RouteArequipa

Colca Canyon: Condors Above the World's Deepest Gorge

The Colca Canyon — 160 km from Arequipa — is one of the world's deepest canyons (3,400m deep at maximum) and the best place on Earth to see Andean condors soaring at close range; the canyon's Inca terraces and traditional Collagua communities add cultural depth to the natural spectacle

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Cruz del Cóndor Viewpoint
Cruz del Cóndor - a viewpoint on the canyon rim at 3,287 m - is the world's best condor-watching site; in the morning between 09:00 and 11:00 the Andean condors rise on the thermals from the canyon; up to 20 condors can be seen at the same time, at eye level and closer to
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Canyon depth
Colca Canyon reaches 3,400 m deep at its deepest point - twice as deep as the Grand Canyon; the canyon was carved by the Colca River through the Andean plateau; the sheer scale of the canyon walls, visible from the vantage points, creates a vertigo that photographs cannot convey
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Inca Terracing
The walls of the Colca Valley are covered with Inca (and Pre-Inca) agricultural terraces — the pre-Columbian construction of terraced fields, still cultivated by the communities of Collagua and Cabana, represents one of the most complete preserved Andean agricultural landscapes
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Collagua and Cabana Communities
The traditional communities of the Colca Valley – identified by their distinctive, elaborately embroidered costumes – maintain a cultural tradition that predates the Inca conquest; the Sunday market in Chivay and the festivals of the Colca communities are among Peru's most authentic cultural events
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Hiking in the canyon
The 2-day trek at the bottom of Colca Canyon – down 1,200m to Oasis village on the canyon floor – is one of Peru's finest treks; the descent through cactus scrubland, the swim in the hot springs at the bottom and the ascent is a complete physical and sensory experience
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Condor Biology
The Andean condor - the world's largest flying land bird, with a wingspan of up to 3.3m - uses Colca's thermal currents to soar effortlessly; the condors' conservation status (vulnerable) and the extraordinary privilege of seeing them soar meters above make visiting the Cruz del Cóndor an emotional wildlife experience