Colca Canyon. Arequipa - PERU

Direccion: Chivay, Peru
Phone: +51 54 203010
Web: www.colcaperu.gob.pe

The Colca Canyon, considered one of the deepest in the world, reaching 4,160 meters deep.

The Colca Valley is one of the largest tourist destinations in Peru. It is located in the province of Caylloma. Colca comes from the words Collaguas and Cabanas, two ethnic groups that lived along the Colca River.

As for the settlement of these valleys, it is believed that the first inhabitants arrived at this place about 8000 years ago since vestiges of more than 5000 years are found in the cave of Sumbay. Subsequently, 3000 years ago, there was a Neolithic revolution when the inhabitants improved their instruments and their extractive techniques. Currently you can price terraces with more than 1000 years old that are still used for agriculture.

In the Colca Canyon, tourists will have the possibility to practice extreme sports such as boating, climbing, mountain climbing, fishing, trekking, among others. This canyon belongs to the Colca Valley, a large agricultural place that has viewpoints to enjoy the landscape and still maintains its ancestral customs by the settlers Collaguas, former inhabitants of the area.

How to get to the Colca Canyon?
To reach the Colca, the only access road is by road, the city of Arequipa being the starting point, the trip is 151 km long and takes you to the Colca Valley, being Chivay the first town.

Flora and fauna in the Colca Canyon:
Among the birds we can see are the condor (vulturgryphus), LequeLeque (vanellusresplendens), Guallatas (Chloephagamelanoptera) and Pariguanas (Phoenicoparrusandinus)
As for mammals, we can mention the Andean fox or atoq, the skunk or a?as, wild cats or osjos, vicu?as, taruca, vizcacha, guinea pig, among others.