Trekking, Waterfalls and Thermal Baths

Capua Canyon rewards wet feet. This Arequipa day trip combines a four-hour river trek, a waterfall, and volcanic hot springs, with a small group capped at eight people. I like the quiet canyon route and the chance to see more than the usual city sights. The main drawback is simple: you need decent walking shoes, and the trail involves puddles and streams.

The $62 price includes hotel pickup, bottled water, and snacks, but not the thermal pool entrance. I also like that guide Pablo has a reputation for helping with photos and keeping the walk friendly and practical. Bring sunscreen, insect repellent, and cash for the baths.

What makes this Arequipa day trip worth considering

• You walk through Capua Canyon itself: The route involves puddles, streams, and wet footing rather than a simple roadside viewpoint.
• The four-hour trek ends at Capua Waterfall: The waterfall is the main physical reward, with the canyon providing much of the scenery along the way.
• You soak after the hike: Pozo de Aguas Termales El Tigre offers volcanic hot-spring pools and a welcome change of pace after the walk.
• The group stays small: With no more than eight people, you get a better chance to walk at a manageable pace and ask your guide questions.
• Yura Viejo adds local context: The church visit gives the day more substance than a hike-and-soak outing alone.
• The snacks are useful, not decorative: Cookies, a cereal bar, fruit, and water help during a long morning outdoors.

A full day beyond central Arequipa

This excursion begins at 8:00 a.m. at C. Zela 301 in Arequipa, with hotel pickup included. The activity lasts about eight hours and 30 minutes, ending back at the meeting point.

The schedule works because each stop feels different. You start with the most active part, spend time in warm pools afterward, then visit Iglesia de Yura Viejo for a slower look at local life. I appreciate that order. A hot bath before a four-hour hike would be a poor bit of planning.

The tour is limited to eight people. That matters on a route where you may need help choosing a way across a stream or moving at a comfortable pace. A small group also suits the quieter character of Capua Canyon. You are not signing up for a large coach excursion with a guide shouting over a crowd.

The package includes snacks, bottled water, and pickup from your hotel. The supplied snack selection includes cookies, a cereal bar, fruit, and other small items. It is enough to make the day easier, but I would still eat breakfast before leaving.

Four hours through Capua Canyon

The Capua section is the heart of the experience. You trek through the canyon, crossing puddles and streams as you make your way to the base of Capua Waterfall. This is not a dry trail walk with a waterfall appearing at the end. Water is part of the route.

That changes the preparation. Hiking shoes are sensible, but you should expect them to get wet. One useful tip is to bring sandals or another dry pair of shoes for afterward. A sturdy sandal with a heel strap can work for some people, but your choice should give you reliable footing. The fact that the guide completed the walk in strapped sandals shows that you have options, though I would not treat that as a reason to wear flimsy beach flip-flops.

The route takes about four hours, so you should be comfortable walking for a sustained period. The supplied information does not give a difficulty rating, so I would not label it easy without qualification. Most people can participate, but the water crossings and length make it less suitable for someone who dislikes uneven, wet walking.

You will likely spend more time looking down at your feet than on a normal sightseeing walk. That is part of the fun, but it can also make the hike tiring. Move carefully, follow the guide’s route, and keep your phone protected if you plan to take pictures.

Capua Waterfall provides the goal. Reaching its base gives the walk a clear payoff, and the canyon itself helps make the route worthwhile even before the waterfall comes into view. The setting is described as beautiful, but the appeal is not only visual. You get a sense of place by moving through the canyon rather than stopping at a single overlook.

The route is also presented as a less common outing from Arequipa. That is valuable if you have already seen the city’s main attractions or want a day outdoors instead of another round of churches and plazas. Still, less common can mean less polished. You should be ready for a natural route, wet shoes, and conditions that depend on the weather.

Snacks at the waterfall

A small practical touch makes a difference here. At the waterfall, the guide provides snacks including fruit, water, candy, and crackers. The official package lists cookies, a cereal bar, fruit, and bottled water, so you can count on basic refreshments rather than needing to carry a full packed lunch.

I like this kind of inclusion because it matches the activity. After several hours of walking through water and canyon terrain, a simple snack is useful. It also gives you a chance to pause at the main sight instead of treating the waterfall as a quick photo stop.

Do not read the snack provision as a substitute for breakfast or a complete meal. Start the day fed, and bring any extra food you personally need. The details provided do not specify a lunch service.

Sunscreen and insect repellent belong in your day bag. These were specifically useful tips from the experience, and they cost little space or weight. I would also add a small bag for wet footwear or clothing, since the stream crossings can leave you carrying damp gear for the rest of the day.

Warming up at Pozo de Aguas Termales El Tigre

After the canyon, the tour moves to Pozo de Aguas Termales El Tigre. You spend about 40 minutes in volcanic hot-spring pools, giving your legs a chance to relax after the trek.

The short bathing stop works best as a recovery break, not as a full spa visit. You will have enough time to enter the pools and enjoy the warmth, but the schedule does not suggest a long, leisurely session. I would bring what you need for changing and keep your expectations focused on a simple outdoor soak.

