Arequipa Camp
Hostel, homestay or tent, shared
7 days, planned by Condor Overland
Seven days from a white city at 2,335 m into a canyon twice the depth of the Grand Canyon.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Plaza de Armas |
| Sillar architecture |
| El Misti |
Santa Catalina housed a hundred and fifty nuns and their servants behind its own streets for three centuries. Juanita is an Inca girl found frozen on Ampato.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Santa Catalina |
| Museo Santuarios Andinos |
| Sillar quarries |
The road crosses Patapampa at about 4,900 m before dropping to Chivay at 3,635. That hour at the top is the highest most people on this trip will go.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Salinas reserve |
| Vicuña |
| Patapampa pass |
| Chivay |
Condors ride the morning thermals out of the canyon between about eight and nine. Later in the day there is nothing to see and the coaches have gone.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Cruz del Cóndor |
| Andean condor |
| Colca canyon |
Eleven hundred metres of descent on loose switchbacks. It is the going down that wrecks knees; the climb out is honest work.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Colca canyon floor |
| Sangalle |
| Palm oasis |
Everyone starts at five because the wall is in full sun by nine and the climb is 1,100 m at 3,000 m altitude. Mules are available and there is no shame in one.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Canyon wall |
| Patapampa |
| Arequipa |
Arequipa flies to Lima and Cusco several times a day.
Day 1 · Fri, 18 Sept, 2026
Most of these can be added to your booking later — the operator confirms within a day.
Published by the operator. Nights on the ground can move with weather and permissions.
Hostel, homestay or tent, shared
Hostel, homestay or tent, shared
Hostel, homestay or tent, shared
Hostel, homestay or tent, shared
6 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 4 dinners across 7 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 7.
11 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
“Latin America by public bus, the way most people actually do it”
Overland routes on scheduled buses and public ferries. Slower, cheaper, and closer to how the continent moves.
Did this over 7 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Tents were warmer than expected and the camp was set up before we arrived. Good value for what's included.
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Good value for what's included.
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Tents were warmer than expected and the camp was set up before we arrived. The team read the group well and adjusted without making a thing of it. Would book with them again.
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Sleeping under canvas at that height is cold work and the kit was up to it. Whoever planned the days knew what they were doing. Worth every rupee.
Southern Peru in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Solid operator.
Southern Peru in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Camp was pitched and the kitchen going by the time we walked in each evening. Worth every rupee.
Did this over 7 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Tents were warmer than expected and the camp was set up before we arrived. Crew were professional without being stiff about it. Would send friends their way.
The trek itself is good but the group was too large for the trail on the summit day.
Thanks for writing this up. We've passed your note to the team.
Arequipa is 2,335 m, lower than Cusco. But the road to Chivay crosses about 4,900 m and Cabanaconde sits at 3,287, so this trip goes higher than most Cusco itineraries at its peak. The Chivay night is the acclimatisation and skipping it is why people are ill on the four-day version.
One other operator runs this trail. See all 2 side by side →