Trekking, Waterfalls and Thermal Baths

Follow the water into a quiet canyon. This Arequipa day trip combines a four-hour trek to Capua Waterfall with a soak in volcanic hot springs and a visit to the old town of Yura Viejo. I like the walk through streams and puddles, and I like that the small group, capped at eight people, keeps the outing personal. The main drawback is that the hike is not a casual stroll. You need to be comfortable with wet, uneven footing and a long walk.

I also appreciate the local feel. Guide Pablo has been praised for being helpful, taking photos, and making the route feel like a little-used trail rather than a standard city excursion. Just remember that the thermal-pool entrance fee is extra, and you should carry cash for it.

Five things to know before you go

• Capua Canyon involves water crossings: Expect to walk through streams and jump puddles on the way to the waterfall.
• The hike takes about four hours: The trek is the main event, not a short photo stop.
• El Tigre hot springs are a welcome finish: You get around 40 minutes in volcanic thermal pools after the walk.
• The group is limited to eight people: This is a better fit for personal guiding than for a large coach outing.
• Pack spare footwear and cash: Hiking shoes work on the trail, but sandals are useful afterward, and the thermal pools cost about 5 to 10 soles depending on the day.
• The price is $62 per person: Hotel pickup, bottled water, snacks, guiding, and the full day of activities are included, but not the hot-spring admission.

Why this Arequipa day trip feels different

Arequipa has no shortage of well-known sights, but this excursion takes you away from the usual city circuit. The focus is physical and outdoorsy: you walk through Capua Canyon, reach a waterfall on foot, warm up in volcanic pools, then spend time in Yura Viejo.

That mix gives the day a useful rhythm. The trail asks for effort, the thermal baths provide recovery, and the town visit adds a bit of local context. You are not simply moving from one viewpoint to another by vehicle.

I especially like the scale of the outing. With no more than eight people, the guide has a better chance to adjust the pace, help with tricky sections, and take photos. Pablo is specifically noted for doing all three. That sort of attention can matter when the route includes water and uneven ground.

The experience begins at 8:00 a.m. from C. Zela 301 in central Arequipa and ends back at the same meeting point after roughly eight and a half hours. Hotel pickup is included, so check the exact pickup arrangement when you book. The listed meeting point gives you a clear fallback if you need to make your own way there.

Walking through Capua Canyon to the waterfall

The Capua section takes about four hours and is the heart of the trip. The route leads through the canyon toward the base of Capua Waterfall, with puddles and streams forming part of the path.

That detail changes how you should prepare. This is not a dry trail where you can wear city shoes and hope for the best. You may walk in water, and your footwear will get wet. One practical option is sturdy hiking shoes for grip, then sandals or other spare footwear for the end of the walk. A prior participant found that hiking shoes worked well in the river, while Pablo managed the route in strapped sandals such as Teva-style shoes or Chacos.

You do not need to copy the guide, of course. His footwear shows that there is some flexibility, but your own choice should match your comfort and balance. Wear something secure on your feet, not loose slip-ons. A pair of socks and dry shoes in a bag would also make the return more comfortable, though only spare sandals are specifically advised in the available trip details.

The canyon itself is part of the reward. The waterfall is the destination, but the route gives you changing views of rock, running water, and narrow passages. The need to step across streams makes the walk more active than a standard path. It also means you should pay attention rather than spend the whole route looking through a camera.

At the waterfall, you reach the base of Capua Waterfall after the long approach. The stop is a natural pause in the day, and the included snacks are particularly useful here. You receive cookies, a cereal bar, fruit, and bottled water. Pablo has also been praised for handing out bagged snacks at the waterfall, including fruit, water, candy, and crackers.

Do not expect a full meal. The food is trail fuel, not lunch. If you usually need a substantial midday meal, consider eating beforehand or asking the provider what food arrangements are possible. The supplied details confirm snacks and water, but not a formal lunch.

Pablo’s habit of taking photos is another small but helpful touch. A guide who knows when to stop can give you better memories without making the whole trip feel like a photo session. The small group helps here, since there are fewer people waiting while someone takes a picture.

What the four-hour trek demands from you

The tour information says most people can participate, but it also identifies the walk as a four-hour trek through water and streams. Those two facts belong together.

You do not need to be an expert mountaineer, but you should be ready for sustained walking and wet footing. If you have trouble with uneven ground, you may want to ask the provider for more detail before booking. The route is not presented as fully accessible, and the water crossings are a central feature.

Bring sunscreen and insect repellent. These were singled out as useful items for the hike, and they are easy to forget when the morning begins in town. Bottled water is provided, but your own small day bag can carry personal supplies, dry footwear, and cash.

Clothing should be practical rather than fashionable. Quick-drying layers and clothes you can move in make more sense than anything you would worry about getting splashed. Since the trail is the largest part of the day, pack for the walk first and treat the town visit as the easier final stop.

The weather matters enough that the entire experience requires good conditions. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That protection is useful, but the standard cancellation rule is strict: the experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons. Book only when your schedule is firm.

Soaking at El Tigre’s volcanic pools

After the Capua walk, the group goes to Pozo de Aguas Termales El Tigre. You spend about 40 minutes in hot springs of volcanic origin, with the water described as beneficial for bones and skin.

The timing makes sense. A warm soak after several hours of walking gives the day a clear recovery period. It is also a different kind of experience from the canyon. Instead of watching where every foot lands, you can sit, rest, and let the pace slow down.

