Trekking, Waterfalls and Thermal Baths

Capua Canyon is the star here. You walk through shallow water, puddles, and rocky canyon ground to reach the base of Capua Waterfall, far from the usual Arequipa city circuit. I like the small maximum group of eight and the personal touch from guides such as Pablo, who helps with photos and keeps the outing friendly and relaxed.

I also like the simple pairing of a four-hour walk with a hot soak at El Tigre. It is a good way to see a quieter side of the Arequipa area. The catch is clear: this is a wet, active hike, and the thermal-bath admission fee is extra, usually 5 to 10 soles according to the available tour information.

Key points at a glance

• Four hours in Capua Canyon: Expect puddles, streams, and a walk to the foot of the waterfall.
• A small group of up to eight: This allows more attention from the guide and an easier pace for questions and photos.
• Pablo is a helpful guide option: He has been praised for taking photos, supplying snacks, and helping people through the route.
• Hot springs after the hike: El Tigre pools are volcanic in origin and provide a warm change of pace after walking through water.
• Yura Viejo adds local context: You spend about an hour seeing the traditional town, its church, culture, economy, and nearby attractions.
• Pack for wet feet and sun: Hiking shoes, sandals for afterward, sunscreen, and insect repellent are practical choices.

Why Capua Canyon is the main event

Many Arequipa excursions focus on major sights and broad mountain views. This one takes a more physical route into Capua Canyon, where the walk itself is the attraction. You are not simply driven to a viewpoint, posed beside a waterfall, and sent back to the bus. You make your way along the canyon, crossing puddles and streams before reaching the waterfall base.

That detail matters. The water crossings make the outing feel more like a small expedition than a standard sightseeing stop. They also affect what you should wear. A pair of hiking shoes can work for the trail, but you should expect them to get wet. Bring sandals or another dry pair for the rest of the day.

The route lasts about four hours, so you need a reasonable level of fitness and comfort on uneven ground. The supplied information says most people can participate, but that should not be read as a promise of an easy walk. The canyon route includes water and may require careful footing. If you dislike wet shoes, long walks, or uncertain trail surfaces, this is probably not your ideal Arequipa day trip.

I like that the group limit is eight people. A small group is useful here because a guide can watch the pace more closely and help with the stream crossings. It also keeps the canyon experience quieter than a large coach excursion. There is no claim that the trail will always be empty, but the small format gives you a better chance at a calm outing.

Reaching the base of Capua Waterfall

The goal is the base of Capua Waterfall, reached after walking through the canyon. The waterfall and canyon provide the main photo opportunities, and the route gives you time to appreciate the setting instead of treating it as a quick stop.

Guide Pablo receives especially strong praise for this part of the experience. He is described as helpful and willing to take plenty of photos, which is useful when you are moving through water and cannot easily stop to set up a camera. He also provides bagged snacks at the waterfall, including fruit, water, candy, and crackers. The official inclusions list cookies, a cereal bar, fruit, and bottled water, so you can expect simple trail food rather than a full meal.

Bring your own sunscreen and insect repellent. Those are easy items to overlook when the day is built around a waterfall and hot springs, but they matter during several hours outside. The water crossings may be fun, yet wet footwear can make the return walk less comfortable, so spare footwear is one of the best additions to your day bag.

You should also keep your expectations practical. This is not presented as a polished boardwalk walk or a fully developed national park attraction. The appeal comes from the rougher canyon route and the chance to reach the waterfall on foot. That makes it more rewarding for active people, but less convenient for anyone seeking a soft, predictable outing.

El Tigre hot springs after four hours on foot

After the canyon walk, the tour continues to Pozo de Aguas Termales El Tigre. You spend about 40 minutes in hot pools of volcanic origin. The timing makes sense: the warm water gives you a chance to relax after the wet and active first part of the day.

The pools are described as having healing qualities for bones and skin. Treat that as a traditional or promotional description, not medical advice. The practical benefit is simpler and easier to judge: you get a warm place to rest before the final cultural stop.

Admission to the thermal pools is not included in the $62 price. Plan to bring cash, with the fee reported as about 5 to 10 soles depending on the day. This is a small extra cost, but it is the sort of detail that can spoil an otherwise smooth morning if you arrive without local currency.

The 40-minute visit is long enough to enjoy the water without turning the whole day into a spa trip. It also means you should not expect a long, leisurely resort stay. The attraction is the contrast between the canyon and the springs: first a demanding walk through streams, then a warm soak in volcanic pools.

Yura Viejo and its traditional church

The final main stop is Iglesia de Yura Viejo, reached through the traditional town of Yura Viejo. You spend roughly one hour learning about the church, local culture, economy, and other attractions in the area.

This part gives the day more balance. Without it, the tour would be mainly a hike followed by a hot spring. The village stop adds a human setting and gives you a look at how the area functions beyond its natural attractions. I appreciate that the tour includes the town rather than treating it as scenery viewed through a vehicle window.

The church is included in the activity, so there is no separate admission to budget for at this stop. The information provided does not specify the church’s architectural details or the exact activities inside, so you should think of this as a brief cultural visit rather than a full historical tour.

