Trekking, Waterfalls and Thermal Baths

Capua Canyon is the star here: you walk through shallow streams and puddles to reach the foot of a waterfall, with few people around and plenty of wet-foot fun along the way. I like the off-the-beaten-path route and the chance to see a quieter side of Arequipa beyond the usual city sights.

I also like the small group, capped at eight, and the simple care taken on the trail. Guide Pablo has been praised for helping with the walk, taking photos, and handing out fruit, crackers, candy, water, and other snacks at the waterfall. The main drawback is practical: you need good weather, and the stream crossing calls for footwear that can get wet.

What makes this Arequipa day trip worthwhile

• A four-hour walk through Capua Canyon: Expect puddles, streams, and a route that leads right to the base of Capua Waterfall.
• A small maximum group of eight: This keeps the outing more personal and makes it easier to move together on a narrow or wet trail.
• A real post-hike soak: El Tigre pools use naturally hot, volcanic-origin water, but the entrance fee is extra.
• A quieter side of Arequipa: Yura Viejo adds a look at local church life, culture, economy, and nearby attractions.
• Useful trail support: The price includes hotel pickup, bottled water, cookies, a cereal bar, and fruit.
• Simple preparation matters: Bring sandals or spare footwear, sunscreen, bug spray, and cash for the thermal baths.

Capua Canyon sets the tone

The day begins at 8:00 am at C. Zela 301 in Arequipa. From there, the outing heads toward Yura for the canyon walk. The total day lasts about eight and a half hours, so this is not a quick waterfall stop squeezed between city errands. You are giving the better part of a day to a proper outdoor excursion.

The four-hour Capua Canyon trek is the main event. The route includes streams and puddles, and you make your way through the canyon to the base of Capua Waterfall. That detail matters. This is not a viewpoint visit where you stay dry and take a picture from a roadside lookout. You should expect the trail itself to be part of the fun.

I like that the route has a clear reward at the end, but the walk is not just a march toward a photo stop. Moving through water changes the pace. You watch your footing, pick your way across wet sections, and enjoy a bit of harmless trail mischief. It gives the outing a more active, local feel than a standard sightseeing circuit.

The waterfall and canyon provide the strongest scenery of the day. The supplied details do not give a precise trail difficulty rating, so I would not label this an easy stroll or a demanding climb. The safest advice is to treat it as a genuine four-hour trek and prepare accordingly. Most people can participate, but you should be comfortable walking for several hours on a wet route.

Wet feet are part of the plan

Footwear deserves more attention than it usually gets. One useful account of the walk describes going through the river in hiking shoes and recommends bringing sandals for afterward. Pablo, the guide named in that account, completed the hike in strapped sandals, showing that you have more than one workable option.

That does not mean any sandal will do. A loose flip-flop sounds like a poor choice for a stream-filled canyon. If you prefer hiking shoes, accept that they may get wet. If you choose sandals, use a pair with a secure strap and a sole suited to walking. Pack a dry change of footwear for the ride and the later stops.

Also bring sunscreen and bug spray. Those items are not included among the provided snacks and water, and the canyon walk puts you outdoors for a long stretch. A small daypack will help you keep these items handy without making the walk cumbersome.

The tour supplies bottled water plus cookies, a cereal bar, and fruit. Snacks are also handed out at the waterfall, according to the available details, with fruit, crackers, candy, and water mentioned. That is useful support, though I would still eat breakfast before meeting the group. Four hours of walking is a long time to rely on a few small snacks.

Capua Waterfall rewards the effort

The payoff is reaching the base of Capua Waterfall rather than simply seeing it from a distance. The canyon itself is part of the attraction, and the waterfall gives the walk a satisfying finish.

Guide Pablo’s role seems especially useful here. He has been described as helpful during the hike and willing to take photos along the way. That can make a difference on an active outing. You can focus on getting through the stream sections instead of trying to protect a phone while also finding someone to take a picture.

The quiet setting is another reason to choose this excursion. The route has been described as feeling like a little-known local trail, with no other walkers present at the time. Conditions can change, so you should not book expecting complete solitude, but the trip is clearly aimed at a less common outdoor stop rather than Arequipa’s busiest attractions.

There is one important limit to keep in mind: the supplied information does not promise swimming beneath the waterfall. You go to the base of Capua Waterfall, but do not assume that a swim is part of the program. The thermal pools are the place specifically intended for soaking.

El Tigre hot springs are the easy part afterward

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, a short but sensible pause after the active morning.

This stop works because of its timing. Instead of ending the trek and immediately returning to Arequipa, you get a chance to rest your legs in warm water. The pools are described as having benefits for bones and skin, but you should treat that as a traditional or advertised quality, not a medical promise.

The entrance ticket is not included. The available cost guidance puts it at roughly 5 to 10 soles depending on the day, so carry cash. This is a small extra cost compared with the tour price, but it is exactly the sort of detail that can spoil an otherwise smooth day if you arrive without local currency.

The 40-minute visit is enough for a soak, not a full spa session. If you want long periods in the water, this schedule may feel brief. I see it as a practical recovery stop rather than the main reason to book. The canyon walk supplies the adventure, and El Tigre supplies the warm reset.

Yura Viejo adds a human stop

The final listed stop is Iglesia de Yura Viejo, reached through the traditional town of Yura Viejo. You spend about an hour learning about the church, local culture, economy, and attractions.

