Colca Canyon Destination

History

Lithic tools and cave paintings dating to 6,000 BC provide the earliest evidence of human habitation in the Colca Valley. Around 600 AD, the Collaguas, Cabanas, and Ccaccatapay flourished in separate groups. They developed agricultural technologies including mountain terraces that supported denser settlements. The Wari Empire, based in the central province of Ayacucho, spread their influence south. They established relations of economic and cultural exchange that survived past the collapse of their civilization in 900 AD.

Following the rise of the Inca king Pachacutec, the populations of the Colca Canyon once again came under outside influence. Incan elites intermarried with local rulers and thus gained access to local economies and advanced agricultural technologies.

The Colca Canyon remained pivotal in the period of Spanish colonization. Settlers received encomiendas, or allocations of lands along with a number of indigenous residents. In accordance with Spanish administrative policies in the Americas, scattered communities were uprooted and resettled in 16 towns, each with its own richly decorated church. These churches are still in use today.

With the beginning of Peru’s Republican period, the Colca region faced mounting isolation and economic stagnation. Like in the rest of Peru, decades of militaristic regimes alternated with democratic governance.

In the late 20th century, several events shone a spotlight on the Colca Canyon, including the first descent by whitewater rafters down the river valley and a scientific investigation that traced the headwaters of the Amazon to Misti Volcano. Both served to highlight the region as a tourism destination.

CHIVAY

Visit the hub of the Colca Canyon. Chivay sits on the banks of the Colca River with views to snowcapped peaks and terraced hillsides.

YANQUE

Admire the baroque mestizo architecture and bas relief carving of Yanque town’s principal church.

UYO UYO VILLAGE

Hike to the Uyo Uyo archaeological site, first used by the Collaguas and later by the Incas. 2-3 hour loop from Yanque.

SANGALLE

Walk from Cabanaconde town down a zigzagging path to the oasis town of Sangalle on the banks of the Colca Canyon.

COLLAGUA & CABANA

As you visit different towns, meet people from the Colca Canyon’s two major ethnic groups. The Collagua and the Cabana can be distinguished by their hat wear.

ANCIENT TERRACES

Marvel at the endless terraces of the Colca Valley, which are both older and more extensive than the ones you’ll see around Cusco and the Sacred Valley.

MIRADOR CRUZ DEL CONDOR

Join the crowd of awed onlookers at the Cruz del Condor viewing platform to watch the Andean condor spread its wings and soar over the canyon.

RIDE THE ANDEAN EXPLORER

Take a luxury train journey across the Andes. The new Belmond Andean Explorer route traverses the southern Andes on 2- to 3-day itineraries.

STAY AT A LUXURY LODGE

Enjoy an utterly relaxing stay at a deluxe resort such as Casitas del Colca or Colca Lodge. Both feature extensive gardens, on-site hot springs, full-service spas, and more.

ADVENTURE SPORTS

Get out and explore the majestic Colca landscape. Take your pick of hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and rafting.

HOT SPRINGS

Take a dip in one of the numerous thermal springs that dot the Colca Valley, a product of underground volcanic activity.

WILDLIFE SPOTTING

Stay on the lookout for the unusual fauna that inhabit the canyon, from Andean condors and giant hummingbirds to vicuñas, guanacos, and vizcachas.

Choices for dining in the Colca Canyon are limited, but more than adequate for a few nights. Most Colca Canyon lodges offer on-site restaurants serving a la carte or buffet style meals. Towns such as Chivay and Yanque offer a greater selection.

Chivay

Q’anka Restaurant

Specializes in steaks and pizzas cooked on hot stones as well as soups and pastas.

Salaverry 105, 3rd floor, located in front of the Chivay Market

El Balcon de Don Zacarias

Serves classic Peruvian dishes a la carte; buffet option for lunch.

Av. 22 de Agosto 102, Plaza de Armas, Chivay

Aromas Caffee

Satisfy your cravings for coffee, teas, fruit juices, hot chocolate, cakes and desserts.

Plaza de Armas, Chivay

Urinsaya

Delicious and varied buffet lunch.

