A timeless Andean marvel of culture, nature and adventure
Southern Peru is home to Colca Canyon, part of the Arequipa region with areas twice as deep as The Grand Canyon. It’s the ideal destination if you’re looking for high altitude adventure and a window into the country’s rich indigenous heritage.
Volcanoes and colourful landscapes make up the geography in this Andean valley. The local people still maintain their strong culture despite the Spanish arrival centuries ago. Journeying into the valley, you’ll have the feeling of stepping back in time. A patchwork of ancient Inca terraces and traditional villages rise up from the banks of the river towards a wall of jagged snowcapped peaks that enclose the valley.
The Colca Canyon is home to incredible Andean condors and they can still be seen hunting in the early morning and late afternoon. This part of the Peruvian Andes also offers excursions to natural hot springs, Incan ruins and local villages as well as incredible hiking routes. A visit to the Colca Canyon is a memorable stop on your luxury visit to Peru.
Highlights
Spend time on the Mirador Cruz del Condor viewing platform getting an incredible look at the soaring Andean condors
Enjoy spectacular views over the river from the quaint town of Yanque
Relaxing in one of the numerous hot springs throughout Colca Canyon
Visit the stone and clay mortar ruins of pre-Inca village Uyo Uyo, a short way from Yanque
Demi Roberts
Travel Designer
Colca Canyon offers an unparalleled blend of natural beauty and cultural richness, where dramatic landscapes of towering cliffs and ancient Inca terraces meet vibrant local traditions.
Demi Roberts
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in Colca Canyon
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Trip Inspiration
Discover more of Peru
Arequipa
Built mostly from white volcanic rock, the ‘white city’ has panoramic views of the majestic Andes mountains. Be sure to visit the Santa Catalina Convent, and wander its winding, atmospheric alley ways.
Discover moreAusangate Trekking
Walk in the footsteps of Peru’s ancient civilisations across ever-changing landscapes until you reach the mighty Ausugate mountain. Known as rainbow mountain due to its unusual colourful, striped clay earth.
Discover moreChachapoyas
Chachapoyas, or the ‘Warriors of the Clouds’ as they were once known, lived high up in the Andean cloud forests. Today you can discover the fascinating Kuelap fortress, famous for its circular architecture.
Discover moreChoquequirao
Venture off the beaten track for a taste of the Incan Empire away from the crowds. Meaning ‘Cradle of Gold’ in Quechuan it’s thought to be an Ican religious centre.
Discover moreCusco
A charming, quaint city with an exceptionally rich and diverse history. Wander cobbled lanes, visit the imposing cathedral and sit back and relax on a terrace overlooking the bustling Plaza de Armas.
Discover moreLake Titicaca
The world's highest navigable lake, where azure waters seem to touch the cloudless sky. Meet locals who live on reed islands and birdwatch as evening sets in, before retiring to your lakeside hotel.
Discover moreLares Trail
With high passes and incan steps to descend, the Lares trek can be challenging. However, coupled with the beauty of the Sacred Valley and the many meaningful cultural connections to be had - it’s one of our favourite routes.
Discover moreLima
Cosmopolitan Lima is the place to be for gourmet food, energetic markets, great hotels and captivating sightseeing. Pay a visit to the Larco Museum for an oasis of calm within charming, colourful gardens.
Discover moreLuxury train journeys in Peru
Peru’s fleet of stylish trains are the perfect way to explore the country; from Machu Picchu and Cusco, across to the vast waters of Lake Titicaca and then onto the high Andes for Arequipa and the Colca Canyon.
Discover moreMachu Picchu
Ancient Incan ruins, perched high in the cloud forest and only accessible by train or on foot. These impressive ruins give visitors a fascinating insight into the Incan Empire.
Discover moreManu Amazon Biosphere
Considered one of Latin America’s most important natural wildernesses. Crammed with over 1000 species of bird, 200 species of mammal and tens of thousands of flowering plants.
Discover moreNorthern Peru Amazon Cruises
Cruise down the rivers and waterways of the mighty Peruvian Amazon. Keep a lookout for pink dolphins and flocks of rawkus scarlet macaws.
Discover moreParacas and Nazca
Delve into the mystery of the Nazca lines before soaking up the natural wonders of the Ballestas Islands. Adventure on speed boat from Paracas and uncover Peru's answer to the Galapagos Islands.
Discover moreSacred Valley
Steeped in history and ancient ruins. A place for adventurers who want to hike, bike or horse ride across winding village tracks with the imposing Andes mountains all around.
Discover moreSalkantay - Lodge to Lodge
An epic 7 day trek across Peru’s breathtaking landscapes; pass by glaciers, fields of otherworldly boulders shrouded in fog, lush wooded areas, intriguing archeological sites and charming traditional villages.
Discover moreSouthern Peruvian Amazon
Home to the pristine Tambopata National Reserve, this is a wildlife lover's dream. Uncover nocturnal creatures on night time walks and visit tree top lookouts and canopy walkways.
Discover moreThe Inca Trail
A beautiful trail across the Andes ending at Machu Picchu’s Sun Gate, before the site has opened to the public and just as the sun rises. The mists clear and reveal the wondrous ancient ruins.
Discover moreThe Northern Beaches
Where the arid desert landscapes of Northern Peru meet the Pacific Ocean you’ll find a collection of chic beach hangouts and a paradise for surfers and kitesurfers.
Discover moreTrujillo and Chiclayo
The impressive pre-Columbian archaeological sites in this region are not to be missed. Vast adobe complexes and ornate pyramids, tombs and several engaging museums.
Discover moreMeet your Latin America team
When to visit
Peru is very much a year-round destination. We suggest avoiding the peak of the rainy season, which is February. Visitors in May through to September will enjoy the dry winter season, which is the best time to visit Machu Picchu and enjoy some of the incredible treks Peru has to offer.
Condor spotting
April–November
Hiking and ruins
May–June
Lush landscapes
January–February
Plan your trip to Colca Canyon
Whatever you want from your adventure in Colca Canyon, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
The moment we contacted Jacada and talked with the representative I knew this company was differential. We took time to work through the agenda, accommodations and expectations. Before the trip we were contacted about making dinner reservations as well as going over the itinerary to make sure we were all set. We were also given ideas on books to read…
Jacada helped us to plan ideal gateway to Peru and Bolivia and it was amazing. The planning was done on very professional level, with some small personal touches what made this trip memorable! Thank you Delfina, Melanie and the team!
James was wonderful! So helpful and courteous. I will definitely consider Jacada when we have future travel needs
We had several truly personalized and unforgettable experiences that were combined with extraordinary helpful and informative guides.
The trip was an amazing experience. The hotels, guides, excursions, transportation and restaurants were perfectly curated and arranged. Jacada handled every detail so that we could fully enjoy the trip and not worry about any of the logistics.
Plan with peace of mind
When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.