This stop keeps the day from becoming only a nature outing. After water, rock, and hot springs, the town gives you a look at how people live in the area. A church visit may not have the same immediate excitement as the waterfall, but it adds context and slows the pace before the return to Arequipa.

The description does not provide the church’s architectural date or detailed art collection, so I would not book this expecting a major historic monument. Think of it as a short cultural visit within a small-town setting. Its value comes from seeing a place connected to daily local life, not from checking off a famous landmark.

For some people, this will be the least memorable stop. For others, it will be the piece that makes the day feel more complete. I like the balance, especially for anyone who wants more than a single scenic stop but does not want a packed schedule of formal museums.

A small group changes the feel

The tour accepts a maximum of eight people. That is a meaningful advantage on a wet canyon route. A smaller party can stay closer together, and the guide has a better chance of offering practical help or taking photos without turning the walk into crowd management.

It also suits people who prefer a quieter outing. You are not signing up for a large coach group with dozens of people moving through the same section of water. The pickup begins at a central Arequipa meeting point, and the activity ends back there, which keeps the day simple.

The exact transport arrangements beyond hotel pickup are not detailed, so confirm the pickup point when booking if you are staying outside the standard area. The listed meeting point is C. Zela 301, Arequipa 04001. Pickup from your hotel is included, but the information does not specify every hotel zone covered.

The outing is near public transportation, and service animals are allowed. Most people can participate, but the four-hour trek still calls for reasonable walking ability. Since the route includes puddles and streams, anyone with concerns about wet footing should ask for more detail before paying.

Is $62 a fair price?

At $62 per person, the value depends on how much you want from a day outside Arequipa. The price covers a long outing of about eight and a half hours, hotel pickup, a small group capped at eight, bottled water, and snacks. It also combines three different experiences: a canyon trek, thermal baths, and a Yura Viejo visit.

That is a fair package for someone who would otherwise need to arrange transport, find the canyon route, organize a guide, and fit the hot springs into the same day. The small group is especially important here. You are paying not only for the stops, but also for a more manageable way to reach them.

The value is weaker if you mainly want a quick waterfall photo or a long hot-spring session. Four hours of the day belongs to the trek, and the thermal stop lasts only about 40 minutes. You are paying for a full day with active walking, not for a relaxed resort-style bath visit.

The extra thermal-pool ticket is modest, but budget for it separately. A few soles in cash will cover the stated range of 5 to 10 soles, depending on the day. I would also factor in the cost of sandals or a spare pair of shoes if you do not already have suitable footwear.

Who should book this outing?

I would recommend this for you if you enjoy active sightseeing, small groups, and places that sit outside the most familiar Arequipa route. It suits people who like a clear physical challenge followed by a warm soak. It is also a good fit if you want a little local town life along with nature.

The tour is less suitable if you dislike wet trails, want a guaranteed dry-weather plan, or prefer attractions that require very little walking. The four-hour canyon section is not a minor add-on. It shapes the day.

Families and mixed-ability groups should consider the stream sections carefully. The information says most people can participate, but it does not provide detailed accessibility information or a formal difficulty grade. If anyone in your group has limited mobility or balance concerns, contact the provider before booking.

The weather rule matters too. This experience requires good weather. If poor conditions cause cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That protection is useful, but the non-refundable policy for ordinary cancellations is strict: after booking, you cannot change or cancel for a refund for personal reasons.

Practical packing advice for the 8:00 am start

Keep your packing simple and useful:

• Secure hiking shoes or strapped sandals that can handle water
• Dry sandals or spare footwear for after the canyon
• Sunscreen and bug spray
• Cash for the 5 to 10 sol thermal-pool entrance
• A small daypack
• Extra water if you normally drink a lot during a four-hour walk
• A phone or camera protected from splashes

The operator provides bottled water, cookies, a cereal bar, and fruit, so you do not need to build a full picnic. Still, breakfast before pickup is sensible, and an extra snack may be helpful if you know you get hungry on long walks.

Wear clothes that can handle getting splashed. The supplied details do not promise changing rooms or towel service, so bring only what you need and avoid assuming that the hot-spring stop will provide everything.

The final call on Capua Canyon and El Tigre

Book this tour if you want an active, less familiar day from Arequipa and like the idea of combining a real canyon walk with a short volcanic hot-spring soak. The strongest reasons are the four-hour route to Capua Waterfall, the small group size, and the practical help from a guide such as Pablo.

Skip it if you want a gentle sightseeing day, dislike wet footwear, or expect a long thermal-bath visit. At $62, it offers good value for a full day with pickup, snacks, water, and three distinct stops, but the experience asks you to put in the walking time. Bring the right shoes, sunscreen, bug spray, and cash, and the outing makes a strong case for seeing a quieter side of the Arequipa area.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The listed meeting point is C. Zela 301, Arequipa 04001, Peru. Hotel pickup is included, and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 8:00 am.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours and 30 minutes.

How long is the Capua Canyon trek?

The Capua Canyon section lasts about four hours.

What happens at Capua Waterfall?

You walk through Capua Canyon, crossing puddles and streams, until you reach the base of Capua Waterfall.

Is the thermal-pool entrance included?

No. The entrance ticket to Pozo de Aguas Termales El Tigre is not included. The stated cost is about 5 to 10 soles, depending on the day.

How long do you spend at the thermal baths?

The planned visit to the hot springs lasts about 40 minutes.

What food and drink are provided?

The tour includes bottled water, cookies, a cereal bar, and fruit. Snacks are also provided during the day.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is eight people.