COLCA CANYON IN AREQUIPA: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!
Posted on : 14 February 2023
The Colca Canyon in Arequipa: The kingdom of the Andean condor
Surrounded by a green landscape full of life, we find one of the deepest canyons in the world, the Colca Canyon in Arequipa, the perfect setting for both extreme sports and the most peaceful rest, all supervised under the watchful eye of the monarch of the Skies of the Andes, the Andean condor.
The Colca Canyon in Arequipa is one of the main tourist destinations that we find in Peru, located in the northeastern end of the Arequipa region and has an area of 11,990 square kilometers.
How did Colca Canyon form?
The Colca canyon in Arequipa had its geological formation hundreds of millions of years ago, in a world in formation full of ash, mist and smoke that stirred with puffs of burning lava or molten rock, after one of the most violent earthquakes that earth ever had, the soils opened up, forming a fault more than 100 kilometers long and more than 1,000 meters deep in the earth’s crust.
The morphology of this area was changing due to millions of years of erosion due to the Colca River, forming a canyon with a dizzying depth that gradually became surrounded by life. The Colca Canyon in Arequipa is about 140 km long and has a maximum depth of 4,160 meters, this depth makes it one of the deepest canyons in the world.
In April 2019, UNESCO included the Colca Canyon and valley of the volcanoes of Andagua in the international network of geoparks for its unique and exceptional landscape.
What to do in the Colca Canyon?
kayaks
For kayaking enthusiasts, the waters of the Colca River offer one of the best places in the world, specifically during the rainy season from December to March, the waters include extremely difficult and highly isolated rapids in certain stretches of the upper and middle part of the canyon. On the banks of the river we can find well-equipped shelters for athletes and adventurers, shelters equipped with all the equipment and with experienced guides to practice these adventure sports.
Cruz del Condor tourist viewpoint
The Cruz del Condor tourist viewpoint is a privileged place that is located in the district of Maca and Cabanaconde. This viewpoint is a favored place from where you can see the walls of the bottom of the Colca Canyon in Arequipa and all the wonders of the valley, very often from here you can see the majestic flight of the Andean condor crowning landscapes of indescribable and peaceful beauty.
Tour magical villages in the Colca Canyon in Arequipa
When doing a tour of this territory we will be able to observe the amazing biodiversity of this region and find 14 villages in total, small villages but all of them full of color and well-preserved churches over the centuries, of these villages with unique features and a lot of charm we will highlight three of them:
Sibayo: Stone village
A very peculiar village, its houses are made of stone and its roofs are made of straw. One of its main offers is the curious llama taxi service, on the back of the llamas, you can tour this small-town unknown to most tourists.
Chivay: Thermal Baths
This village is located a short distance from the previous one, being the most popular thanks to the thermal water pools it has, it is also one of the closest to Cruz del Condor tourist viewpoint.
Yanque: Eagles
This village is the smallest of all, the women welcome us in the square with eagles on their shoulders, showing us that they are birds that can be perfectly in contact with us.
Definitely, the natural wealth of the Colca Canyon in Arequipa is too vast for all the beauty that awaits in its volcanic lands teeming with life. The Colca Canyon is home to thousands of species that have adapted to all of its varied geography, from the majestic Andean condor that dominates the skies to the smallest insects that live for only a few weeks.
The Colca Canyon in Arequipa between volcanoes is full of natural wealth and incredible wonders that await you!
CONTACT US
You can contact the Peru Private Tours team; we will happy to help you plan a once-in-a-lifetime experience during your journey in Peru.
Contact us at info@pptoursperu.com or our WhatsApp number +51 915 105 124.
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