Colca Canyon in Peru

Published by jacko77 on Wed Aug 5th, 2009

The Colca Canyon is said to be one the deepest canyon's in the world and is estimated to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon.  The canyon itself it located 100 miles from the city of Arequipa.  The Colca Canyon region is filled with astounding beauty and amazing landscapes filled with colour and character.

The valley has unspoilt villages on both sides which are well known for there decorated churches and vibrant festivals.  The main towns in the valley are Chivay and Cabanaconde which are located on the left side of the Colca river and are the most visited.

Chivay is the main gateway for all adventure seekers who are looking to go deep into the canyon, which is also where you will find a majority of hotels and services.  Also close by is the natural hot springs of La Calera which is a great way to go for a full day of trekking for a relaxing tour of this natural wonder.

The Colca Canyon is a hot bed for people wanting to go mountain biking, trekking and white water rafting because it starts high within the Andes and is well respected and famous for its rafting difficulty, specially between the points of Cabanaconde and Tapay. 

The rafting season starts from the month of May to October and will feature many class II-IV rapids which will all start from the town Chivay.  The dry season in between June to September and is best used for condor watching from the look-out point of Cruz del Condor or Condor Crossing which is one of the most visited spots in the Canyon.