the viewing deck: Colca Canyon (3,287masl) Self-guided Solo Budget Day Hike

23 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Peru March 01 to March 23, 2021

Pandemic Summer Solo Trip in Peru Summary and Itinerary

South America Day 27 (World's 2nd deepest canyon at 3,400m, almost twice the depth of Grand Canyon): Mga Kababayan, turn up! Self-guided solo very challenging day hike in Colca Canyon with 22km loop trail completed on 11 hours with 1,300m elevation drop

COLCA CANYON, PERU (Mar. 2021)

- World's 2nd deepest Canyon at around 3,400masl, almost twice as deep of Grand Canyon

- I did this trek on self-guided solo day-hike on loop trail completed on 11 hours with 22km distance

- I did this trek on reverse loop and usually offered as 3D/2N or 2D/1N by travel tours.

Trip Description (Mar. 2021): Cabanaconde, Colca Canyon and other nearby tourists destinations, relax self-guided walk day visit

How to Go: Regular departures from Arequipa Bus Terminal and the colectivo vans beside the terminal. For Colca Canyon, earliest bus leaves 4am while the colectivo for Chivay then Cabanaconde (leaves as soon as it's full) fare costs S30 for 6 hours travel.

Day 25: Mar. 01, 2021 Mon / Lima Transit

1020H ETD Asuncion UTC -0300H; flight 1324; LATAM flight ticket 236 USD

1305H ETA Santiago UTC -0400H; 7 hours transit

2045H ETD Santiago; flight 2376

2230H ETA Lima UTC -0500H; 8 hours transit

TOTAL: S0 + 236 USD

Day 26: Mar. 02, 2021 Tue / Cabanaconde 1

0655H ETD Lima; flight 2105

0826H ETA Arequipa; bus #28 to Centro 1; Money Exchange 120 USD = 415 PEN (3.51)

Way Kap Hostel 4 nights 68; breakfast 6; Bus to Arequipa Bus Terminal 1; lunch 6

1300H Bus to Chivay 20

1730H Bus to Cabanaconde 20; Villa Pastor Hostel 25; dinner / pack snacks 30

TOTAL: S177

Day 27: Mar. 03, 2021 Wed / Cabanaconde 2

0600H ETD Hostel (3,287masl); walk to trailhead

1000H Oasis (2,183masl); slippery, steep, foggy;Got lost for almost an hour, trails with bushes

1130H San Juan (2,391masl); open area, smooth; Altitude sickness felt; dizziness, stomachache

1700H Sports ground (3,487masl); steep, long walk; Walk to Cabanaconde; dinner 18; Hotel La Posada 1 night 30

TOTAL: S48

1. If you missed the 4am bus in Arequipa bus terminal bound to Cabanaconde, better to take any colectivo nearby outside the terminal. Colectivo fare costs S20 for 4 hours travel from Arequipa to Chivay, and S20 for 1.5 hours travel from Chivay to Cabanaconde.

2. Elevation of Arequipa is 2,335masl, Chivay is 3,600 and Cabanaconde is 3,287masl. While travel from Arequipa to Chivay, highest elevation reached was around 4,658masl. Expect to experience altitude sickness.

3. Bring lots of water. I brought 4.5 liter (2.5li in my backpack bladder and 2li in plastic bottle I carried).

4. I did this hike on reverse loop starting from Cabanaconde's Valle del Fuego then to Oasis, San Juan then back to Cabanaconde Sports Ground. Normal loop starts from Cabanaconde Sports Ground.

5. I've read that there's a national park fee that costs around S70 (20 USD) and usually local authorities will force you to pay in Chivay. I did not pay anything on my hike since no one asked me to pay.

6. The trail is descend-ascend (3x) with breathtaking views of the canyon. Elevation drop from Cabanaconde to Oasis is around 1,000m while from San Juan Bridge to highest point is 1,300m.

7. Do not underestimate canyon hiking especially if you are hiking alone. In my honest opinion, I prefer mountain hiking than canyon. On my record, I consider Colca Canyon hiking is slightly harder than Acatenango Mountain hike (due to its 3x descend-ascend) and Paricutin Volcano hike (due to altitude sickness).