The Colca Canyon

The Colca Valley and Canyon constitute one of Peru's most dramatic and spectacular natural landscapes. Here, the Colca river ---considered by the latest National Geographic survey to be the source of the Amazon-- cuts a sensational scar through the mountains for more than 50 km, surrounded by a lost paradise of Spanish Villages, their churches battered by earthquakes and their tiny, dark women still dressed in voluminous Andean skirts and colourful hats.

The Colca Canyon is said to be the deepest in the world, and was first visited by rafters in the early 1980’s. Before then the area had fallen into oblivion for centuries, and was only "rediscovered" between the wars by an American mapping expedition.

The Colca is the home of the Cabana –quechua or valley people and the Collagua or highland people; each wear a distinct type of hat. Their ancestors have lived in the Colca since Pre Inca times as evidenced by the agricultural terracing –uninterruptedly in use for over 1000 years that cover most of the Valley forming a sort of giant sculptured landscape.

The fourteen Spanish villages in the Valley and Canyon each boast a church with an impressive and surprisingly rich Baroque interior. Catholic faith with a deep seated Andean undertone is strong in the Colca and festivities are celebrated with great fervour.

The Colca Canyon is most usually visited in conjunction with the city of Arequipa.

Our most highly recommended Colca Canyon hotels: