Category: Tips Cusco

Traveling from Arequipa to Puno through the breathtaking Colca Canyon is one of the most efficient and spectacular routes in southern Peru.
However, a common question arises among most travelers: What do I do with my luggage if I am not returning to Arequipa?

If you are worried about lugging heavy bags around or paying extra storage fees, here is exactly how luggage logistics work during this 2-day tour.

1. Leaving Your Bags in Arequipa?

Many travel forums suggest leaving your primary luggage at your hotel front desk in Arequipa and traveling to Colca with just a small backpack. This recommendation only applies if you plan to return to Arequipa.

If your itinerary continues on to Puno and Lake Titicaca, returning to Arequipa just to pick up your bags means losing an entire day of travel and paying for unnecessary transportation. The most practical and efficient solution is to bring all your luggage with you right from the start.

2. How Does Luggage Transfer Work Step by Step?

On our 2 days Arequipa to Colca tour with a final connection to Puno, your luggage logistics are fully handled and secure:

• Day 1: From Arequipa to the Colca Valley
  The tour vehicle picks you up at your hotel in Arequipa in the morning. At that moment, your primary suitacases or large backpacks are stored directly in the vehicle’s cargo hold. When you arrive at your hotel in Chivay or Yanque in the afternoon, your bags are unloaded so you can have them with you for your overnight stay.
• Day 2: From Colca to Puno
  In the morning, after checking out of your hotel in Colca, you load your luggage back into the vehicle’s cargo hold. During the day’s excursions (such as the Condor’s Cross and Lagunillas Lagoon), your luggage remains safely stored and locked in the cargo hold. Upon arriving in Puno around 7:00 PM, we deliver your luggage directly to the door of your hotel.

3. Included Luggage: Up to 20 kg (44 lbs) with No Hidden Fees

To ensure your peace of mind and prevent last-minute surprises, our service includes the transportation of 1 piece of checked luggage up to 20 kg (44 lbs) per passenger.

4.What Should You Keep in Your Daypack?

Since the vehicle’s cargo hold is not continuously opened during intermediate sightseeing stops, it is essential to keep a small daypack with you containing your essentials for the day:

1. Warm clothing: A windbreaker, wool hat, and gloves (the wind at Patapampa and Lagunillas is freezing).
2. Cash (Soles): To pay for the Colca Tourist Ticket (BTC), hot springs admission, and local handicraft purchases.
3. Personal first-aid kit: Altitude sickness pills (sorojchi pills), coca leaves, or candies.
4. Valuables and electronics: Camera, mobile phone, power bank, and ID documents.
5. Hydration and sunscreen: The high altitude and sun dry out your skin very quickly.

Ready to plan your trip?

Book Your 2-Day Colca – Puno Tour with Included Luggage Here

(Contact us today via WhatsApp or email to secure your spot and check availability).

2 Days Arequipa / Colca Canyon / Puno Tour(Daily Departures, Prices US$75 American Dollars per person)

2 Days Puno Colca Canyon Arequipa Tour (Daily departures, Prices from US$75 American Dollars per Person)

1. The “Patapampa Effect” and Altitude Sickness in Transit

• Details: The Andes Lookout (Patapampa) sits at 4,910 meters above sea level. Many travelers don’t realize they will hit the highest point of the entire route within the first few hours of day one.
• Tip: Avoid eating a heavy meal before leaving Arequipa, keep coca leaves or altitude sickness (soroche) pills close at hand (not packed away in your checked luggage), and avoid running when stepping out to take photos.

2. Excluded Entrance Fees

• Details:The Colca Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico del Colca – approximately 70 PEN for South Americans and foreigners) and admission to the La Calera hot springs (15–20 PEN).
• Tip : Always carry cash in Peruvian Soles (small bills), as card terminals rarely have signal along the Chivay-Puno stretch.

3. Luggage Logistics (The Connection Bus)

• Details: On day two, the tour bus picks you up at your hotel in the Colca Valley with all your luggage to continue on to Puno. Your luggage travels in the bus cargo hold all day while you make various stops along the way.
• Tip: Bring a small daypack with water, a windbreaker, a camera, and valuables, as accessing your main luggage in the hold during short stops is inconvenient.

