Are you planning a trip through Peru and thinking of visiting Colca Canyon Peru? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for everything you need to know to visit this historic spot plus, the tours that we recommend going with.
If you’re looking for adventure and dramatic landscapes, then make sure to add the Colca Canyon Peru to your Peru itinerary.
About Colca Canyon, Peru
The Colca Canyon is in the Peruvian Andes. It’s 3,400 meters (11,155 feet) deep at its deepest point, and around 70 kilometres (43 miles) long.
Meanwhile, at its highest point, it’s 4,877 meters (16,000 feet) above sea level. That’s some dramatic landscape right there!
Colca is a gorgeous spot with impressive views of the canyon precipices. You’ll also see volcanoes just on the horizon making this place look wonderful. Although Colca Canyon is nowhere near as famous as Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail, or Rainbow Mountain, it’s Peru’s third most-visited tourist destination, thanks to its incredible natural beauty.
The Colca Canyon is the second deepest canyon in the world, in fact, it’s twice as deep as the Grand Canyon! It is located in the Arequipa region of Peru. This wonderful place is home to great biodiversity and among its best-known species are the Andean condor and the vicuña, a wild camelid, whose wool is the finest and most expensive in the world, costing up to 20 thousand USD for a pullover made of this material.
Visiting Colca Canyon Peru
The closest city to the Colca Canyon is Arequipa, which is about 160 kilometres (100 miles) away. It receives around 150,000 visitors every year, making it one of the most visited destinations in Peru.
During the dry season (from June to November) you’ll find many types of cacti such as the San Pedro, and some edible cacti such as the prickly pear. It is also possible to spot Llamas, Alpacas, Vicuñas, Condors and even Mountain Pumas at Colca Canyon Peru.
It is hard to visit Colca Canyon without taking part in a tour. Taking part in a tour means that you’ll be taken on the best route. Unlike the far more famous Inca Trail trek the Colca Canyon hike doesn’t have an official start or end point, with various routes to choose from not to mention having to carry all of your equipment and food yourself. Plus, taking part in a tour also means that you’ll meet others along the way who can cheer you on when the hike gets hard.
Is it better to do a one-day Colca Canyon tour or a multi-day trek?
There are pros and cons to both Colca Canyon tour options. Which option you should choose ultimately comes down to your fitness level and how much time you have. if you only have a single day available or if for any reason you cannot hike for multiple days, then a one-day tour to Colca Canyon Peru is a great option.
Visiting the canyon for a day will allow you to visit small towns and make a stop at the condor viewpoint, from where with a little luck you will be able to see these giant birds fly.
If you have more time then visiting the canyon for a 2 or 3-day Colca Canyon tour will allow you to go down the canyon and visit small native communities like San Juan de Chuccho and Sangalle. At the bottom of the canyon, there is a place called the Oasis, where most of the accommodations are located. The Oasis offers a pleasant atmosphere, it is surrounded by palm trees and almost all the accommodations have swimming pools, which are excellent for relaxing, cooling down and resting before hiking back up/
Taking part in a Colca Canyon tour is a great option to visit It is worth it, but it will depend on you which one to take.
Where does the trek into the Colca Canyon Peru start?
The Colca Canyon trek does not have a specific starting point, as there are a variety of different routes and trailheads. Choosing which one depends on how far you wish to hike.
However, the most popular starting points are located in Cabanaconde. The most popular one is located north of Plaza de Armas, which leads straight to Sangalle. Another starting point in Cabanaconde is located west of the Plaza de Armas. This one leads to Llahuar, through the western loop of the oasis. The final most popular starting point is Mirador de San Miguel which can be found a 30-minute walk from the town.
When should I visit Colca Canyon Peru?
Luckily for most travellers, the best time to visit the Colca Canyon is during the dry season (between June and November) which coincides with the summer vacations of many countries. It is best to come during this time to avoid the rain, as it makes it much more difficult to walk the narrow paths.
The other reason that makes the dry season a good time to visit the Colca Canyon is that because the vegetation has disappeared on those dates, it is much easier to spot all the animals such as Llamas, Alpacas and Vicuñas. However, despite all the benefits of visiting the canyon during the dry season, you must keep in mind that this season is also cold, especially from June to August.
A great tour to visit Colca Canyon with is Travel Adventures Peru. They have 4 options to visit the Colca Canyon and their tours depart every single day. For travellers booking straight on their website and not through any OTA, they offer a 10% discount. Use the coupon code RONYTEN.
Where is the Colca Canyon located?
The Colca Canyon is located in the Andes mountains in the south of Peru.
It’s 160 kilometres (100 miles) northwest of Arequipa, which is the second most populous city in Peru. It’s also in the Arequipa region, which can get slightly confusing since the city and the region have the same name.
It takes around three hours to drive from Arequipa, which is usually included in the price of a tour to Colca Canyon Peru.
How fit do I need to be to hike Colca Canyon?
The Colca Canyon trek is a challenging hike. No matter which path you choose. The hike itself is challenging but add this to the fact that Sangalle sits at 2,100 metres of elevation and Cabanaconde at 3,300 metres and you’re facing the effects of altitude, too. You don’t need to be super fit to do the Colca Canyon hike. But you do need to have a good level or fitness and mobility.
If you don’t think you’re up to a hike or you want to see Colca Canyon without having to hike then there are multiple options to visit without hiking.
