speaking guide, and included Chivay overnight make it a solid value, especially since entry fees and meals are the main extras you will still budget for.

I would think twice if you need a fully accessible pace, if altitude has knocked you down before, or if you prefer doing everything on your own time with no structured itinerary. Two days is tight, and the condor part is never fully guaranteed. That said, the canyon views and the hot springs downtime are built in so you are not paying only for one outcome.

If Colca Canyon is on your Peru list and you want it done efficiently with a real handoff to Puno, this is a dependable way to do it.

FAQ

What is included in the tour price?

Pickup from your hotel in downtown Arequipa, an English-speaking guide for 2 days, tourist transportation from Arequipa to Colca to Puno, 1 night of accommodation in a 2-star hotel with a private bathroom, breakfast on day 2 in Chivay, and drop-off at your hotel in downtown Puno.

How long is the tour?

It is a 2-day tour. Starting times depend on availability.

Where do you get picked up and where do you get dropped off?

You are picked up from your hotel in downtown Arequipa and dropped off at your hotel in downtown Puno.

What happens on day one?

You are picked up in Arequipa, travel to Chivay, check in to your hotel, have time for lunch (not included), then visit the thermal springs in Calera. You stay overnight in Chivay.

What happens on day two?

You have breakfast in Chivay, visit the Cruz del Condor viewpoint to observe the Colca Canyon and try to spot condors if conditions are right, then return toward Chivay for guided stops and lunch (not included), and continue with the transfer to Puno.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch and dinner are not included. Lunch is typically taken during the guided day, and dinner is not included either. Options start from S/ 25.00 per person.

Are entrance tickets included?

No. Colca Canyon entrance tickets are extra (cost depends on your category), and hot springs entrance is also extra (S/ 15.00) and listed as optional.

Who is the tour suitable for?

It is an English and Spanish guided small-group tour. It is not suitable for people with altitude sickness.

How big is the group?

The group is limited to 17 participants.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.