July 2020
INDEPENDENTLY TREKKING IN COLCA CANYON
Yes, you can!. Trekking in Colca Canyon is not difficult as most travel agencies always say. Trails are obvious in the most common trekking routes as San Juan de Chuccho and Sangalle (classic trekking tour). You can see most of the trails from the viewpoints and I always recommend hikers to recognize these lookouts before start trekking. This is why is important to come to Cabanaconde because you can explore first the area, acclimatize and plan your trekking.
I must say that the trekking to Llahuar and Fure is less visited so you need more information, but at Pachamama hostel there are always people, most of them are couples or group of friends who come and wants to do trekking on their own, if you are an alone traveler Pachamama is the right place to meet other hikers. At Pachamama you will definitely get good tips for trekking in Colca Canyon
If you decide to arrange an organized tour from Arequipa it is important you make sure the local people get a real benefit, by paying a cheap trekking tour then you are not helping, locals are being exploited and as well some of their trekking guides. As I said local people get more benefit if you come straight to Cabanaconde.
By visiting independently the town of Cabanaconde it is a different way of travelling and exploring Colca Canyon. It may not be for everyone, but you can also buy a tour from Arequipa or hire our trekking services with a local guide. Pachamama is not the only place to stay in Cabanaconde, you also find some hotels and restaurants. Besides all of it you get a real touch of what a Peruvian Village is...
Advantages of Travelling Independently
- ▸ You have more freedom in your itinerary.
- ▸ You are more in contact with local people and nature.
- ▸ Local people benefit economically.
- ▸ You can decide what trek to do.
- ▸ The experience is different and personal.
- ▸ You can explore Viewpoints as long as you want.
- ▸ You have more chances to observe Condors. Etc...
Please don’t hike in the canyon without obtaining information beforehand!. At Pachamama Hostel you can meet other travellers and get more information.
TRAVEL AGENCIES AND INDEPENDENT HIKING IN COLCA CANYON
Travel agencies always try to misdirect tourist who wants to visit Cabanaconde - Colca Canyon. They say it is dangerous to hike without a guide, do not go on your own to Colca Canyon, etc. They sell tours and by buying their tours is fine, but saying that coming to Cabanaconde on your own is dangerous that is not quite honest. You can hire a tour for many reason and we are not against that, their services are very good and their guides are very nice people and professional (if you buy in the right travel agency). You choose what it is better for you, by buying a tour for most people would be better and helpful in matters of organization and by coming on your own it is just visiting a different way.
There have been reports of accidents in Colca Canyon, like in most places in the world these cases are not the exceptions. An accident occurs randomly and it is most to people who does not take the necessary precautions and recommendations. Examples of reports are: someone drowned drunk in the pool, a Spanish died because his bottle of water felt in a very dangerous cliff and he tried to reach it, some tourists got lost by walking at dark, a Brazilian girl felt from a mule and that happen with a travel agency, etc. Accidents can happen any time you just need to be cautious and it is important to get all information possible.
We recommend you to make a plan of your trek beforehand and get all information you need. Do not hike alone, in Pachamama you can definitely join other travelers, paths are fine, not dangerous animals, not robbery in the Canyon. We have very good information and we just want to focus by promoting local tourism even if people say that is not.
In worst-case you can also hire our tours services or hire a local guide from Cabanaconde. More information
NEW TREKKING MAP OF CABANACONDE
You can buy our new trekking map at Pachamama hostel. This trekking map of Colca Canyon is the most updated that you can find in Arequipa. I made this Map in order to help other hikers to get oriented and get extra information and let them know the possibilities of trekking in the area. You can only buy this map at Pachamama Hostel or get free if you stay at our hostel.
Our new trekking map of Colca Canyon 2020 contents valuable information:
▸ A well done and update map and easy to understand it.
▸ Options and possibilities of trekking 1, 2, 3, 4 days inside Colca Canyon.
▸ Information about the starts for each trek.
▸ Altitude of the villages.
▸ Level differences.
▸ Distances in km. and timings from village to village, etc.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us to this Email Address: colcapachamama@gmail.com
TRAILS, WATER AND FOOD IN COLCA CANYON
THE TRAILS IN COLCA CANYON
There are certainly not any signaling systems for trails in Colca Canyon. The biggest reason is that Autocolca (Organization in charge of promoting tourism) does not so much for it. But that it does not mean trails are dangerous and not easy to find. Local people have been using them for hundreds of years and they are responsible of repairing them if something happens to their trails. These paths are quite notorious to recognize you can also have an idea that people walk with their mules, so we understand they are big enough. You will always find simple signs when you are close to family houses.
Our Recommendation is to follow always a good path and you must know the start for the trekking. See here the starts for your trekking colca canyon.
FOOD IN COLCA CANYON
Food is very basic, but good. In most family houses and bungalows in Sangalle (Oasis) you will always find set menus; their prices vary between 10.00 to 15.00 soles. They will also offer you vegetarian food. Every family house or bungalow has their little shop where you can buy water, beer and snacks.
WATER SOURCES IN COLCA CANYON
You can easily find some good water resources in Colca Canyon, but we definitely recommend you to purify the water from any source, bring your own tablets from your country or buy it in Arequipa. Most of the family houses have good fresh water and you can fill your bottles there and use them after been purified. You can also buy in their little shops mineral water, price can be 3 times more expensive, but it is understandable the big effort they spend in bringing water from Cabanaconde. A very good advice is to refuel your water in little villages and not carry so much since you can find in every village a shop. We also recommend you to bring all your plastic bottles back to Cabanaconde, locals burns the plastic and it is not good for the environment. You can drop your plastic bottles at Pachamama.
HOSTEL, FAMILY HOMESTAY, BUNGALOWS IN COLCA CANYON
It is easy to find a place to sleep during the trekking in Colca Canyon, but in high season (May- Sept) we recommend you to book in advance. It is not necessary to bring a tent, unless you love camping. The family homestays in Colca Canyon offers a basic accommodation, share toilets and showers for a cheap price. It is impossible that you will find a fancy place, which it is fine and it is part of experience when you trek. Modernizations is not found in Colca Canyon trek, so do not expect it. We can help you to book a family homestay in Colca Canyon. Here a list of hostels inside Colca Canyon:
Cabanaconde - Homestay
You will find many options in Cabanaconde, this village is where most trek starts to explore inside Colca Canyon. We would appreacciate to stay at Pachamama since we put lot of effort to make this website and we do our best to make your stay like home.
- ▸ Pachamama Home Stay - Our Hostel
- ▸ Arun Wasi Hostel
- ▸ Posada del Conde Hostel
- ▸ Kunturwasi
- ▸ La casa de Santiago
- ▸ International Hostel
- ▸ Villa Pastor Hostel
San Juan de Chuccho - Homestay
- ▸ Gloria Home Stay
- ▸ Colibri Home Stay
- ▸ Roy Home Stay
- ▸ Rivelino Home Stay
Tapay - Homestay
- ▸ Maruja Home Stay
- ▸ Alcides Home Stay
Coshñirma and Malata - Homestay
- ▸ Mauricio Homestay
- ▸ Danilo Home Stay
- ▸ Museo Malata Home Stay
San Galle - Bungalows
- ▸ Palmeras
- ▸ Oasis
- ▸ Eden
- ▸ Paraiso
- ▸ Cielo Azul
Llahuar - Homestay
- ▸ La Casa de Virginia - Homestay
- ▸ Llahuar - Hostel
Fure - Homestays
- ▸ Fure Wasi - Homestay