Buses to Cabanaconde leave from the Terminal Terrestre in Arequipa several times a day, run mostly by Reyna and Andalucía. The journey takes between five and seven hours depending on the bus and the road conditions, climbs over the Patapampa pass at 4,910 metres (snow possible in winter), and passes through Chivay before turning west along the rim of the canyon.
Coming from Cuzco or Puno, you change in Arequipa or — much more rarely — in Chivay if you find a connecting service. The route from Chivay to Cabanaconde runs the length of the canyon north side and stops at Yanque, Pinchollo, Maca, and other villages along the way. Most travellers buy a two-day Arequipa-based tour that includes Cabanaconde at the far end; doing it independently saves money but adds at least one night to the trip.