About Us

Hello! A warm welcome from Friendly Travel Peru...your local connection to the Colca Canyon in Peru! We personally invite you to come and see, undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful places in the world; where the condors still soar through the skies and civilisation subsists in almost the same way at it did before the birth of Christ. This enormous crevasse is said to be the second largest on the globe and is estimated to be almost double the size of the Grand Canyon.

It is possible for travellers to take a simple day tour up into the canyon and peer down from the Cruz del Condor, after passing through the charming towns of Chivay or Cabanaconde to see how the local people live in these high altitudes; or the more adventurous types can take several days trekking through the gorge. White-water rafting down the Colca River can be a humbling experience as one gazes up at the towering cliffs or taking a leisurely bike tour can be quite enjoyable, once acclimated to the elevation!

We are local to this area and have spent much of our lives exploring the natural wonders in the south of Peru; we are more than willing to assist you in creating the perfect itinerary. The accommodation options are endless and range from staying in a small hostel in the canyon to the luxury hotel choices in Arequipa (about three hours south). We can also help you with the logistics of getting to and from the canyon, since it is a bit off the beaten track and there are fees involved in entering the park.

A little about who we are...

Mariel is originally from Lima and was reared with an ingrained sense of respect for her culture and love for her fellow man. Her respect for culture stemmed into a study of Anthropology and eventually led to a terminal degree in Tourism. She has lived much of her life in Arequipa and has spent much time travelling around Colca Canyon, which has fuelled her love and interest in promoting this destination. She sees herself as an ambassador to this beautiful region and looks forward to assisting other travellers in discovering all the secrets this canyon holds.

Jimmy is an avid traveller and this interest has developed into a career in tourism after learning about the different cultures, realities and problems that face Peru. He now sees tourism as a means to further develop Peru. Jimmy feels that family is the most important part of his life and loves travelling around the country with them. He is also an amateur photographer and if you see him moving about Peru, his camera and family are sure to be close by.

A little more about what we believe...

Here at Friendly Peru Travel, we promote a behaviour code for our guests to follow as they participate in our tours about appropriate ways to act during our programs.

Code of Conduct:

-We urge guests to dress modestly and respect the local customs by refraining from showing excessive skin
-Guests should ask the people prior to taking photos
-Participants are asked to refrain from offering candy to the children
-Do not make an attempt to intentionally offend the local culture. Please be reserved with personal practices that are known to be unacceptable and make more of an attempt to learn about the local culture, rather than imposing one's own culture onto the place visited
-Guests should conserve water use and other scarce resources
-Participants should avoid the purchase of products created from materials of endangered species

Our company believes education is the basis for change and we explain the culture and customs of Peruvians to the visitors that pass through our home. The people of Peru are its greatest asset, we admire the unwavering pride that Peruvians hold for their country and urge visitors to converse with people and learn what they think about life. We wholeheartedly believe that the best way to discover a new place is through the eyes of the local people rather than reading it in a guide book. After all, they are the best source of information in regards to their culture!

Since the inception of Friendly Peru Travel we have intended to educate our guests about the culture of our people and the beauty of our natural environment. We make every attempt to create a sustainable business with minimal impact on the nature of the Colca Canyon, and that also serves as a tool for communal financial development supporting the people our tourism affects. We support the local populations by bringing our tours through their petite pueblos and encouraging the purchase of their handicrafts and services. We have lessons operated through the government in a small town called Yanque to educate guides and various touristic ventures about the best way to conduct business. We endorse family run hostels and businesses as opposed to large firms to breathe life and economic stability into the indigenous regions.

Friendly Peru Travel is motivated and pleased with our new WHL partnership and we view it as a wonderful tool to not only advance our opportunities, but to bring the possibility of the internet to small businesses that would otherwise not have the option. We are proud to join so many destinations around the world that are making attempts to advance sustainable tourism in their areas and we look forward to sharing our message with the world.

If you would like to learn more about the amazing Colca Canyon, do not hesitate to drop us a line and we can give you all the insider tips!