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Arequipa, Colca & Puno High-Road: Route Guide

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A condor over the Colca Canyon
Photo: Thomas Fuhrmann · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

From Arequipa’s white volcanic streets, spend six days on a May–October road journey through Chivay and Colca’s public viewpoints to Puno. Allow the first two days in Arequipa to acclimatise, and arrange the high-road transfers separately with a licensed driver. Condors may appear; canyon hikes and Lake Titicaca boat trips are optional.

Arequipa, Colca & Puno High-Road is a 520 km one-way journey (with a driver). It works best as a 6-day trip; the plan below is the 6-day version for July, built from 180 verified places, with planned transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.

6
days
520km
distance
6
Stops
180
curated stops

View ready-made plans 6-day plan · best time to go

The route

Arequipa public UNESCO historic-centre day→Arequipa public acclimatisation and neighbourhood day→ 160 kmChivay reserved high-pass arrival day→Chivay public valley-heritage day→ 60 kmCruz del Cóndor confirmed public canyon-viewpoint day→ 300 kmPuno reserved high-road arrival and public city day
A stone fountain in a red-walled courtyard at Santa Catalina Monastery in Arequipa

Arequipa · Day 1

Monasterio de Santa Catalina

Wander colorful cloisters in this enclosed city-like monastery.

6-day plan →

Photo: Josep M. Gracia · CC BY-SA 4.0

What you'll see

Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús de Arequipa
Marvel at elaborate Andean Baroque carvings on this volcanic rock church.
Arequipa public UNESCO historic-centre day
Arequipa public acclimatisation and neighbourhood circuit
Keep a low-exertion public neighbourhood and museum day before the high pass; no volcano climb, riding or provider tour is included.
Arequipa public acclimatisation and neighbourhood day
Chivay reserved high-pass arrival circuit
Use the reserved licensed high-pass transfer and a bounded Chivay arrival. Do not add a canyon descent or strenuous activity after the altitude gain.
Chivay reserved high-pass arrival day
Chivay public valley-heritage circuit
Use public Chivay and valley heritage on the reviewed road corridor. Thermal baths, remote branches and provider activities remain optional.
Chivay public valley-heritage day
Cruz del Cóndor confirmed public canyon-viewpoint circuit
Visit the public signed canyon viewpoint through confirmed licensed transport and current ticket controls. A condor sighting is never promised.
Cruz del Cóndor confirmed public canyon-viewpoint day
Puno reserved high-road arrival and public city circuit
Use the confirmed high-road transfer and a bounded public Puno arrival orientation. Lake Titicaca boats and island visits require separate current bookings.
Puno reserved high-road arrival and public city day

Choose your length

6-day plan12 stops · 14.9 h transit2 stops/day · 2.5 h transit/daySee the full plan →

When to go

Best months: May, June, July, August, September, October

A six-day May–October licensed-road journey with two acclimatisation days in Arequipa, a bounded Chivay and public canyon-viewpoint visit, and a confirmed high-road finish in Puno. Condors, hikes and lake boats are never included promises.

See the month-by-month breakdown →

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