Where can I buy / rent gear?
It is easy to buy fuel & rent basic gear in Arequipa.
Check around in the many outdoor shops & tour operators near the main plaza or on Jerusalan. Price varies with quality, but expect to pay US$3-6 / item / day. (i.e. tent, sleeping bag, stove, etc.)
Start with the impressive Colca Trek agency (Jerusalan 401B) which has an astonishingly comprehensive array of gear available. You could walk in naked, walk out ready to hike Colca Canyon. E-mail them in advance if you like at ColcaTrek@hotmail.com. There are similar agencies nearby open longer hours.
You might purchase basic gear too. Quality, selection & price are, of course, not what you might hope for. Many items cost about double what we pay in Canada.
Best is to bring everything with you to Peru.
Do I need a Reservation to hike?
No. Nada.
The Colca Canyon trek is completely unregulated.
No hassle. No fee. Hike when you want.
You appreciate this if you have gone through the hassle of the Inca Trail which officially requires a minimum of 30 day advance booking.
Where else can I get information?
The best source by far is South American Explorers Club in Cuzco. Their Lima clubhouse would be the second best.
Ask if anyone around has hiked Colca recently. Post a note there if you want to find hiking partners.
Our favourite guidebook is the excellent & essential Lonely Planet Trekking in the Central Andes.
Next best are the many Arequipa tour operators offering free information. Of course their real agenda is to sell you on hiring their services. Some were very helpful & many have free maps of the 2-day hike.
Who should NOT hike Colca Canyon?
NOT those with chronic knee, ankle or back injuries.
You are asking for trouble if you descend injured into one of the deepest canyons on Earth.
Gladly, the day hiking along the rim of the canyon is excellent. And you can easily find transportation back to your hotel if the day hiking gets to be too much.
What's the most difficult section?
Good question? Do you dislike steep climbs, or descents?
The footing is deceptively bad descending. This author rolled an ankle twice & slipped many times descending.
If you do the 5-day trek, the 5100m is a challenge due to altitude.
