Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world
Colca Canyon is one of the geological wonders you must not miss on your visit to Peru and South America. It is one of the deepest Canyons globally after the Grand Canyon and the second in Peru after Cotahuasi Canyon.
This is said to be the third most visited tourist destination in Peru. The grandeur of the Canyon can best be viewed from the Cruz del Condor. Here, tourists can appreciate the actual depth of the Canyon for most of the year. It has a depth of about 3300-6600ft and is 70 kilometers long.
The Colca Canyon is located in the Colca Valley, roughly 160 kilometers North West of the city of Arequipa in the middle of the Peruvian Andes. A public bus to Chivay, a sm
all town where the Canyon begins, may take up to four hours. With a rich culture, high-quality handicrafts, and a range of adventurous activities, the valley offers excellent, impressive interaction with an indigenous culture that still practices their ancestral traditions, such as the Inca and pre-Inca irrigation systems and agricultural steeped terraces called Andenes. Unfortunately, the valley is inhibited by the Kollawas, Cabanas and CcaccatapaKollawas, Cabanas, and Ccaccatapay inhibit the valley.
History
The Colca was first publicized as possibly the deepest Canyon in the world in 1981. Thatis was done by a group of polish adventurers and kayakers led by Andrzej Pietowski on the first first-ever descent of the Canyon. Thatis was after a Canoandes’79 Canoandes’79 rafting expedition that year. They published a water guide that year, a book titled “Kayak Through Peru,” and another book soon followed. The Colca Canyon was recorded entered in the Guinness Book of Records as the deepest canyon Canyon in the world in 1984. The tourism rates at the Colca Canyon, however, the tourism rates at the Colca Canyon did not escalate until the early ’90s after National Geographic published an article making the same claim. Tourism in the area has been growing since then.
Facts about the Colca Canyon.
- The Colca Canyon is considered one of the deepest Canyons in the world.
It is about 3300-6600ft deep and 70 kilometers in length. - The Colca Canyon is located in the Colca Valley about 160km North Wnorthwest of Arequipa in the middle of the Peruvian Andes.
- The canyon Canyon has the best environments for the vast large number of fauna. For example, it is the only place you will find the world’s giant flying bird, the Andean Condor.
- It is the third most visited tourist destination in the country of Peru.
- Different Inca and pre-Inca cultures lived in the Colca Canyon and had excellent terrific agricultural and irrigation systems that still exist to date.
- It is located the West of Lake Titicaca, which is, described as the world’s highest navigable lake.
The Colca canyon Canyon was formed by the River which flows through it. - The towns in the Colca valley date back to Spanish Colonialism.
What to see in Colca Canyon?
The Colca Canyon is mainly famous for its scenic beauty and diverse activities. As one of Peru’s top tourist destinations, it has a lot to see, ranging from the canyon Canyon to the hiking trails, guided tours, rock climbing, mountain hiking, animals, birds, and beautiful agricultural terraces. Here are some things you must see when traveling to this destination.
While at the Canyon, you do not want to miss the Andean Condor, the largest giant flying bird globally; it can only be found in this part of the world. You can see these birds closely while at the walls of the Canyon. They tend to live for 60-70 years hence the name “Eternity bird” because of their long lifespan. This bird is known to be a symbol of eternity. Many tourists stop at ‘Cruz del Condor’ to see the bird. This bird species can only be located found in the Canyon and is the focus of focuses on worldwide conservation efforts.
The ancient terraces of the Colca valley are a sight to behold. The local people stick to their ancestral traditions by cultivating in the pre-Inca style of steeped terraces, also known as andenes. Although they may appear beautiful, the Andenes have several different agricultural purposes. The most important essential purpose is to increase the amount of land on which to plant crops. Thatis is done by leveling a planting area for the crops. Most of the Andenes Andenes has existed for more than 500 years. However, the farmers in this region of Peru are still using them.
Take advantage of the ‘La Calera’ hot springs 3km outside Chivay town. Chivay is the large biggest town in Colca Canyon. It is located 160 kilometers Northwest northwest of Arequipa. This region has many hot springs, some of which have been created for tourism purposes. If you are a more flexible traveler, you may want to take advantage of the hotels in the area to have an entire Chivay Chivay experience.
If you love crafts and are fond of collecting souvenirs, the bus ride to the Canyon may be just what you need looking for. That is because there are so many stops to purchase handicrafts from the natives. The Colcan is well known for its crafts, such as goods made from alpaca fur. These goods include belts, scarf, scarves, and hats, among others. In addition, they have a unique form of embroidery to adorn items for daily use, such as skirts, hats, and vests.
There are also archeological sites that run through the Canyon. These include the ruins of the pre-Hispanic settlements throughout the valley. Some other areas you may want to check are Mollepunko above Calalli, where there is rock art that is said to be over 6000 years old, the mummy of Paraqra, and Fortaleza de Chimpa, which was a citadel.
There are so many other attractions to see at Colca canyon, some you can reach by bus, foot or even sometimes for longer distances hire a horse. You can also access the source of the Amazon river River through the Colca valley. There is so much to see in Peru. You have to take the initiative to get there; I assure you it will be a worthwhile experience.