The Colca Canyon and Valley

Four hours north of Arequipa lies the impressive Colca Valley. The road to the valley crosses the lower slopes of Mount Chachani and runs along plains studded with ichu and yareta (plants used for fuel) and which are home to alpacas and vizcacha rodents. The road crosses a high point of 4,350 meters before dropping down to the valley, an area of breath-taking landscapes surrounded by terracing and snow-capped peaks. Far below, at a depth of 3,400 meters, the Colca River winds along the bottom of the canyon, one of the world's deepest.

 The valley features archaeological remains left behind by the Collagua, the ancient inhabitants of the area. These include cave paintings and grain storerooms known as colcas. There are 14 towns based on both riverbanks, towns which were founded in the sixteenth century to settle the Collagua natives who were scattered around the area. Despite the ravages of time, the towns have preserved their original characteristics, such as the outline of their streets, their richly-decorated colonial churches and traditional festivals.

 The area stands out for the superb regional arts and crafts such as carpets and embroidered clothing (like the skirts and blouses worn by the local women), which feature colorful designs, as well as items that have been sculpted and embossed in tin. Other folk art includes statuettes such as San Isidro el Labrador, plus candles and wooden sculptures.

 ASome 40 km from Chivay, the first of the towns along the way, stands a superb natural lookout point from where one can watch the condors wheeling over the valley, while in the distance one can spot the Coropuna and Ampato volcanoes. Several towns in the valley provide lodging, but one can also camp out and go trekking. The area is ideal for adventure sports.

Colca Valley
151 km / 94 miles north of Arequipa (3 hours by car)

The extreme northeastern section of the department of Arequipa is located here. The highest point is the inactive volcano MountAmpato (6288 masl), and the lowest at the confluence of the rivers Colca and Andamayo (970 masl). The Colca valley is 100 km in length and occupies only part of the Colca river basin, comprising the districts of Callalli and Huambo.

There are sixteen villages in this zone made up of descendents of the Collaguas and Cabanas tribes, inheritors of rich cultural traditions. The towns of Chivay and Cabanaconde are the most visited by tourists.

In the latter, you can watch condors soar from the Cruz de Condor (Condor Crossing) Lookout. The Colca valley forms part of the South American tectonic plate and contains the active volcano Sabancaya, located on the volcanic mountain Hualca Hualca. This valley possesses a great diversity of flora and fauna. Among the most representative species are the condor, the kestrel, the peregrine falcon, and the Andean tinamou.

Colca Canyon
42 km / 26 miles west of the town of Chivay (1 hour by car)

This is one of the deepest places on the planet, reaching a depth of 3400 meters / 11.155 feet at the lowest point in the location of Canco. On the right side, it is flanked by the Chila Cordillera (Bomboya, Serpregrina, Mismi, Queshihua) and on the other by Mount Hualca Hualca, Sabancaya, and Ampato. You can seeMountUbinas and beautiful MountCoropuna in the distance.                     

Imata Stone Forest
150 km / 93 miles northeast of Arequipa on the Puno highway (2 hours by car)
It is a complex of stone structures that have the appearance of a mysterious petrified forest. Erosion has shaped the stones, giving them a peculiar aspect. The place is easily accessible since it is located near the Arequipa – Juliaca highway.

Ampato Volcano
173 km / 108 miles north of Arequipa (5 hours by 4x4 vehicle)

At 6288 masl / 20.630 fasl, it is temporarily inactive and exhibits a perpetual snowcap at the height of 5000 meters / 16.404 feet. The foothills have scarce vegetation limited to bunch grass and hawthorn. At the top, from which you can see the ColcaCanyon, explorers found the “Dama de Ampato”, the mummified remains of a girl from the time of the Incas.