Discover Arequipa & Colca Canyon — Self-Launched
6 days · Arequipa & Colca Canyon, Peru
G Adventures charges £1,299
No-markup version: ~£213 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 6-day DIY version of G Adventures' "Discover Arequipa & Colca Canyon" (trip code TSPACC). Instead of comfort hotels, private vans and a CEO, you'll base yourself in budget guesthouses and mid-range hostels in Arequipa's historic centre and the canyon village of Chivay, use shared colectivos and the public 4M Express/Peru Hop-style shuttle to reach Colca, and join locally run day tours for condor-watching at Cruz del Condor, the hot springs and canyon hikes. Same white city, same volcanoes, same condors — for roughly a third of the tour price. Costs are approximate and based on current backpacker/mid-range rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Arequipa — the White City
Arequipa
Fly or bus into Rodríguez Ballón Airport / Arequipa bus terminal and take a local taxi (S/15–20, about £3–4) into the historic centre — no need for a pre-booked private transfer, taxis are cheap and plentiful. Check into a guesthouse a few blocks from the Plaza de Armas. Spend the afternoon acclimatising (you're at 2,335m): wander the Plaza de Armas, admire the sillar-stone cathedral, and stop at a picantería for rocoto relleno or adobo. Pick up bottled water and coca sweets for the canyon. Book your Colca transport and tour for Day 3 tonight at your hostel or with a local agency on Calle Jerusalén.
🚌Airport taxi ~S/15–20 (£3–4); walking in the centre
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel private room near Plaza de Armas (£14–20)
- →Plaza de Armas and cathedral exterior
- →Picantería dinner and altitude acclimatisation
Arequipa city tour & Santa Catalina Convent
Arequipa
Morning free walking tour of the centre (tip-based, ~£5 tip) covering the Plaza de Armas, the cloisters of the Compañía de Jesús and the San Camilo market. In the afternoon, pay the S/45 (£9) entry to the Santa Catalina Monastery — the working convent G Adventures lists as an optional extra — and give it two hours; it's the highlight of the city. Optional: Museo Santuarios Andinos (S/25, ~£5) to see Juanita the Ice Maiden. Evening: rooftop drink overlooking El Misti volcano, then dinner in the San Lázaro barrio.
🚌Walking; short taxis ~£2
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel private room near Plaza de Armas (£14–20)
- →Tip-based free walking tour
- →Santa Catalina Monastery entry (~£9)
- →Museo Santuarios Andinos / Juanita (~£5, optional)
Transfer to Colca Canyon via Patapampa
Chivay / Colca Canyon
Take a shared tourist shuttle or colectivo from Arequipa to Chivay (roughly 3.5–4 hours, £8–12 one way; book a return with a local operator for around £20–25 total). The route climbs over the Patapampa pass at 4,910m — stop for photos of the volcanoes and the alpaca herds grazing the puna. Arrive in Chivay mid-afternoon, check into a simple hospedaje, then walk 20 minutes (or take a S/5 colectivo) to the Baños Termales La Calera hot springs (£3 entry) to soak away the altitude. Evening: alpaca steak or quinoa soup and an early night before the condors.
🚌Shared tourist shuttle/colectivo Arequipa–Chivay ~£8–12 (return ~£20–25 total)
🛏Family hospedaje in Chivay, private room (£12–18)
- →Patapampa pass viewpoint (4,910m)
- →Baños Termales La Calera hot springs (~£3)
Cruz del Condor & canyon hiking
Colca Canyon
Leave Chivay at 05:30 with a shared minivan tour or local bus heading to Cruz del Condor (about 1.5 hours, ~£8–12 for the shared excursion) — arrive by 07:30 when Andean condors ride the thermals up out of the canyon. Watch for an hour or more from the viewpoint, then hike a section of the rim trail toward Cabanaconde if you want a proper leg-stretch. On the way back, stop at the Mirador de Achachihua and the traditional villages of Pinchollo and Maca. Back in Chivay by late afternoon — optional afternoon trek to the Uyo Uyo Inca ruins above Yanque with a local guide (~£10).
🚌Shared minivan day tour to Cruz del Condor ~£8–12
🛏Family hospedaje in Chivay, private room (£12–18)
- →Cruz del Condor viewpoint (condors at dawn)
- →Rim trail hike
- →Achachihua and Maca viewpoints
- →Uyo Uyo ruins hike (£10, optional)
Colca back to Arequipa
Arequipa
Slow morning in Chivay — market breakfast and a look at the church and plaza — then catch the midday shared shuttle back to Arequipa (included in your return ticket, or ~£8–12 if bought separately). Arrive mid-afternoon and check back into a guesthouse in the centre. Spend the evening shopping for alpaca wool in the Fundo El Fierro craft market, or take a S/20 taxi up to the Mirador de Yanahuara for sunset views over El Misti and the white city rooftops.
🚌Shared shuttle Chivay–Arequipa ~£8–12
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel private room in Arequipa (£14–20)
- →Chivay market and plaza
- →Fundo El Fierro craft market / Yanahuara viewpoint
Depart Arequipa
Arequipa
Last breakfast — try a fresh papaya juice and tamal from the San Camilo market — then a local taxi to Rodríguez Ballón Airport (S/15–20) or the bus terminal for onward travel to Puno, Cusco or Lima. If you have a late flight, squeeze in a final coffee under the arcades of the Plaza de Armas.
🚌Taxi to airport or bus terminal ~£3–4
🛏None (departure day)
- →San Camilo market breakfast
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£213 | £1,299 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,086 per person (84%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£213
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Discover Arequipa & Colca Canyon — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £213 per person for 6 days in Arequipa & Colca Canyon, Peru. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,299 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £213 — a saving of roughly £1,086 (84%) per person.
How long is the Arequipa & Colca Canyon, Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Arequipa & Colca Canyon, Peru.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Arequipa & Colca Canyon, Peru, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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