The Colca Canyon Peru is one of Peru’s treasures – a canyon so deep that only one other canyon in the world is deeper, a place so little visited yet its only 5 hours from Arequipa, Peru’s largest southern city. Hiking trips can be arranged from Arequipa. Typically you can hike to the bottom from the canyon’s rim in several hours along trails that switchback down the sides. The bottom of the canyon has an almost Mediterranean feel. There are fig trees, cactus, lush green grass, corn and other fruits and vegetables. There is certainly a good supply of water at the bottom of this canyon both from the river and also from springs that seep out from the hillsides.
One of the highlights of the early morning above Colca Canyon is viewing the Condors at the Condor lookout about 20 minutes from Cabanaconde the small town from which you started this trek. The best viewing time is in the early morning as that is when these birds are the most active. These condors have some of the largest wing spans in the world and they are quite a site to see them up close. Many women vendors sell gifts, trinkets and clothing here.
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