4. The Lagunillas Stretch and Accumulated Fatigue

• Details: Between Chivay and Puno, there is a key stop at the Lagunillas Lagoon (3,900 meters above sea level) to see flamingos. However, this section of the drive is long and monotonous.
• Tip: Download offline entertainment (music or podcasts) and pack high-energy snacks (nuts, chocolate), as purchase options along the route are very limited.

Quick Data:

Aspect	Route Reality	Suggested Solution
Nighttime Temperature	Drops below freezing (-5 °C in winter)	Pack thermal layers and a windproof jacket
Internet Connection	Almost no coverage between Chivay and Puno	Download offline maps before departing
Meals	Standard buffet lunches in Chivay	Notify of vegetarian/vegan diets in advance

2 Días Arequipa / Cañon del Colca / Puno Tour(Salidas Diarias,US$75 por persona)

2D Tour Puno, Cañon del Colca, Arequipa (Salidas Diarias, Precios US$75 por persona)

 If you are planning your trip through southern Peru and looking for an experience that goes beyond watching the scenery from a bus window, the answer is a resounding yes. While 1-day express tours (Full Day) force you to leave at 3:00 AM and spend over seven hours trapped in transport, dedicating 2 or more days to the Colca Valley and Canyon completely transforms the adventure.

Below, we analyze why this extended option is the best decision and how to make the most of it.

1. Why a 2-Day (or Longer) Option IS Worth It

• Relaxed Pace Without Extreme Early Mornings: Unlike the 1-day tour, the 2-day itinerary starts at a reasonable hour (between 7:30 and 8:00 AM). You have time to enjoy the scenery without rushing and rest properly.
• The Arequipa ➔ Puno Connection Hack: It is the most efficient way to optimize your itinerary. Instead of driving four hours back to Arequipa, you can take a 2-day tour that continues directly to Puno. You travel with your luggage and save a whole day of interprovincial transport.
• The Nighttime Experience in Chivay: Spending the night in the valley allows you to relax at sunset in the La Calera hot springs, enjoy dinner with local folk dance shows, and admire one of the clearest starry skies in the Andes.
• Sighting the Andean Condor: By sleeping in the valley, you arrive early in the morning at the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint—the exact moment when thermal currents allow these giant birds to soar just a few meters above visitors.

2. Tour Options: Which One Should You Choose?

Tour Type	Who is it ideal for?	Best part of this option
2D/1N Classic (Arequipa ➔ Colca ➔ Puno/Arequipa)	Travelers with limited time looking for scenery, culture, and comfort.	A balance of rest, photo stops, and hot springs.
2D/1N or 3D/2N Trekking (Descent into the Canyon)	Active travelers and adventure lovers.	You hike down to the Sangalle oasis, sleep at the bottom of the canyon (1,000 m deep), and experience the true magnitude of the gorge.

3. Things to Consider

• The Altitude Challenge: On the first day, you cross the Patapampa Pass at 4,800 m (15,748 ft) above sea level. You will sleep in Chivay at 3,600 m (11,811 ft), so it is essential to arrive with at least one day of acclimatization in Arequipa (2,325 m).
• Expenses Not Included: Admission fees such as the Colca Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico del Colca – 70 Soles), entrance to the hot springs (15 Soles), and some meals are usually not included. You must carry cash in Peruvian Soles (PEN).

Practical Tips

• Fight Altitude Sickness (Soroche): Drink muña tea (great for digestion and dizziness) or coca tea, walk slowly at high altitudes, and avoid heavy dinners on your first night in the valley.

• Dress in Layers (“Onion Style”): The weather is extreme. You will need light clothing and sun protection for midday in the canyon, a swimsuit for the hot springs, and heavy warm clothing (a chullo or beanie, a warm jacket, and a windbreaker) for the night and early morning.

Final Verdict

• If you have the time, a 2-day or longer tour to the Colca Canyon is 100% worth it. It’s an investment of time that transforms a tedious journey into one of the most enriching scenic and cultural experiences in all of Peru.

2 Days Arequipa / Colca Canyon / Puno Tour(Daily Departures, Prices US$75 American Dollars per person)