Wonders of the Colca Canyon
Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa called the Colca Canyon the "Valley of Wonders", and any visitor can see why.  In addition to the jaw-dropping scenery there's active volcanoes, unique culture and history dating from pre-Incan times, a range of microclimates and abundant flora and fauna including the world's largest flying bird - the Andean condor. 

Geography of the Canyon
The Colca Canyon originates as a huge geological rift in South Peru's western cordillera between the massive volcanoes of Nevado Ampato (6,325 metres, to the north) and Nevado Coropuna (6, 450 metres to the south).  The Colca river has cut its way through this rift, beginning high in the sierra.  Between the towns of Chivay and Cabanaconde the canyon is around 3500 metres deep, from towering peaks such as Mismi (5600 metres) to the 2100-metre riverbed.  This makes it the world's second deepest canyon, behind the neighbouring Cotahuasi.

The Colca river later becomes the Majes as it drops into and irrigates the fertile valley of the same name, and later the Camana as it makes its exit to the sea. 

History and Culture of the Canyon
Although there is evidence of stone-age settlements in the Colca Valley, the first human habitation to make a significant impact was that of the Cabanas and Collaguas, pre-Incan cultures who constructed the impressive agricultural terraces found throughout the region.  Necessary to prevent erosion and allow controlled irrigation, these andenes have been in use for as much as 1,400 years. 

The Colca Valley came under the umbrella of the Incan empire at its height, and it is from the Incas that the name "colca" is derived; qolcas were grain storehouses kept in caves in the canyon walls.

In the 16th century, the Spanish conquistadores forced the Colca's inhabitants into 14 small villages to facilitate taxation and religous conversion.  The many attractive colonial churches and the distinctive style of dress of the Colca's indigenous inhabitants date from this period. 

Until the 20th century, the Colca was largely cut off from the outside world.  Aerial mapping was carried out in the 1930s and in the 1970s Polish explorers mapped the canyon on a rafting trip down the river.  A road was constructed as part of the Majes irrigation project, linking the Colca's villages with Arequipa and allowing the beginning of tourism.
Today the main activity in the Colca continues to be agriculture, and maize is still the most important staple.  Potatoes, beans and onions are also grown on the durable terraces, while alfalfa is cultivated as feed for cattle.  The canyon's valleys, as low as 2000 metres, host microclimates where avocados, grapes, figs, olives, apples, peaches, papaya, guayaba and chirimoya are grown. 

The different climatic zones allow a flourishing trade between villages, while the rise in tourism and the improvement of transport links is allowing locals to move beyond a subsistence lifestyle. 

Flora and Fauna

Among the great variety of animal and plant life found in the Colca, the most famous is the majestic Andean condor.  With a wingspan of over three metres, the condor is the world's largest flying bird, and the Colca Canyon is perhaps the best place in the world to see it up close, rising on the morning's thermals in search of food. 

In addition to condors and a variety of other bird life, in the Colca it is possible to see all four varieties of the the camelid species - the domestic llama and alpaca and their wild cousins, vicuñas and guanacos.  In remote mountain valleys deer abound, while foxes, wildcats and even pumas roam in the distant hills.

Typical plants of the Colca include the hardy, willow-like molle tree, the tuna cactus with its edible bulb, and the desert shrub the huanarpo, whose dry branches sprout scarlet flowers; the bark is said to produce a powerful aphrodisiac.

TRADITIONAL AREQUIPA 04 days/ 03 nights
AREQUIPA AND COUNTRYSIDE 03 days/ 02 nights
TREKKING INTO THE COLCA CANYON 02 days/ 01 night
TREKKING INTO THE COLCACANYON 03 days/ 02 nights
THE MAJESTIC COLCA CANYON 05 days/ 04 nights
TREKKING TO LLAHUAR 03 days/ 02 nights
HIKING AND TREKKING COTAHUASI CANYON 04 days/ 03 nights
CLIMBING AND CLIMB TO MISTI VOLCANO 02 days / 01 night
CLIMBING AND CLIMB TO CHACHANI VOLCANO 02 days / 01 night
CLIMBING COROPUNA SNOWCAPPED MOUNTAIN 04 days/ 03 nights