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Arequipa and the canyons in 10 days: itinerary and hotels

Ten days in the deep south: the white city, the Cotahuasi and Colca canyons among the deepest in the world, oases, hot springs and the flight of the condors.

Compiled by Kylian, updated on Aug 29, 2026

Arequipa's white sillar cathedral seen from the arcades of the Plaza de Armas
  • 10 days
  • 18 places
  • 10 nights
  • fast pace
Start
Arequipa (night bus arrival)
End
Puno, on the shores of lake Titicaca
Main transport
Private 4x4 with driver on the canyon tracks, 4M Express bus to Puno
Recommended season
April to October, with the heart of the dry season from May to September; cold nights at altitude

What you get

  • The complete itinerary: 10 days sequenced Morning / Afternoon / Evening / Hotel
  • The card of every hotel, with the address and a direct booking link
  • Quota tickets, fixed-date tickets and surcharges flagged in advance
  • The country quick guide: weather, transport, formalities, budget
  • A PDF file of 16 pages

What the price does not include

  • Flights
  • Hotel nights
  • Tickets and admission fees
  • Travel insurance
  • On-the-ground assistance during your trip

The itinerary preview

The free day in full, with its hotel card. This is the sample.

Day 10

Condor Cross and the road to Puno

Morning

Climb back to Cabanaconde and Condor Cross

Departure from Sangalle at 5:00 AM, by headlamp: 3 hours and 1,100 m (3,610 ft) of climb back to Cabanaconde, in the light of sunrise on the canyon walls. Then the 9:30 AM bus to Chivay with a stop at the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint, where Andean condors, up to 3 m in wingspan, ride the thermals above the void in mid-morning.

Afternoon

4M Express bus from Chivay to Puno

Crossing the altiplano by direct tourist bus (departure 1:00 PM, arrival 7:15 PM): the Salinas y Aguada Blanca reserve, herds of vicuñas and high-altitude lagoons, down to the shores of lake Titicaca at Puno (3,810 m / 12,500 ft).

Evening

Arrival in Puno, on the shores of the Titicaca

Arrival at 7:15 PM on the shores of the world's highest great lake, at 3,810 m (12,500 ft): a quiet evening is advised, altitude deserves respect.

Good to know

The Colca boleto turístico (about 70 soles) is required at the entrance to the valley and at the Condor Cross: keep it on you. Best window for the condors: 8 to 10:00 AM. Puno is at 3,810 m (12,500 ft): a quiet evening is advised.

Hotel · Night 10

Hotel Kaaro

A modern hotel in the center of Puno, a 3-minute walk from the Plaza de Armas, with an elevator and a generous buffet breakfast. A good base to prepare the Capachica peninsula.

Address
· Jirón Ilave 271, center of Puno
Website
· kaarohoteles.com (new tab)
Book this hotel (new tab) affiliate link

Buy this itinerary

€39 incl. tax

that is €3.90 per day of travel

Billed in euros. If your card is in another currency, your bank converts at its own rate.

  • Secure payment through Stripe, bank card, Apple Pay and Google Pay
  • Available immediately in your customer account: online reading with clickable booking links, downloadable PDF for offline use
  • Method: what is checked, and when

A hotel in the itinerary closed or impossible to find, a place to visit permanently closed?

Within 12 months of purchase, email contact@etaperia.com

Itinerary corrected within 7 days, or refunded in full. Terms in article 12 of the terms of sale, on top of the legal warranty (new tab)

€39 incl. tax · 10 days

Buy

A question before buying? Email Kylian, reply within 2 business days.

The day-by-day rundown

10 stops, 380 km as the crow flies

  1. Day 1 Arequipa, the white city Arrival in Arequipa by bus Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  2. Day 2 Rafting, Juanita and the San Camilo market Rafting on the Río Chili Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  3. Day 3 Ruta del Sillar and the viewpoints of Arequipa Ruta del Sillar: Añashuayco and Culebrillas Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  4. Day 4 The road to Cotahuasi, Toro Muerto option Departure by private 4x4 via Corire, Toro Muerto option Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  5. Day 5 Sipia and the Quechualla oasis Sipia waterfall and trek to the Quechualla oasis Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  6. Day 6 Trek back and the Luicho baths Trek back Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  7. Day 7 From Cotahuasi to Cabanaconde Transfer by private 4x4 to Cabanaconde Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  8. Day 8 Colca trek: descent to San Juan de Chuccho Cabanaconde → San Juan de Chuccho Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  9. Day 9 Colca trek: the Sangalle oasis San Juan de Chuccho → Sangalle Oasis Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  10. Day 10 Condor Cross and the road to Puno Climb back to Cabanaconde and Condor Cross Free

1 day is free to read above. The other 9 unlock when you buy. Buy the itinerary, €39

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Country quick guide and logistics

The essentials of the country, scannable in ten seconds.

