Colca Canyon Trekking
A half day drive from the city of Arequipa lies the Colca Canyon. This canyon is known as one of the deepest canyons in the world. This canyon is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the United States. The Colca Valley is a colorful area with several villages. Time seems to have stood still here. The local population still adheres to the old traditions and ways of life. A major source of income in addition to tourism is agriculture. This can be seen in the many agricultural terraces in this valley. The largest village in the Colca Valley is called Chivay. To enter the valley, you always travel through this village.
A visit to the Colca Canyon is included in most of our trips in Peru, for example our Peru Highlights tour . However, if you have a bit more time to spend, you like hiking and it seems like a great experience to stay in the Colca Canyon and not just above it, then consider the Colca Canyon Trekking!
The trek through the Colca Canyon is not very difficult and you will just spend the night in beds in local hostels on the route (and not in tents). What can be difficult and is sometimes underestimated is the descent to the bottom on day 1 and the climb back up on day 3. These are paths and stairs, carved into the wall of the canyon. You do not have to be an experienced climber for this. However, do not underestimate the height, about 1000 meters of descent and ascent is quite a lot!
During the Colca Canyon Trekking you will see everything you would see during a 2-day stay at the Colca Canyon, including the place ‘Cruz del Condor’, the place where you have the best chance to see the condor soaring. However, you will need to book the somewhat more expensive tour with private transport. If you choose the cheaper version with transport in scheduled buses, there will be no stops along the way and not at the place ‘Cruz del Condor’.
Tour Plan
Start of the Colca Canyon Trekking from Arequipa
Around 08:00 our guide will pick you up from your hotel in the city of Arequipa. The route to the Colca Canyon is about 160 kilometers. Along the way we will stop regularly to enjoy the beautiful views. Animals that you can encounter along the way are vicuñas, alpacas, llamas and various types of birds. The highest point during this route is at 4900 meters. From this point you have a beautiful view of the many surrounding volcanoes and mountains. After this you descend again to 3600 meters altitude and arrive in the town of Chivay, from where you continue to the town of Cabanaconde.
In Cabanaconde you will be offered lunch and from this town you will start the Colca Canyon Trekking to the bottom of the Colca Canyon, a descent of about 4 hours. After the descent you will take another walk of about 2 hours. The subtropical climate at the bottom of the Colca Canyon is very different from the altitudes you drove through earlier that day and the crops that are grown there are also very different. In the Colca Canyon even bananas and papayas are grown and you will see many types of flowers and trees that would absolutely not thrive at high altitude. In the village of Tapay you will spend the night in a rustic accommodation, made of bamboo wood.
Day 2 - Walk in the canyon to the oasis of Sangalle
After an early breakfast, you will walk through a number of beautiful, small villages during the 2nd day of the Colca Canyon Trekking. You will see the locals working on the land and during the walk the guide will tell you all about the interesting and beautiful nature here in the canyon. With a bit of luck you will see the first condors flying above you. You will descend a bit more and arrive in the early afternoon in the valley of Sangalle, also known as 'the oasis'. After lunch you will have time to relax and you can use and enjoy the warm water pools. You will also spend the night here.
Climb to the top and visit Cruz del Condor
Very early in the morning the hike up starts. This hike will take about 5 hours. In Cabanaconde you leave immediately for Cruz del Condor. At this viewpoint over the canyon you can, if you are lucky, see the condors flying. After this there is the possibility to take a short walk with your guide. On the way back to Chivay you make several stops at a number of beautiful villages, viewpoints over the canyon and at the hanging tombs of the Collawas. Around lunchtime you will be back in Chivay, the final destination of the Colca canyon Trekking.
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