ready to go colco valley in peru

The Colca Valley is located in Arequipa, Peru. Covering many circuits used for trekking that have recently been discovered by tourists, the area has many trails that wind through many colonial villages in the mountains. Lakes and stone formations dot the area that were created by wind, and many animals such as Andean Condors can be seen here. Colca Valley is home to the Collaqua and Cabana tribes which are descendants of the Pucara people and Quechua people. The main attraction in Colca Valley is Mount Hualca, Savancaya and Ampato which are all snow capped volcanoes. The most popular hiking trail is one that links Cabanaconde to Tapay that will take an average of 3 days to complete. Passing towns such as Csnihua and Malata as well as offering many sites of pre-Hispanic ruins.

One of the most scenic areas of Peru, Colca Valley offers narrow gorges, terraced slopes that are said to have been created before the Incas ever settled and remote traditional villages. The Colca River off the Amazon runs through the valley, and remained unexplored until the late 70's. The river has depths of 11,150 feet which is more than double the depth of the Grand Canyon in the United States. Part of the volcanic mountain range, el Canon del Colca is 62 miles long. Cotahuasi is the areas deepest canyon in the northwest area of the Arequipa province. Active volcanoes including Moutn Coropuna at 21,079 feet and Mount Ampato at 20,702 feet offer many icons. Mount Ampato offers the fact that in 1995 a sacrificed maiden named Juanita was discovered frozen in ice. The summits of the valley are growing in popularity when it comes to extreme sports as well as hiking, mountain climbing and river rafting.

There are 14 colonial time villages, some of which are dated to the early sixteenth century. Most can be identified by their finely decorated church. The locals are pre-Inca ethnicities of Collaguas and Cabanas that have been in the region for more than 2000 years. Preserving their ancient customs and traditional garb, the different languages and clothing can help differentiate between the two. Hats worn by Collagua women are straw with different colored ribbons, while Cabanas wear embroidered and sequined hats. The villages in the Colca Valley offer traditional celebrations throughout the year. The Inca terraces seen inside of the Sacred Valley of the Incas were cultivated more than 1000 years ago and the terracing throughout is immaculate.

Many tourists visit the valley due to the adventure sports and the Cruz del Condor lookout point where many of the giant condors of the region can be seen up close. Looking over Colca Canyon and along the river, many of the local flora and fauna can be observed. It is said that the best time to visit is between May and November during the dry season.