Duration
Full Day
Package Type
Cultural
Activity Level
Moderate
Travel specialist
Colca Canyon is a vast gorge in Southern Peru, about 105 km northwest of Arequipa. Reaching a depth of around 3,270 meters (10,730 ft), it ranks among the deepest canyons in the world, along with the nearby Cotahuasi Canyon. To put that into perspective, Colca Canyon is almost twice as deep as the Grand Canyon.
The canyon, which stretches for 70 km, was formed over millennia as the Colca River slowly cut its way through the landscape. It’s a spectacular sight, flanked on one side by Chila Cordillera and on the other by Mount Hualca Hualca, Sabancaya and Ampato. And in the distance you can see the active stratovolcano Mount Ubinas and the beautiful Mount Coropuna.
This Colca full-day tour will take you to the best viewing points along the canyon, offering unrivaled views. You’ll also have the chance to see giant Andean condors as they swoop and soar, sometimes just meters from where you’ll be standing.
We’ll leave Arequipa early in the morning, at around 3:30 a.m., so we have time for a full Colca Canyon experience. On our way to the canyon we’ll pass through a spectacular landscape of mountains and beautifully rugged terrain, first stopping at the small Andean community of Pata Wasi (which means “High Home”). Here we can see some intriguing rock formations and views of the Chachani and Misti volcanoes. To help with the altitude, we’ll also make a stop ...