Two days, one canyon, and a thermal soak. This trip is interesting because it pairs Colca Canyon viewpoints with real downtime at thermal baths, and it stitches Arequipa to Puno with way less stress than doing it on your own. I like the chance to look for condors from Cruz del Condor. I also love the warm reset of Calera’s hot springs after a long day of driving. The main drawback to consider is altitude: the tour isn’t suitable if you get altitude sickness.

You’ll get picked up from your hotel in downtown Arequipa, then head out into the countryside to check in around Chivay. After that, the schedule stays simple: lunch breaks you up, you soak at Calera in the afternoon, and you sleep in Chivay before a very scenic second day.

This is also a value play, but go in with a budget mindset. The tour covers transport, an English-speaking guide for 2 days, and your 1-night hotel—yet Colca Canyon entrance fees and optional hot-springs entry are extra, along with lunch and dinner.

Key things I’d zero in on

• Condors at Cruz del Condor: the best chance to spot them in flight on Day 2
• Calera hot springs (35–38°C): a practical recovery stop after altitude and travel
• A small group (up to 17): more guide attention, less chaos
• Arequipa to Puno with sightseeing: you turn a long transfer into an experience
• Budget for entrance fees and meals: canyon tickets and lunch/dinner are not included
• Wildlife and traditional culture stops: llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas can show up

Why this Arequipa-to-Puno route feels efficient

If you’re traveling from Arequipa toward Puno, this tour does one smart thing: it breaks up your transit. Instead of spending a big chunk of time simply getting from A to B, you get two structured days that already contain the scenery, the culture, and the classic canyon viewpoint.

I also like that it’s built around an easy overnight plan in Chivay. You don’t need to worry about finding a place to stay at the last minute or juggling multiple confirmations. The tour includes 1 night in a 2-star hotel with a private bathroom—basic, but solid. It’s especially helpful in a part of Peru where your time and energy can be limited by altitude.

Finally, the group size matters. Limited to 17 participants means the guide can actually keep the day moving without losing half the group every stop. On a tight 2-day schedule, that’s not a small detail.

Day 1: Arequipa countryside drive, Chivay check-in, and Calera’s hot springs

Your day starts with pickup from your hotel in downtown Arequipa. Then it’s time to head into the countryside. The driving is part of the experience here, because it positions you for the canyon views and the cultural stops that come later.

When you reach Chivay, you’ll check in and get some time for lunch. Lunch isn’t included, so this is where you should plan ahead—either bring snacks, or make sure you know where you’ll grab food. It’s also a good moment to refill water and take care of anything you’ll need for the next morning.

After lunch, you’ll visit the thermal springs in Calera. This stop is a highlight for a reason. The water temperature is in the 35º to 38º Celsius range, and the waters are described as thermal and medicinal. Even if you don’t think too hard about the medicinal angle, the practical value is obvious: warm water helps your body loosen up after a day that’s partly altitude-related effort and partly hours on the road.

Then you spend the night in Chivay. That overnight matters because Day 2 includes an early-feeling viewpoint experience at Cruz del Condor, where timing and being alert make a difference.

One more note: entry to the hot springs is listed as optional and costs extra (S/ 15.00). If you’re trying to keep your budget tight, you should confirm what you’re paying for and what’s included in your package day-of.

Day 2: Cruz del Condor viewpoint for canyon views and possible condors

Day 2 begins with breakfast included in Chivay. That’s a good catch for a tour like this, because it removes one planning headache right when you want your energy for sightseeing.

Next is Cruz del Condor viewpoint. This is the moment the trip is built around: you go to see the massive Colca Canyon and, if you’re lucky, to spot condors flying above and around you. The wording here matters. Condors are a natural event, not a guaranteed show, so your best strategy is to show up prepared and patient.

From the viewpoint, you’re also looking at what makes Colca Canyon special in the first place: it’s known as one of the deepest canyons in the world. You’ll feel it in the scale—how the canyon drops away and how far you can see in all directions.

On the way back, you’ll make guided stops. These are part of what makes this more than a one-viewpoint bus ride. The tour includes chances to see colonial towns and the region’s typical costumes and folklore. You’ll also have the chance to spot llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas along the route. Wildlife isn’t guaranteed anywhere, but the timing and countryside setting make it realistic.

You’ll have lunch during the return route, but again, lunch isn’t included. Then it’s back on the transport for the transfer to Puno, where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel in downtown Puno.

The guided stops: towns, folklore, volcano views, and animal spotting

This tour earns its keep because the canyon isn’t the only stop. Along the way, the guide includes scenery and cultural touches that make the drive feel purposeful.

You’ll have time to admire old colonial towns and learn about typical costumes and local folklore. That can sound like a “tourist add-on” until you realize how often people rush through this region without stopping long enough to notice the details. Here, the guide’s role is to keep you oriented—why things look the way they do, and how the community traditions show up in everyday life.

The tour also mentions seeing volcanoes. Even if you only catch glimpses through breaks in the mountains and clouds, it adds context to why this landscape is so dramatic. In a canyon route, that broader geographic sense helps the canyon viewpoint land harder.

Then there are the animals: llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas are specifically called out as things you might see. This is one of those details that can make the day feel more alive. It’s also a reminder to stay observant and not treat the trip like a checklist. If you’re scanning fields and roadside areas when the guide pauses, your odds of seeing wildlife go up.

