Colca Canyon and Arequipa
One of the great attractions of the Colca Canyon is the Andean condor, giant among birds of flight and mythological symbol of ancient Andean civilizations.
In spite of weighing some 10 or 12 kilos the condor, with a wing-span of over three metres, achieves amazing efficiency in flight. With barely a beat of its wings it is able to soar to great heights and glide enormous distances.
The Colca Canyon is one of very few places where you are almost guaranteed close-up sightings of these majestic birds.
Sample itinerary for Colca Canyon
Day 1: Arequipa-Chivay
You are collected from you hotel and travel through Colca Valley, passing the Pampas Cañahuas where vicunas, the South American camel, can be found.
We head to Patapampa (4,800m) where we are rewarded with fantastic views of the surrounding volcanoes. We travel on to Chivay, and in the afternoon we visit the thermal baths at Clera. Night in hotel in Chivay.
Day 2: Chivay–Cruz de Condor–Chivay-Arequipa
We leave early to reach Cruz de Condor (3,800m) and watch the majestic birds riding the thermals.
On our return we stop at various points of interest including the towns of Yanque, Maca and Chivay, returning in the afternoon to Arequipa.
What's included
Transport, hotel with private bathroom, breakfast on day 2, English speaking guide.
Not included
Meals (other than breakfast on day 2), tourist ticket (US $7 - payable in Chivay), personal items, tips.
Extra information about Colca Canyon
The head of the Colca valley is at about 4,000m above sea level. At this altitude very little grows and the land is only used for grazing. Lower down the valley, around Chivay (3,633m), the land is suitable for agriculture; here the typical agricultural terraces are seen.
A few kilometres from Chivay the valleys begins to narrow and the sides steepen to form the Cañon de Colca, which has an average depth of 3,400m for over 100km.
Although there is evidence of occupation here several thousand years ago, the landscape owes its appearance to the more recent pre-Inca Collaguas and Cabanas people. They were great agriculturalists and the designers and builders of the characteristic irrigation canals and terraces of the Colca Canyon.
Their gods were the region's mountain spirits; Hualqa-Hualqa mountain (6,075m) was worshipped for its power to control the water flowing into the valley.
Now, as then, the Colca agricultural produce is some of the best in Peru. Volcanoes bordering the canyon include Coropuna (6425m) and Ampato (6320m). North of the canyon is the Cordillera Chila, one of whose peaks (Mismi, 5596m) is considered the source of the Amazon River.
A hundred kilometres long, the incredible gorge of the Colca canyon is said to reach a maximum depth of 3,400m – twice that of the Grand Canyon. It was formed through a fault in the earth's crust being eroded over thousands of years by the largest river of the Peruvian coast, the river Colca.
Although a mere 160km north of Arequipa, its full extent was recognised only as recently as 1954; the first major explorations took place in 1978 and the first descent by raft and canoe in 1981.
On both sides of the canyon you’ll find picturesque villages whose inhabitants will help you with directions. Cave paintings suggest that people have lived here since the fist humans arrived in the Andes.
The characteristic terraces of the Colca valley rival those of the Incas. They were carved out of the land 1,400 years ago by the Collaguas, who were Aymaras from Tiahuanaco, and the Cabanas, who were of Quechua origin, both pre-Incan people with an advanced level of agricultural development. The terraces are still widely used. Many local people still wear distinctive and colourful traditional costumes, and the valley boasts an extraordinary genetic variety of potatoes, corn, quinua, maca, oca, and isaño.
Extra information about Arequipa
Evidence suggests that there have been people living in the Arequipa area for six to eight thousand years. The early inhabitants were hunter-gatherers. In the 7th century the Huari culture made an impact as did the later Tiahuanaco culture (10th century) and then the Incas.
Today Arequipa (officially founded by the Spanish in 1540) is an important commercial city of 650,000 inhabitants.
The 17th and 18th centuries saw the city's importance grow thanks to the silver mined at Potosi in Bolivia and, in the 19th century, from the export of alpaca wool to Britain. There are several impressive sillar colonial buildings, the most well known being the incredible 'mini city' of the Santa Catalina Convent.
Not to be missed is the excellent museum (Museo Santuarios Andino) housing the Inca mummy Juanita (found at over 6000m on Ampato in 1995).
Another must is Santa Catalina convent. Founded in 1579 and closed to all visitors until 1970, this fascinating labyrinth of alleyways is a city in itself. At one time 300 nuns lived here shut away from the world. A tour gives an impression of what life must have been like. Don't forget your camera.
You could extend your trip by trekking the Inca Trail or visiting the Amazon.
Check out our Peru group trips, or our many tailor made Peru options. You can always contact the office for more information on tailor made and group options.
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