Who is Colca Trek
Colca Trek is the peruvian leader in adventure trips for small groups with more than 42 years of experience offering adventures throughout southern Peru, especially in the Colca Canyon. We are the pioneers of activities in the region and we have the only mountain lodge with amazing views of the canyon, it is located 20 minutes from the condor viewpoint. Colca Trek is a member of A.P.T.A. Group of ecofriendly companies.
We are the pioneers in designing groundbreaking itineraries and many say our trips start where others end. As the leaders in thoughtful travel, our UNIQUE adventures, In the same way, our tours do not visit places crowded with tourists buying souvenirs and we avoid turistic hotel areas/restaurants.
How Do I Book?
When you have finished all your questions about the trip and confirmed availability for the requested date, send your email address to colcatrek@gmail.com , with this email address the person in charge of reservations will send you all the information to formalize the specific reservation.
How do payment works?
The person in charge of reservations will send you a payment link to your email address.
How Far In Advance Should I Book?
The sooner the better! We recommend booking 6-12 months prior to your departure. Popular trips and trips departing during busier times sell out quicker, so it’s best to book as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
How Difficult And Flexible Are Trip Activities?
Our trips are in small groups so it is easy to customize them and the activities on the set trips, this ones are completely optional, if you’re not feeling up to a particular activity on any given day, you’re more than welcome to give it a miss. While the others in your group participate. We are flexible to adapt the trip to your requirements.
How much should I tip my guides, driver and hotel staff?
Our staff works very hard to ensure you the trip of a lifetime. They are dedicated, knowledgeable and their attention to detail really sets them apart from the rest. If you think our team has gone above and beyond, it is your decision to tip them at the end of the trip. We recommend USD$10 per day, per guest/couple, per guide, driver. It is best in cash in local currency or dollars on the last morning of the trip and can be given to each person individually to the guide or driver and for the hotel team they can deposit it in the TIPS box to be equally distributed team. Please note that it may be a little difficult to find ATMs in some regions, so plan accordingly.
What is not included?
Our trips typically exclude the following:
- Accommodation before and after the trip
- Water, beverages or alcoholic beverages
- Meals before and after the trip
- Tips to the guide, driver and hotel staff COLCA TREK LODGE
What is included?
Our trips are mostly ALL inclusive and typically include the following:
- Professional guides
- Accommodation at COLCA TREK LODGE
- Meals mentioned in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- Activities mentioned in the itinerary.
- Any necessary equipment such as bicycles, helmet, gloves or, in the case of mountaineering all the equipment.
- Transportation from your hotel at the beginning of the trip to the end back at your hotel.
- Tourist ticket for Colca (and the condor), entrance to “Parque de las Rocas”.
What will the weather be like during my trip?
In the south of Peru it is always sunny, but it rains a little from January to March, however it rains little only in the afternoons because the mornings are sunny too, generally the weather is not a problem in the dry region of southern Peru, with very sporadic cases of heavy rain.
Do I have to carry my own luggage or backpack?
For Colca, most of the walks are short and as Colca Trek has its own private transportation, the luggage (even if it is large) will always be in our hostel or on the transportation, do not worry, you will never carry a backpack or luggage if it s no necessary for you.
For long hikes we always use donkeys or llamas, in the mountains we do quick one-day ascents with only a day backpack, and for the Inca Trail we have the best team of porters.
How is the food? I’m vegetarian/allergic, is that a problem?
A: Food in Peru is one of the best experiences when you travel. All of our guides are expert cooks who enjoy sharing their local recommendations and cooking for you. When camping, the guide and his team and the tour participants prepare the meals. Adapting to special diets is usually not a problem; Choosing foods for vegetarians is our passion. Half of our guides are vegetarians, even more so when we are in our lodge ,our chef will be your best ally, we are prepared for allergic passengers or if our passengers have a special diet, food will not be a problem.
What about if I get sick?
Minor stomach upsets are common due to changes in diet and climate but they are usually brief, we recommend washing your hands constantly, regarding altitude you have to go step by step to have adequate acclimatization,
It is important to come with some medicines recommended in your place of origin and prescribed by your doctor, such as pills for altitude and for minor stomach infections.
What types of hotels do you use?
Our hotel COLCA TREK LODGE is hightly recommended by all our passengers and pages like Trip Advisor.
Can I have a single room/tent? Do I have to share?
On most of our trips, if you are traveling alone you will share a double room or double tent with another traveler of the same sex, a single room will incur a small charge if this is your option.
Will someone pick me up at the airport or bus station? Are transfers included?
Transfers to the airport or bus station are generally NOT included and in most cases participants take a taxi from the airport to their hotel, we organize these transfers in Cusco, Arequipa, Puno and Nazca and Lima, also if not It has a hotel. We can reserve it for you especially in our city of Arequipa.
What are the guides like?
Guides are carefully selected for their personality, overall travel experience, and enthusiasm for our travel style.
They all speak English, they are expert local guides, they are registered guides and experts in all destinations.
If I arrive a day early, can you help me with hotel accommodation?
Yes, we can organize additional accommodation in a good partner hotel, if you plan to arrive earlier, and it is most recommended for proper acclimatization to the altitude.