Choosing Colca Canyon private tours by what is private
Colca Canyon private tours suit two distinct plans: a day from Arequipa with a vehicle reserved for your group, or three days of privately guided trekking with shared tourist transport. The distinction matters here because the road journey, the condor viewpoint and the descent into the canyon are different parts of a visit. Decide which part you want to experience privately before comparing prices.
The day excursion combines Cruz del Cóndor access with La Calera admission, buffet meals and hotel transfers in Arequipa. The trek puts the private element on the walking experience and includes two lodge nights. Those are concrete differences in how you spend the trip, rather than variations on the same sightseeing day. For the road approach and the highland setting, read how to reach Colca.
A private vehicle is useful when your priority is a road-based canyon visit with your own travelling party. Private trekking is the relevant choice when the walking days are the main reason for coming. Neither format turns a demanding canyon descent into an ordinary viewpoint stop; the hiking guide explains that separate decision.
Private Colca experiences
The private vehicle tour is priced per group for up to two people. The private trek uses shared tourist transport.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private Colca tour for up to two
- 100% private transport, a vehicle exclusively for your group
- Private local guide and professional driver
- Colca Valley tourist ticket, including the Cruz del Condor viewpoint
Private tour for up to two people, priced at US$545 per group in the source. Breakfast, lunch and hot springs entry are included.
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Private trek with shared transport
- Private Trekking (only you)
- Shared tourist transportation
- Entrance ticket to the Colca canyon
The trek is private, while the tourist transport is shared. Two nights in a family lodge are included.
Check availability →An exclusive day vehicle or private trekking
The day excursion includes Colca and La Calera admission. The three-day trek combines private walking with shared tourist transport, lodge nights and meals.
A private day trip or a three-day trek
The day from Arequipa with a private vehicle
The private day trip starts with pickup at your Arequipa hotel and returns you to the hotel. Its duration is 14 hours. A vehicle exclusively for your group, a private local guide and a professional driver form the transport and guiding package. This is the road-based choice for travellers who want the canyon viewpoint and a thermal-bath visit within a single day.
The Colca Valley tourist ticket, including Cruz del Cóndor, and the entrance to La Calera are included. Buffet breakfast and buffet lunch are also part of the price. These inclusions make the budget easier to read than a day tour where both local admissions are extra. Dinner, alcoholic drinks and personal expenses remain separate, with tips at your discretion.
The published price in November 2026 is 545 USD per group of up to two people. Keep that group amount separate from individual tour prices when comparing options. The package also includes a welcome transfer from the airport or bus terminal to your hotel. That welcome transfer is a different service from the canyon outing, whose starting point is your hotel in Arequipa.
Three walking days with a private trekking guide
The three-day private trek begins with hotel pickup and includes a briefing at the hotel the day before departure. Guiding is in English or Spanish. The trekking is private to your party; the tourist transport is shared. This suits travellers who want a private walking experience while accepting a shared journey on the transport sections.
Two nights in a family lodge with a private bathroom and hot shower are included. The meal allowance comprises three breakfasts, three lunches and two dinners, with vegetarian food available. Colca Canyon and hot-spring tickets are included too. Water, alcoholic drinks, travel insurance and onward transfer to Puno or Cusco are separate from this package.
A mule carries backpacks on day three, with mule-handling support included. That is a specific luggage arrangement for that day. The package also lists snacks and tea time. Choose this option for the combination of privately guided walking and lodge accommodation, rather than for an exclusive vehicle throughout the journey.
Private or shared: when the simpler outing fits
A shared day excursion is a sensible choice if your aim is to see the canyon from the road and you are comfortable travelling with other guests. A shared day option listed at 38 USD includes return transport from selected hotels in Arequipa's historic centre, a guide, breakfast and buffet lunch, with local admission extra. The day-trip page compares those road-based outings without mixing them with private trekking.
The private day price pays for an exclusive vehicle and guide alongside the included tickets and meals. Those features matter most when travelling together in the same small party is part of the purpose of the day. If a shared vehicle is acceptable and the main aim is simply reaching the viewpoint, the shared outing keeps the decision straightforward.
A shared trek is the parallel alternative for walkers. The choice is about the composition of the walking party, the accommodation arrangement and the stated inclusions, as well as the length of the journey. For an overnight sightseeing visit that stays focused on the road and valley, use the two-day tour comparison instead. It serves a different plan from either private option here.
The canyon terrain still shapes the plan
Cabanaconde lies at about 3,300 m, while the Sangalle inventory dated 29 August 2025 places that lower valley at about 1,900 m. These places illustrate why a visit on foot needs a different commitment from a stop at the rim. Use the particular trek route to plan your walking days, rather than treating all Colca itineraries as interchangeable.
A night in the canyon and a night in a highland town have different roles in the journey. Choose the walking experience first, then fit accommodation and transport around it. The accommodation-area guide distinguishes Chivay, Cabanaconde and the lower settlements. It helps place a lodge stay in context without turning the day excursion into a trekking promise.
The Boleto and thermal admission are included in both private packages described here, while the private day specifically names La Calera. The Boleto guide explains the local ticket separately. This keeps the reason for choosing private clear: the day provides an exclusive vehicle, while the longer trip provides private trekking with shared transport.
Questions about private Colca visits
What does the private day cost?
The published price is 545 USD per group of up to two people. The 14-hour outing includes an exclusive vehicle, private guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, buffet breakfast, buffet lunch and the stated admissions.
Is the three-day trek's transport private?
The walking is private to your party, while tourist transport is shared. The package includes two lodge nights with a private bathroom and hot shower.
Which meals come with the trek?
It includes three breakfasts, three lunches and two dinners. Vegetarian food is available, and water remains a separate expense.
Which admissions are included?
The private day includes the Colca Valley tourist ticket and La Calera entrance. The three-day trek includes Colca Canyon and hot-spring tickets.
When does the trekking preparation begin?
The hotel briefing takes place the day before departure. Hotel pickup starts the excursion, and backpack carriage by mule is included on day three.