When should I hike Colca Canyon?
The best time to hike is the May through October dry season though it might be done any month of the year.
We have hiked in April & November. Beautiful weather both times.
Should I hike off-season?
Colca is a good choice if you happen to travel Peru during the wet months in the Andes, December - April.
Snow may be a problem above 4000m on the 5-day Colca trek during the rainy season, however. Check with adventure agencies when you get to Arequipa.
What is the weather like?
The weather is milder here than the rest of the central Andes — Arequipa has 300 sunny days a year!
Being fairly close to the equator, cold is not a major concern except on the one high pass.
After scorching heat during the day at the bottom of the canyon, it can get surprisingly cold & windy in the late afternoon. Nights are cold as they are in every desert.
