Colca Canyon
Description
The height of the Colca Canyon varies between 2900 meters above sea level (9514 feet) and 4500 meters above sea level (14764 feet), it is a valley and canyon located in the middle of the Andes Mountains. It is one of the deepest canyons in the world reaching 4160 meters deep or 13648 feet (up to twice as deep as “The Grand Canyon” in the United States). It corresponds to a geographic formation of more than 150 million years ago. It concentrates a great variety of flora and fauna, where the presence of the Andean condor, the largest flying bird in the world, predominates.
Today the Colca Valley and canyon is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Peru. The Colca Valley was inhabited by several settlements from small pre-Inca villages. The first traces of man in the Colca date back to more than 6000 years B.C., a time of camelid hunter-gatherers. In 900 B.C., the Cabanas and Collaguas human groups arrived and settled there. The first great civilization that built terraces and enclosures was the pre-Inca Wari culture (600 A.D. – 1200 A.D.), later the Incas took possession of this territory. Currently the inhabitants of the place maintain certain cultural traditions of their ancestors.
2 Days, 1 Nights
Private and shared tour
Cultural and Historical
2 Travelers
4910 m.s.n.m. (16,301 feet)
Daily
Our Itinerary
Colca Canyon Tour | Explore Peru’s Deepest Canyon
[lightweight-accordion title=”DAY 1 AREQUIPA – CHIVAY” accordion_open=true]
- Between 7:30 AM to 8:00 AM, we start with the pick up from the hotels in downtown Arequipa with the tourist unit.
- 8:00AM departure of our trip to one of the deepest and most beautiful canyons in the world.
- Our concentration point will be the town of Chivay, where we will arrive in 04 hours approximately, including stops during the trip.
- As a first point we will pass through Pampa Cañahuas, where we will see the vicuñas that live in this area.
- Then we will visit Patahuasi to drink Mate de coca, a traditional drink recommended for altitude sickness (soroche).
- Then we will make a brief stop at the Toccra wetlands to see a large number of alpacas being grazed freely in the area.
- Then another mandatory stop at the Mirador de los Volcanes, the highest point of the route at 4800 m.a.s.l. (15748 ft.), from where we will appreciate a great part of the western mountain range.
- From this point it is only about 40 minutes to reach the town of Chivay.
- 12:30 PM we will arrive to Chivay to enjoy a delicious buffet lunch, (payment by the client).
- After lunch we will settle in our respective hotels.
- During the afternoon we will enjoy the hot springs (optional) whose thermo-medicinal waters range from 35º C to 38º C temperature.
- During dinner you will have the opportunity to enjoy a folkloric show with typical dances of the area.
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[lightweight-accordion title=”DAY 2 CHIVAY – COLCA CANYON – AREQUIPA”]
- Breakfast is scheduled for 6:00 AM then in our tourist mobility we will go to the Mirador de la Cruz del Condor, which is 30 minutes away.
- This is the observation point of the Colca Canyon and the spectacular flight of the Condor.
- We will spend an average of 45 minutes to observe the beauty of the Colca Canyon.
- On the way back we will make some stops, as well as; the viewpoint to appreciate the impressive terraces of the Valley and in the town of
- Maca, where we will see its church and optionally taste the drinks of the area as the Colca Sour, made from local products.
- 12:00 PM – Lunch in Chivay, (to be paid by the client).
- 1:00 PM – We will return to the city of Arequipa arriving at 5:00 PM approximately. End point of the tour near the main square.
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Includes
✓ Pick up from hotel
✓ Tourist Transportation
✓ Breakfast in Chivay (second day)
✓ Folkloric show and lodging in Chivay
✓ Professional bilingual English and Spanish tour guide
✓ Permanent advising
Not Included
✗ Tourist Ticket to Colca Valley
✗ Extra activities: Kayak, Zipline, ATV
✗ Food not mentioned in the program
✗ Entrance to the thermal baths (S/. 15.00)
✗ Personal expenses
Recommendations
- Bottle of water
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses, Cap or hat
- Comfortable shoes
- Comfortable and warm clothing
- Bathing clothes, towels and sandals
- Camera or cell phone with available space
- Waterproof clothing (November to April)
- Extra cash (soles – for personal expenses)
- Carry only necessary things.
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