Calle Francisco Bolognesi 1026, Chivay

Yanque

Curiña Restaurant at Belmond Las Casitas

Sample enticing Arequipa cuisine including chupe de camarones (shrimp chowder), ocopa Arequipeña (potatoes with spicy cheese sauce), rocoto relleno (stuffed hot pepper) and ponderaciones (fried pastries). All dishes are prepared using fresh ingredients from the hotel’s organic garden and local suppliers.

Belmond Las Casitas, Parque Curiña s/n, Yanque

Urpicha del Colca

Great place to try Peruvian staples like trout and alpaca; menu includes vegetarian options, too.

Mariano Melgar 500, Yanque

Cabanaconde

La Granja del Colca

Prepares delicious dishes using homegrown organic ingredients. Hours: 7 am to 2 pm (open for breakfast and lunch; cash only)

Km 9.5 carretera Cruz del Condor, Cabanaconde

Kuntur Wassi

Part of Hotel Kuntur Wassi, prepares Peruvian dishes and fresh-baked pizzas.

Calle Cruz Blanca, Cabanaconde

Pachamama Bar

Wood-fired pizza and Peruvian food along with cocktails and a warm environment great for meeting other travelers. Happy hour from 7 to 8 pm.

San Pedro 209, Cabanaconde

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Colca Canyon Travel Tips

How To Get To Colca Canyon

Your travel advisor can arrange private or shared transport to Colca Canyon to/from Arequipa or Lake Titicaca (Puno). This is the easiest and most comfortable way to get to your destination.

Colca Canyon does not have a public airport. Visitors must travel overland from either Arequipa or Puno.

From Arequipa:

Distance: Arequipa is about 3.5 hours (100 miles/160 km) from Chivay, the central transport hub of the Colca Canyon.
Public transportation includes:
- Minivans — depart at 3:00 am and reach Mirador Cruz del Condor in time to see condors in flight. Drop-off is at Cabanaconde around 10:00 am.
- Public buses — leave from Terminal Terrestre in Arequipa every few hours until 2pm. Advisable to buy tickets in advance.

From Puno/Lake Titicaca

Distance: Puno is about 4.5 hours (155 mi/250 km) from Chivay.
For public transport, the company “4M – Express” provides safe and reliable service between Chivay and Puno. Buses depart at 1:15 pm, and arrive at Terminal Terrestre in Puno at 7:30 pm. There are 3 stops along the way at various viewpoints.

Belmond Andean Explorer

PeruRail now offers the Belmond Andean Explorer luxury sleeper service with a choice of one- or two-night journeys. This is a fantastic way to traverse the Peruvian Andes in style. Ask your travel advisor for details.

How to get around

Long distances and steep roads separate the towns and main attractions of the Colca Canyon. Inca Expert packages include transportation for all tours so you can sit back and enjoy the sights.

Hiking options: On arrival to your hotel, ask the concierge for a map of local hiking routes. These trails can get you to hot springs, archaeological sites, and viewpoints over the Colca Valley.

Colca Canyon Entrance Fee

All visitors to Colca Canyon must pay a 70 soles entrance fee. You can buy the ticket at any checkpoint. Hold on to the ticket, as park officials will ask to see it at various checkpoints along the typical tourist route.

Money

Chivay has an ATM on the Plaza de Armas. The smaller towns of the Colca Canyon do not yet have ATMs. It is a good idea to stock up on cash in Arequipa or in Puno before you travel to the Colca Canyon.

Colca Canyon Trek

For a taste of high altitude Andean trekking, many travelers choose a Colca Canyon trek as away to experience more of the deep canyon. The most popular route departs from Cabanaconde and descends to the oasis resort town of Sangalle. The slope is unrelentingly steep whether you are going up or down — usually 2 to 3 hours for the descent and 3 to 4 hours for the ascent.

Best Time To Visit Colca Canyon

May to November is the high season for tourism to the Colca Canyon. The weather is warm during the day and cold at night. Be sure to make reservations for accommodation in advance. The end of the rainy season (April and May) is also a great time to visit because the terraces will be brilliantly green with crops and flowering plant life.

Altitude Sickness

Many towns of the Colca Canyon are higher in elevation than Arequipa (7,661 ft or 2,335 m) and about the same as Cusco (11,150 ft or 3,400 m). Take the same precautions as you would in Cusco – stay hydrated, avoid heavy meals or alcohol on your first days at altitude, and drink the local remedy, coca leaf tea. Take a few days to acclimate before attempting any strenuous activity.