The pools are described as having healing qualities for bones and skin. That is part of the local appeal, but I would treat those claims as traditional bathing benefits rather than medical advice. The practical benefit is clearer: warm water can feel pleasant after a wet, active morning.

The entrance fee is not included. The supplied experience information indicates a cost of about 5 to 10 soles, depending on the day, so carry Peruvian cash. This is a small extra, but it is exactly the sort of detail that can cause trouble if you arrive without local currency.

The thermal stop also helps break up the pace of the day. You go from active walking to sitting in warm water, then later return to sightseeing in Yura Viejo. That variety keeps the excursion from feeling like an endurance test.

Yura Viejo and its traditional church

The final listed stop is Iglesia de Yura Viejo, with about one hour in the traditional town of Yura Viejo. The focus is broader than entering a church for a quick look. You pass through the town to learn about its church, culture, economy, and local attractions.

This part gives the outing a human setting after the natural sites. The waterfall and pools are the headline attractions, but the town helps you understand the area as more than a collection of scenic stops. I value that balance.

The available details do not identify the church’s architectural style, exact age, or specific displays, so I would not expect a formal museum tour. Think of it as a guided introduction to Yura Viejo and its place in the area.

One hour is enough for a focused visit, but not enough for an extensive town exploration. That is fine if you want a varied day. If your main goal is a long hike or a full cultural tour, this trip divides its time among three different experiences.

The guide and the small-group feel

Guide Pablo is specifically praised for being helpful and for taking plenty of photos. That matters on a route where your hands may be busy balancing through water or where you may not want to risk your phone near a stream.

A guide also adds practical value on a natural trail. The description does not promise technical instruction or a specialist nature talk, so I would expect friendly direction, route support, and help making the day run smoothly. The small group makes that personal attention more realistic.

With a maximum of eight people, the outing should feel more flexible than a large group tour. You can ask about the canyon, the hot springs, or Yura Viejo without waiting through a long line of questions. A small group can still vary in pace, however, so do not assume the walk will be private or tailored entirely to you.

Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation. Most people can participate, but the four-hour trek through puddles and streams remains the key physical consideration. If you have concerns about wet footing or extended walking, ask before booking.

Is $62 a fair price?

At $62 per person, the value depends on how you use the included services. You are paying for a full-day outing with hotel pickup, a guide, a four-hour canyon trek, a waterfall stop, a thermal bath visit, and a town visit. Bottled water and snacks are included too.

The strongest value comes from combining several stops that would be harder to organize independently in one day. Pickup also removes one piece of planning. You do not need to arrange separate transport to the canyon, the pools, and Yura Viejo.

The price is less attractive if you want only a short waterfall walk or only a thermal bath. In that case, you are paying for the complete combination. Remember to add the pool entrance fee, estimated at 5 to 10 soles depending on the day.

The tour has a 4.7 rating from 47 reviews, and 94 percent of people recommend it. Those numbers suggest a consistently strong experience, though they cannot remove the basic tradeoff: this is an outdoor day with wet crossings, not a polished sightseeing circuit.

What to pack for Capua and Yura

Your footwear deserves the most thought. Wear shoes that can handle water and uneven ground, then pack sandals or dry shoes for afterward. A strapped sandal may work, but secure footwear is more important than fashion.

I would pack:

• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Cash for the thermal pool entrance
• A dry change of footwear
• A small bag for wet items
• Any personal snacks you may need
• A phone case or bag that protects against water

The tour includes bottled water, but you may still prefer extra water for a long outdoor walk. The official inclusions confirm one bottle and snacks, not a full meal or unlimited drinks.

Dress for movement and quick changes in conditions. The exact weather can affect the experience, and the activity requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. For any personal cancellation, the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed, so check your plans carefully before paying.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this tour if you want an active day outside Arequipa and like the idea of combining nature, warm pools, and a small-town visit. It suits people who enjoy a little mud, water, and uncertainty in exchange for a less routine outing.

It is especially appealing if you prefer a small group and want a guide who can help with photos and route decisions. Pablo’s practical help is a plus, particularly at the waterfall and stream crossings.

I would think twice if you want a gentle, dry excursion. The four-hour trek is the main event, and the water crossings are not a minor footnote. The thermal pools are also a short stop, not a full-day bathing retreat.

Should you book Capua Canyon, the hot springs, and Yura Viejo?

Book it if you can handle a four-hour wet trek and want a varied day beyond Arequipa’s central sights. The combination is the real strength: Capua Waterfall gives you a goal, El Tigre gives you warm recovery time, and Yura Viejo adds local character.

Skip it if you dislike walking through streams, need a fully predictable surface, or want a longer cultural visit at one site. For the right person, $62 is a reasonable price for transport, guidance, snacks, and three distinct stops. Just pack dry footwear, sunscreen, insect repellent, and cash for the baths.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

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

Where does the activity end?

The tour ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The full activity lasts about eight hours and 30 minutes.

Is the thermal pool entrance included?

No. The entrance fee for Pozo de Aguas Termales El Tigre is not included. The available information indicates a cost of about 5 to 10 soles, depending on the day.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity has a maximum of eight people.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund.