About Colca Canyon
The Colca Canyon is a beautiful part of Peru offering stunning scenery and one of the best opportunities to see giant Andean condors in the wild.
Colca Canyon Location
The Colca Canyon is located about four hours from the city of Arequipa in the south of Peru. The route to the Colca Canyon offers amazing views of the nearby volcanoes and a good opportunity to see vicuña (a relative of the llama) in the wild.
Colca Canyon History
Originally, the area was inhabited by the Collaguas and the Cabanas, and the Incas also occupied the area for a short time. The Collaguas were an industrious and prosperous people, and the terraces throughout the canyon indicate their agricultural and architectural skills. When the Spanish occupied the valley in 1540, Viceroy Toledo ordered that the population, which had been dispersed throughout the valley, be gathered into fourteen villages, which survive today. This made it easier to control and tax the inhabitants.
Colca Canyon Geography
The Colca Canyon runs for over 100km, and the average distance from the peaks of the mountains to the river below is 3,400m. Until recently, it was thought that 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 the river is approximately 1,500m. The deepest point of the canyon is beyond Cabanaconde, close to the Valley of the Volcanoes.
In addition to the canyon, the area is one of the most volcanically active in Peru, and Sabancay, which erupted in the 1980s, can usually be seem smoking, as can Ubinas.
The Colca Canyon was largely inaccessible until the 1970s, when a road from Arequipa was built as part of the Majes irrigation project, which diverts water from the Colca River to the agricultural area of Majes. In fact, the valley was largely forgotten throughout the Republican period, and the inhabitants lived in almost total isolation. The villages, which have changed little since Toledo's decree, are now in regular contact with the rest of Peru, and the area is visited by many thousands of tourists every year.
If you would like to see condors in the wild, request a free brochure to find out more.
Cruz del Condor
The most visited part of the canyon is the Cruz del Condor, where the river is almost 1,500m below the lookout point, and 3,400m below the surrounding peaks. These mountains, normally covered in snow, form a spectacular backdrop for the condors, which glide by on the thermals rising from the canyon. It is for the condors that many tourists visit the canyon, and there can be few places in the world that offer the chance to see these birds at such close quarters.
The condor is a carrion eater and feeds on dead animals. It does not kill animals itself, and would be unable to lift off live animals, as its claws do not permit it to grasp prey. The condor nests in the steep cliff-faces around the Cruz del Condor, and lays one or two eggs a year, which are approximately 11cm long. Young condors have brown feathers, which change to black at around eight years of age. At this point the condor also develops a white collar and white markings on the wings. It is possible to distinguish the male bird by its fleshy crest. Condors have been known to live to 50 years old. The condor can weigh up to 12kg and its wingspan is often in excess of three metres.
Towns in Colca Valley
Chivay
Chivay, the main town in the Colca Canyon,is the capital of the Caylloma district. The town is rather small, and the Plaza de Armas has a certain charm. Chivay is the main tourist centre in the Colca Canyon,and there are plenty of hotels and restaurants, as well as a few other tourist facilities. Most travellers to the canyon spend a night in Chivay.
The main attraction in Chivay itself is the Calera, the hot baths. Most visitors to the Colca Canyon visit these thermal springs, and attractive new pools were built in 2001. It is very pleasant to swim in the hot waters looking at the wonderful mountains around. The baths get very full after lunch when most of the groups arriving from Arequipa visit. The baths are 3km from Chivay, and it is a very pleasant walk alongside the river. Otherwise, there are regular combis and colectivos leaving from near the market, or a taxi can be hired for the trip. There is a small museum near the baths. On a hill overlooking Chivay is a Collagua chullpa, a funerary tower. This has been largely rebuilt, but the hill affords good views of the town and the surrounding area
Yanque
There are several towns between Chivay and the Cruz del Condor. Yanque was the main Franciscan missionary centre in the region, and the church reflects this importance. This was built in 1691-98 by stonemasons from Arequipa. The main portal represents St Francis of Assisi surrounded by other saints. The town is probably the most faithful to the original layout by Toledo. There are some hot springs near the colonial bridge.
The church in Maca is of interest, especially in the interior. Here, the complete set of golden altarpieces from the 18 th century is preserved. Saints, mirrors and paintings of the Virgin can be seen in the woodcarvings.
There are several other towns in the Colca Canyon, mostly on the other side of the valley. A fine church can be found in Tisco, which combines the architectural styles of Arequipa and Cusco. The relief of the borders enclosing the portal are typical of Arequipa, and the oval window in the main facade, as well as the towers, are typical of Cusco. The church in Coporaque is one of the few surviving 16 th century buildings in the valley. Its bells were cast from the copper used to build the palace for the wife on an Inca general. The Chapel of San Sebastián is particularly impressive, having one of the finest late renaissance facades in Peru. The church at Lari is one of the most impressive structures in the Colca Canyon, and it has the only raised cupola in the valley.