Weather and when to go

  • Dry season from May to September: bright sun by day, cold nights at altitude with possible frost. Warm layers for the evenings in Cotahuasi and Cabanaconde.
  • From 2,335 m (7,660 ft) in Arequipa to 4,750 m (15,580 ft) on the road passes, and Puno at 3,810 m at the end of the stage: two days in the city before the canyons, regular hydration, coca tea.
  • Strong heat at the bottom of the gorges from 10:00 AM: trekking days start at dawn.

Transport and permits

  • Private 4x4 with driver for Cotahuasi and the link to the Colca, the only reasonable option on these tracks; local buses and combis in the Colca valley.
  • From Chivay to Puno, the 4M Express tourist bus with viewpoint stops (about 6 hr, 1:00 PM departure); book it the day before at the latest.
  • In Arequipa, historic center on foot and apps (Uber, Cabify, inDrive) for the rest.

Formalities and safety

  • The Colca boleto turístico (about 70 soles) is required at the valley entrance and at the Condor Cross: keep it on you.
  • The Colca trek is done without an agency: briefing at the Homestay Pachamama the evening before, refuges at San Juan de Chuccho and Sangalle booked by phone, mules hired in the village.
  • Guide and mule for the Cotahuasi canyon are arranged by WhatsApp or on the spot, nothing is sold online (180 to 280 soles per guided day, mule about 40 soles).

Budget and meals

  • No reliable ATM in Cotahuasi or Cabanaconde: withdraw in Arequipa enough to cover the six canyon days.
  • Santa Catalina, Juanita and the Arequipa sites are paid separately from the Colca boleto.
  • Homestays and canyon refuges take cash only, about 15 soles for a mattress in Velinga.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly do I receive?

Your Étaperia itinerary, available immediately in your customer account after payment: readable online with clickable booking links, and downloadable as a PDF for the trip. Every day is sequenced Morning / Afternoon / Evening and says where you spend the night, with the address and booking link for each place to stay. Timed-entry tickets are flagged in advance.

How is this better than what an AI gives me?

A generative AI composes a plausible list in seconds, without saying what was checked or when. At Étaperia, every itinerary is compiled day by day, with the booking constraints spotted before it is too late to get them. The Method page says what is checked, against which source and on what date.

Can I adapt it to my dates and my pace?

Yes. The days are self-contained blocks: you can shift the departure, stretch a stage or skip a day without breaking what follows. Only timed-entry tickets require adjusting the dates accordingly, and they are all flagged.

What if a hotel or a place in the itinerary has closed?

Email contact@etaperia.com within 12 months of your purchase. If a hotel in the itinerary is closed or can no longer be found, or a place to visit has closed permanently, the itinerary is corrected in your customer account within 7 days, or you are refunded in full. A hotel fully booked on your dates, a seasonal closure or a change in opening hours or prices is not covered. This guarantee comes on top of the legal warranty of conformity; details in article 12 of the terms and conditions of sale.

Module, classic or complete itinerary: which one should I choose?

A classic is a short trip built to stand on its own, designed for a first visit to the country. A module covers one region in depth. The complete itinerary crosses the whole country, and buying it also unlocks each of its modules in your customer account.

Can I get a refund if the itinerary doesn't suit me?

No. It is digital content delivered right away, and you waive your right of withdrawal at checkout. To judge before you pay, every product page gives one full day for free and the list of every stop. After purchase, the guarantee applies: a closed hotel or a permanently closed place is corrected within 7 days, otherwise you get a refund.

Who is selling you this itinerary

  • Consumer mediator: ANM Consommation
  • Payment handled by Stripe: Étaperia never sees your card number
  • Publisher, not a travel agency: you book flights, hotels and tickets yourself

In the same country

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