The thermal-pool admission is not included in the $62 price. Bring cash, with the fee reported at roughly 5 to 10 soles depending on the day. Since the amount can vary, having a little extra is smarter than arriving with the exact lower figure.

Do not treat the hot springs as a free add-on. They are a separate paid stop, and that cost should be part of your budget. Still, the fee is modest compared with the total price, and the pools add real value because they follow the most demanding portion of the excursion.

The 40-minute visit is long enough for a rest but not an all-day spa session. If you want extended bathing time, this may feel brief. If you mainly want to warm up and relax before the final town visit, it fits the schedule well.

A short look at Yura Viejo and its church

The final major stop is Iglesia de Yura Viejo, with about one hour spent passing through the traditional town of Yura Viejo.

This section gives the day a human setting after the canyon and hot springs. You get time to see the church and learn about the town’s culture, economy, and local attractions. It is not a long historical tour, but it provides context that a waterfall-and-hot-springs outing would otherwise lack.

I like the order of the stops. The town comes after the walk and the thermal pools, when you have already seen the area through its natural features. Yura Viejo helps connect those surroundings to daily life in the region.

Keep your expectations in proportion. The supplied details promise a one-hour visit focused on the church, culture, economy, and attractions. They do not describe a lengthy museum program or a large collection of monuments. Think of this as a compact local stop, not a full city tour.

The church visit is included in the tour price, unlike the thermal pools. That makes the final stop easy to understand financially: you pay the tour fee, then add only the separate hot-spring admission.

Is $62 a fair price?

At $62 per person, the experience offers a full eight and a half hours of activity. The price includes hotel pickup, guiding, bottled water, cookies, a cereal bar, fruit, and entry to Iglesia de Yura Viejo. It does not include the thermal-pool ticket.

For me, the value rests on the combination of transport and guiding. Organizing a canyon walk, waterfall visit, hot springs, and town stop independently could take more planning than the simple route suggests. A guide also matters on a wet trail, particularly if you want help with footing or photographs.

The small group improves the value. A maximum of eight people is much more appealing for a route where you may need to cross water or pause for assistance. You are paying for a complete day rather than a single attraction, and the activities have enough variety to keep the schedule from feeling repetitive.

The price is less attractive if you are looking only for a quick waterfall visit. Four hours of trekking is a serious portion of the day, and the outing is aimed at people who want an active experience. You also need to add the hot-spring fee, though that is a small extra cost.

With a 4.7 rating from 47 reviews and 94 percent of customers recommending it, the experience has a strong record. Those numbers do not remove the need to prepare properly, but they support the idea that the tour delivers what it promises: a guided walk, a waterfall, a thermal soak, and a local town visit.

Who should book this experience

I would choose this outing if you want to get beyond Arequipa’s central sights and spend much of the day outside. It suits you especially well if you enjoy active walks, do not mind getting your feet wet, and like combining nature with a small cultural visit.

It is also a good choice for anyone who values a small group. The limit of eight people gives the guide more room to offer help and take photos. Pablo’s reported approach, including his attention to photographs and snacks, adds a friendly practical touch.

You may want to skip it if you are looking for a relaxed sightseeing day with minimal walking. The Capua trek lasts four hours and includes streams, puddles, and uneven surfaces. The thermal baths help, but they do not turn the first half into an easy outing.

Families and mixed-ability groups should consider the walking conditions carefully. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed, but the information does not promise an accessible trail. The water crossings are enough reason to ask questions if anyone in your group has mobility concerns.

The experience is also suited to visitors who appreciate modest, local-scale attractions. Yura Viejo is not presented as a grand monument stop. Its value lies in seeing the church and learning about the town’s culture and economy after spending time in the canyon.

Practical packing advice for the 8:00 a.m. start

Keep your packing simple, but make each item count:

• Secure hiking shoes or strapped sandals for the wet trail
• Spare sandals or dry footwear for after the canyon
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Cash for the thermal-pool entrance
• A small bag for personal items and wet footwear
• Comfortable clothing suitable for a four-hour walk
• Any extra food you need beyond the provided snacks

Water is included, as are cookies, a cereal bar, and fruit. That is enough to keep the outing moving, but it is not a substitute for a full meal.

Your day begins at 8:00 a.m. at C. Zela 301 in Arequipa, with hotel pickup included. The tour returns to the meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate end location.

Confirmation arrives when you book. Public transportation is nearby, and service animals are allowed. Since the tour depends on good weather and personal cancellations are not refundable, read the conditions carefully before paying.

Should you book the Capua waterfall and hot springs tour?

Book it if you want an active, local-feeling day outside Arequipa. The strongest parts are the water-filled canyon walk, the quiet route to Capua Waterfall, the small group, and the well-timed soak at El Tigre.

I would make the booking only after accepting the physical demands. Bring proper footwear, sunscreen, insect repellent, and cash for the thermal pools. If you do that, the $62 price gives you a well-rounded day with nature, recovery, and a glimpse of Yura Viejo, rather than just another quick stop on a sightseeing bus.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 8 hours and 30 minutes, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending back at the meeting point.

Where does the tour start?

The stated meeting point is C. Zela 301, Arequipa 04001, Peru. Hotel pickup is included.

How long is the Capua Waterfall trek?

The Capua Canyon trek takes about four hours. It includes walking through puddles and streams to reach the base of Capua Waterfall.

Is the thermal-pool entrance included?

No. Admission to Pozo de Aguas Termales El Tigre is not included. The fee is reported as about 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.

What happens if bad weather cancels the experience?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. Personal cancellations and amendments are otherwise non-refundable.