Chivay hotel basics: what included comfort really means

You’ll stay 1 night in a 2-star hotel with a private bathroom in Chivay. That’s the kind of inclusion that keeps your travel smooth. You’re not hunting for a room. You’re not negotiating. You’re just moving with the schedule.

What should you expect from a 2-star stay? Typically, you should plan for clean, functional basics rather than luxury. The private bathroom is the key point you’ll care about after a day of travel and soaking. Since the tour includes breakfast on Day 2, it’s also likely you won’t need to think about where you’ll eat first thing in the morning.

If you’re sensitive to altitude, remember that comfort isn’t only about the room. It’s also about rest and pacing. A warm shower, water, and a calmer night help.

Price and value: what $103 covers and what you’ll add

The price is listed as $103 per person for 2 days, including:

• pickup from your hotel in downtown Arequipa
• an English-speaking guide for 2 days
• tourist transportation from Arequipa to Colca and onward to Puno
• 1-night accommodation in a 2-star hotel with a private bathroom
• breakfast included on Day 2 in Chivay
• drop-off at your hotel in downtown Puno

What’s not included is where you should do your quick math.

Entrance fees and meals you should budget

• Colca Canyon entrance tickets:
• S/ 70.00 for non-Latin America citizens
• S/ 40.00 for Latin America citizens
• S/ 20.00 for Peruvians
• Hot springs in Calera: S/ 15.00 optional
• Lunch and dinner: not included (options available from S/ 25.00 per person)

In other words, $103 covers the machinery of the trip—guide, transport, and your overnight base. The extra costs are mostly the “access” fees and your food. For many people, that makes the value feel fair, especially because you’re also getting a guided transfer into Puno with sightseeing built in.

Who should book this Colca Canyon to Puno tour

This tour fits best if you want:

• a guided, structured way to see Colca Canyon without driving
• a small group (up to 17) rather than a huge bus
• the classic Canyon + condor viewpoint plus a thermal recovery stop
• an easier transition from Arequipa to Puno in 2 days

It’s also a good fit if you appreciate cultural stops—colonial towns, typical costumes, folklore—and you don’t want to rely on your own research between viewpoints.

Who should skip or reconsider

The biggest red flag is altitude. The tour is not suitable for people with altitude sickness. If that’s you, don’t “tough it out.” Choose a different plan that’s designed for acclimatization and lower exposure.

Practical tips that make this trip smoother

• Plan for a meal gap: lunch and dinner are not included. Build in time to eat when the schedule gives you a chance, especially on Day 1 after you arrive in Chivay.
• Expect early viewpoint energy: Day 2 includes Cruz del Condor. If you’re prone to feeling tired at altitude, treat breakfast and hydration as part of your sightseeing strategy.
• Treat condor spotting as a maybe: the viewpoint is where you have the chance to see them in flight, but nature decides. Your job is to be ready when they do.
• Keep money for entrances: Colca Canyon entry and optional hot-springs entry are extra. Have cash/soles available so you’re not stuck.
• Bring layers: temperatures can swing in high-altitude regions, and a warm soak doesn’t cancel out cooler air later.

If you want one simple mindset for this itinerary: think of Day 1 as setup and recovery, and Day 2 as your big pay-off views.

Should you book this tour to Puno?

I’d book it if you’re traveling from Arequipa to Puno and want the transfer to feel like part of the trip, not wasted hours. The mix is well-balanced: canyon viewpoint on Day 2, a thermal reset in Calera on Day 1, and an overnight in Chivay that keeps logistics simple.

You should also consider booking if you value small-group guiding and want someone else handling timing and route decisions, especially in a place where altitude and distance can wear you down.

Don’t book if altitude sickness is a real concern for you. That’s the one issue you shouldn’t gamble on.

If you’re on the fence, do this quick check: can you comfortably handle one overnight in Chivay, accept that lunch/dinner and entrance tickets are extra, and stay flexible about condors? If yes, this is a practical, genuinely memorable way to experience Colca Canyon and arrive in Puno with your trip still feeling full.

FAQ

How long is the tour and when does it start?

The tour runs for 2 days. Starting times depend on availability, so you’ll need to check available time slots.

Where are you picked up and dropped off?

Pickup is from your hotel in downtown Arequipa. You’ll be dropped off at your hotel in downtown Puno.

What’s included in the tour price?

It includes hotel pickup in Arequipa, an English-speaking guide for 2 days, tourist transportation from Arequipa to Colca and then to Puno, 1 night in a 2-star hotel with a private bathroom, breakfast on Day 2 in Chivay, and drop-off in Puno.

What costs extra during the tour?

Colca Canyon entrance tickets are extra, as well as optional entry to the Calera hot springs (S/ 15.00). Lunch and dinner are also not included.

What type of hotel stay is included?

You get 1 night in a 2-star hotel with a private bathroom in Chivay. Breakfast is included on the second day.

What’s the group size and what languages are offered?

The group is limited to 17 participants. The guide is available in English and Spanish.

Is the tour suitable for people with altitude sickness?

No. The tour is not suitable for people with altitude sickness.

Can I cancel and is pay-later available?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. There’s also a reserve now & pay later option.