Colca Canyon
Colca Canyon is a canyon of the Colca River in southern Peru, located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Arequipa, according studies of a polac in 2005 it was the deepest canyon in the world, although it is now generally accepted that the cotahuasi canyon, also in the department of arequipa, is deeper. The depth of the canyon from the cruz del condor to theriver is approximately 1, 500m. The deepest point of the canyon is beyond Cabanaconde, close to the valley of the volcanoes.
Colca Canyon is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the United States. However, the canyon's walls are not as vertical as those of the Grand Canyon, but it offers visitors stunning scenery and one of the best opportunities to see condors in the wild and you will be able to see stone carvings, cave paintings and thermal baths. Aguada Blanca National Reserve, which protects vicuñas natural relatives of the llama.
History
Originally, the area was inhabited by the collaguas and the cabanas, and the Incas also occupied the area for a shot time. The collaguas were an industrious and prosperous people and the terraces throughout the canyon indicate the agricultural and architectural skills. When the Spanish occupied the valled en 1540, Viceroy Toledo ordered that the population, which have been dispersed throughout the valled, be gathered into fourteen villages, which survive otday. This made it easier to control and tax the inhabitants. The name Colca refers to small holes in the cliffs in the valley and canyon. These holes were used in Inca and pre-Inca times to store food, such as potatoes and other andean crops. They were also used as tombs for important people.
The Spanish laid out towns along the canyon and built churches there, but the towns did not thrive and have faded out of memory. In the 1980s, the Majes Hydroelectric Project built roads and opened the area to outsiders. Access today is usually through Arequipa.
The Andean condor
The Colca Canyon is home of the majestic Condor. It Soars over southern Peru's Colca Canyon. These Condors are an increasingly popular attraction.
Attracting more and more visitors each year to the Colca Canyon, in addition to the awesome sights, are the Andean condors. Tourists can see the big condors at fairly close range as they fly through the canyon. The canyon is the natural habitat of the great Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), a species that has seen world-wide effort to preserve it.
Cruz del Condor
Is a popular tourist stop to view the condors, the pass where condors soar gracefully on the rising thermals occurring as the air warms. The condors hunt in the early morning and late afternoon, so it is best to be there during those times. At this point the canyon floor is 3,960 ft (1,200 m) below the rim of the canyon.
The Colca Canyon is also ideal for Adventure Sports. In addition, the La Calera natural hot springs is a wonderful way to relax after a day's touring. The hot springs are located at Chivay, the biggest town in the Colca Canyon.
Climbing in the Colca Canyon
The Colca Canyon has many high peaks that can be climbed, and present interest not only in the climb itself, but also in the importance of the mountains. Most had spiritual importance for the inhabitants of the area. Coropuna, at 6,613m, is the third-highest mountain in Peru.And Ampato, at 6,310m, is where the remains of the Inca mummy'Juanita' were discovered.Mismi, at 5,597m, is accepted as the true source of the Amazon River.
Colca valley
The Colca River starts high in the Andes at Condorama Crucero Alto and changes its name to Majes, and then to Camana before reaching the Pacific Ocean. Parts of the canyon are habitable, and Inca and pre-Inca terraces are still cultivated along the less precipitous canyon walls. The small town of Chivay is on the upper Colca River, where the canyon is not so deep but where many terraces are present in the canyon and continue for many kilometers downstream. As the canyon deepens downriver, a series of small villages is spread out over the approximately 35 miles (56 km) between Chivay and the village of Cabanaconde. The canyon reaches its greatest depth and, in contrast, about 15 miles (24 km) to the southeast rises the 20,630-ft (6,288-m) Nevado Ampato, a snow-capped extinct volcano.
The village that functions as the visitor center for the canyon area is called Cabanaconde to the Oasis (Sangalle) next to the river. This walk descends 1,300 metres down the side of the canyon on a very impressive trail, giving fine views of the river and the mountains. On route you will be able to appreciate small interesting towns with friendly people dressed very colorfully; there are also lots of South American Cameloids including llamas, alpacas and even vicuñas on the highlands. This decedents of the Incas live in tiny villages with exquisitely decorated, although decrepit, old churches. These people farm very much as there ancestor and still use terraces to do there farming a main characteristic of the Colca Canyon. The rock strata passed while descending are very impressive. The walk down takes about 1½ to 2 hours, and is straightforward, although at points the trail is quite steep and slippery. The trail down is easy to find, although it is a good idea to ask the people working in the fields if it is the correct path, as there are a couple of points near the beginning where you can go wrong. Head past the Hostal Valle del Fuego from the Plaza, and cross the rubbish heap.The village is situated about 6 minibus driving hours from Arequipa (if the bus doesn't break down on the way). Don't expect a fancy bus - far from it. The first part of the ride (3 hours) is relatively comfortable, but the second part is bumpy.
The bus leaves from Arequipa's central bus station (from the local buses section) and the cost of the ride is about 20 Soles. It is advisable to purchase a round trip ticket, and make sure that the bus company where you bought the ticket has 2 buses coming back from Cabanaconde every day. This way you will be able to take the first bus, stop on the way to observe the condors, and continue with the second bus.
How to get to Canyon Colca?
The village that functions as the visitor center for the canyon area is called Cabanaconde to the Oasis (Sangalle) next to the river. This walk descends 1,300 metres down the side of the canyon on a very impressive trail, giving fine views of the river and the mountains. On route you will be able to appreciate small interesting towns with friendly people dressed very colorfully; there are also lots of South American Cameloids including llamas, alpacas and even vicunas on the highlands. This decedents of the Incas live in tiny villages with exquisitely decorated, although decrepit, old churches. These people farm very much as there ancestor and still use terraces to do there farming a main characteristic of the Colca Canyon. The rock strata passed while descending are very impressive. The walk down takes about 1? to 2 hours, and is straightforward, although at points the trail is quite steep and slippery. The trail down is easy to find, although it is a good idea to ask the people working in the fields if it is the correct path, as there are a couple of points near the beginning where you can go wrong. Head past the Hostal Valle del Fuego from the Plaza, and cross the rubbish heap.The village is situated about 6 minibus driving hours from Arequipa (if the bus doesn't break down on the way). Don't expect a fancy bus - far from it. The first part of the ride (3 hours) is relatively comfortable, but the second part is bumpy.
The bus leaves from Arequipa's central bus station (from the local buses section) and the cost of the ride is about 20 Soles. It is advisable to purchase a round trip ticket, and make sure that the bus company where you bought the ticket has 2 buses coming back from Cabanaconde every day. This way you will be able to take the first bus, stop on the way to observe the condors, and continue with the second bus.