One hour is enough for a focused stop, but not enough for an extensive exploration of every part of Yura Viejo. That is a fair trade in an eight-and-a-half-hour day. You get a taste of the town without giving up the waterfall and hot springs, which are the main reasons to choose this outing.

What the $62 price really covers

At $62 per person, this is best judged as a small-group full-day outing rather than a simple waterfall transfer. The price includes hotel pickup, bottled water, cookies, a cereal bar, and fruit. It also covers the guided combination of canyon walking, waterfall access, thermal baths, and a town visit.

Hotel pickup is especially useful in Arequipa because it removes one transport task at the start of a long day. The stated meeting point is C. Zela 301 in Arequipa, and the activity ends back there. The start time is 8:00 a.m., with a total duration of about eight hours and 30 minutes.

The strongest value comes from combining three different experiences in one day. You get an active outdoor route, time in hot springs, and a short cultural visit. A large meal is not included, so the supplied snacks should be viewed as trail fuel, not lunch. If you prefer to eat substantial food during the day, bring something extra or confirm meal arrangements before setting out.

The thermal admission is the only specifically listed attraction cost left to pay. Since the reported fee is modest, it does not greatly change the overall value, but you should still carry cash. The $62 cost makes the most sense for someone who wants a guided day and does not want to arrange separate transport to Capua, El Tigre, and Yura Viejo.

Practical preparation for the canyon

Your packing choices will shape how comfortable the day feels. I would bring:

• Hiking shoes that can handle wet ground
• Sandals or a dry pair of shoes for after the canyon
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Cash for the thermal-pool entry
• A small bag for damp footwear
• Extra drinking water if you usually drink more than tour supplies provide

The tour provides bottled water and snacks, but the exact quantity is not stated. If you know you need frequent food or water during a four-hour walk, carry your own backup.

The guide may use a different footwear style than you expect. Pablo has been described as completing the walk in strapped sandals such as Tevas or Chacos. That does not mean you should copy him. Your best choice depends on your footing, comfort, and experience with wet trails. Secure footwear matters more than looking like a seasoned guide.

A small group can improve the experience, but it does not remove the need to manage your own pace. Tell the guide early if you need a short pause, especially before the route becomes wet or uneven. The available information says service animals are allowed, public transportation is nearby, and most people can participate, but it does not give detailed trail-access information. Anyone with mobility concerns should ask the provider for current route details before booking.

The weather and cancellation tradeoff

This experience requires good weather. Poor conditions can lead to cancellation, in which case you are offered a different date or a full refund. That is sensible for a canyon walk involving streams and uneven ground.

The strict part is the normal cancellation rule. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons after booking. If your plans are uncertain, consider that carefully before paying. The weather protection helps, but it does not create flexible cancellation for other changes.

A clear morning is likely to make the canyon portion more pleasant, but the tour’s official condition is simply that good weather is required. Do not treat the outdoor route as guaranteed in every forecast. Keep the provider’s weather decision in mind when planning transport or other activities around this day.

Who will enjoy this outing most

I would choose this tour if you want an active day outside Arequipa and like combining different kinds of stops. It suits people who are happy to get their shoes wet, walk for several hours, and then spend a short time in hot springs.

It is also a good match for people who prefer small groups to coach tours. With a maximum of eight participants, the guide can provide a more personal experience, and the outing should feel less rigid than a large organized excursion.

Families and mixed-age groups need to judge the walking section carefully. The information says most people can participate, but the four-hour canyon trek is still the central physical demand. Anyone who dislikes streams, puddles, or rough footing may find the day tiring rather than fun.

You should skip it if your main goal is a long thermal-bath session, a formal church tour, or a gentle sightseeing ride. The hot springs receive only about 40 minutes, and Yura Viejo receives about an hour. The bulk of the day belongs to Capua Canyon.

Final decision: book it for the canyon, not just the pools

Book this tour if Capua Waterfall and the canyon walk sound more appealing than Arequipa’s standard sightseeing stops. The combination of stream crossings, a waterfall, volcanic hot springs, and Yura Viejo gives you a varied day for $62, with pickup, snacks, and water included.

The best reasons to book are the small group, the offbeat route, and the practical help of guides such as Pablo. The main cautions are wet footwear, the four-hour walk, the extra thermal-pool fee, and the strict personal cancellation policy.

Bring sunscreen, insect repellent, cash, and sandals. If you do that, you will be prepared for what this outing actually is: a hands-on canyon trek with a warm finish and a short look at local life around Yura.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at C. Zela 301, Arequipa 04001, Peru, at 8:00 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Arequipa.

How long does the full experience last?

The total duration is approximately eight hours and 30 minutes.

How long is the Capua Canyon walk?

The Capua Waterfall portion lasts about four hours.

Is admission to Capua Waterfall included?

Yes. The Capua Waterfall stop lists admission as free.

Is the thermal-pool entry included?

No. Admission to Pozo de Aguas Termales El Tigre is not included. The fee is reported as approximately 5 to 10 soles depending on the day.

What food and drinks are provided?

The tour includes bottled water, cookies, a cereal bar, and fruit.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is eight people.

Can the tour be canceled because of weather?

Yes. The experience requires good weather. If the provider cancels because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund. Personal cancellations and changes are non-refundable.