Just ten minutes from the village of Chivay, lies Aranwa Pueblito Encantado del Colca. Though somewhat remote and located in the small village of Yanque, this 4-star hotel and resort has been ranked as the 9th in Resort hotels in South America.
A luxury resort replete with gardens and natural scenery galore, it is only a 4-minute walk from the nearby Thermal Baths of La Calera. Plus, it is an excellent home base from which to explore the iconic Colca Canyon and the Andean Condor. The canyon is twice the overall depth of the Grand Canyon, and is home to the Andean condor and the giant hummingbird. (Colca Canyon is consistently ranked in the top ten attractions for Peru).
An old watermill is located at the entrance of the hotel.
Home base for Colca Valley
The hotel resort is located in the district of Coporaque along the Colca riverbank, three hours from the city of Arequipa.
Many higher-end tours that depart from Arequipa try to spend one night at this property before leaving the next day for Peru’s epic Colca Canyon. I was told that the canyon was considered the number two tourist destination in Peru, after Machu Picchu. However, there are many rankings and none seem to support this, although the canyon is almost always in the top ten.
The Rooms
The property offers 41 rooms where you can luxuriate while admiring the Andes mountain range. Room options include a private chalet that sleeps four, deluxe twin room and a deluxe room with king bed, double room, and a suite with a king bed.
Bathrooms are modern and quite spacious. Ours included a shower as well as a spa-sized tub.
- Get a Car Rental
- Buy Travel Insurance
- Search for Great Tours HERE
Amenities
Since this is a resort environment, the amenities are many and make it easy to stay exclusively on the property. The indoor and outdoor pools consistently get high marks from guests. Both pools are considered family-friendly. The spa has 5 treatment rooms and offers services ranging from aromatherapy and body wraps to couples treatment rooms and massage.
Additionally, when I was there we were offered complimentary access to the nearby thermal baths. But because of our busy schedule and early morning departure, this is one amenity we did not get to enjoy.
An onsite restaurant offers excellent cuisine at reasonable prices. The property also has a bar that offers a variety of cocktails, beer and wine.
Other amenities include a full breakfast, free self-parking on site, and free WiFi available in all rooms and in some public areas. There is also a business center and meeting rooms to cater to business retreats.
The rooms offer modern bathroom facilities, robes, and slippers.
Besides enjoying the pools and spa, the resort offers free bicycle rentals. Horseback riding is also available for a fee.
For those looking for specific accessibility needs, it is best to contact the property directly. Though some rooms have grab bars near the toilets and in-room accessibility, there is no elevator and wheelchair access may have limitations.
The property is smoke-free.
Booking a Room at Aranwa Colca
Rates typically vary from $96-122 per night. You can book directly at the Aranwa Pueblito Encantado Del Colca official website, or compare rates and make a reservation at Booking.com or Expedia if you find a better deal. Rates vary depending on day of the week, month, and season. Please note that this is a very popular resort with both international travelers and local Peruvians. It is best to plan ahead.
For hotels in Arequipa, point of departure for most tours to Colca Canyon, check out the following hotel review Casa Andina Select.
The author and her husband paid and stayed for one night at at Aranwa Pueblito Encantado Del Colca as part of a tour to Colca Canyon arranged by Living and Traveling in Peru. As always, all opinions are those of the author. All photos are by writer/photographer Karin Pezo.
