Day Trips from Arequipa by Distance and Time
Trips out of Arequipa are best chosen by distance and time on the road. Start from a base at about 2,335 m, and give yourself a full day in the city before heading higher. Fares and fees are in soles (S/).
Shortest to longest
| Trip | Road time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Salinas y Aguada Blanca | about 3 hours each way | 4x4 to a salt lake at about 4,300 m |
| Toro Muerto | about 3 hours by bus to Corire | petroglyphs in the Majes valley |
| Colca Canyon | 3.5 to 4 hours to Chivay | 12 to 15 hour day |
Colca Canyon
Chivay is about 160 km from Arequipa. Cruz del Cóndor lies about 45 km beyond it, so the lookout is further than many people expect. Pickup runs about 3:00 to 3:30 AM, and the road crosses the Patapampa pass at about 4,800 m. Condors tend to be seen around 8:30 to 9:30 AM, but nothing is certain. Drink water, avoid heavy drinking the night before and plan to be back at about 5 to 6 PM.
The boleto turístico is S/70 for a foreign adult and S/20 for a foreign child aged 6 to 15, and it is free up to age 5. You can buy it online, at the Chivay control post or at Portal de la Municipalidad 112 in Arequipa, open Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. See the official Colca site . Hot springs are an optional stop: La Calera, about 3 km from Chivay, costs about S/15, and Chacapi at Yanque is simpler. Two days make the trip far more relaxed, and the attraction tours page shows other ways to spend time nearby.
Salinas y Aguada Blanca
Vicuñas are the sure sight. Flamingos appear in some seasons and not others. The lake is cold and windy, and you cannot swim or take a boat out.
Toro Muerto and the Majes valley
Toro Muerto is in the Uraca district of Castilla province. Buses run hourly from Arequipa to Corire for about S/12, and a taxi from there costs about S/45 round trip including waiting. The site stretches over about 5 km and holds roughly 5,000 boulders by the usual count. Tours normally include entry. If you want river shrimp for lunch, go between April and December.
Not a day trip
Cotahuasi canyon is 9 to 12 hours each way by road. Sillustani, Cusco and Nazca are far from Arequipa and not day trips.
Before you book
The rainy months, about December to March, bring landslides on the Colca roads. The US rates Peru at Level 2, and protests can close roads in the south, so ask your hotel or operator the day before.
Read more: Family friendly activities in Arequipa .
Check departures: Arequipa day trips on Viator . Travel advice: UK FCDO for Peru .