A lush Andean vegetation surrounds one of the deepest canyons in the world: the Colca Canyon, home and kingdom of the condor, absolute lord of these incredibly blue skies.
Like any king, the condor is elusive and does not let itself be seen so easily; but suddenly, as if out of nowhere, it can almost brush past us. Other times it will only allow us to observe it from afar, like a point above the mountains.
Even so, visitors await it every morning, from the first ray of sunlight, with their cameras ready and their amazement on their lips.
Arequipa and the rest of Peru celebrate it. The Colca Canyon was included in the list of the 100 sustainable destinations in the world. This certification was granted by the Global Destination institution, which recognized the green values ??and the appropriate tourism that is developed in this area of ??the country.
The prestigious international non-profit organization, oriented to the preservation of ecosystems, highlighted that the Colca Valley, where the canyon is located, is a territory focused on the valorization of cultural identity and natural diversity.
Since 1995, thanks to its beautiful landscape, the deep canyon and at the same time the habitat of the condor; tourism has been promoted in this valley," Global Destination mentioned in its travel guide.
The Colca Canyon shares a place on the aforementioned list along with other exemplary destinations such as the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), the city of Kyoto (Japan), the town of Vail (United States) and the island of Saba (Holland).
For his part, the manager of the Autonomous Authority of Colca (Autocolca), Winder Anconeira, pointed out that this award will serve to promote the Arequipa canyon throughout the world.
He also expressed his congratulations to the Collagua and Cabana populations for preserving the cultural manifestations of the area over the years, and recalled that starting October 15, this attraction will begin to receive visitors and announced that experiential tourism will be reactivated, which will be promoted by operators.
Such as Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma, Cabanaconde, Coporaque, Yanque and other picturesque towns, where you can practice experiential tourism, horseback riding, trekking in the surroundings, cycling, adventure sports and see the beautiful nature and fauna of the place.
The Colca Canyon is the perfect place to see one of the most representative birds of biodiversity in our country, the Andean condor. You can watch their flight from the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint and marvel at the size of these birds as well as the impressive views of the surrounding mountains.
2 km from the Yanque district, you can find the Chacapi Hot Springs, where you can rest and relax in its pools with waters that reach up to 50 degrees Celsius and that have healing properties for rheumatic diseases and muscle pain.
One way to get to know this destination and appreciate its beautiful nature is by taking several-hour walks through different towns. The beautiful hiking routes include stays in some of the towns such as Yanque or Sangalle. An unmissable experience in your travel plan to Arequipa!
The Colca Canyon reaches a depth of 4,160 meters, making it one of the deepest places in the world. It was formed by the erosion of volcanic rock caused by the Colca River along a fault line in the earth's crust. In addition, it is located near the Valley of the Volcanoes, which is made up of approximately 40 volcanoes, making it a geologically active area.
The price of the tourist ticket for the Colca Canyon, Salinas, Aguada Blanca and Valley of the Volcanoes tourist circuit depends on the age and nationality of the tourists:
Now you know! Go packing your suitcase, because it is worth visiting the Colca Canyon, which has already won three international awards. The first award was obtained thanks to the wititi, the traditional dance of the valley, which was named intangible heritage of humanity, and the second distinction was obtained by being recognized as a geopark. Both awarded by UNESCO.
