The Canon del Colca
One of Peru's most important and extraordinary tourist attractions is the Colca Canyon, merely a three hours drive north of Arequipa. The gulf is more than 13,600 feet deep, making it one of the world's deepest and twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. The panoramic view of this unique location and the opportunity of witnessing the flight of majestic Andean condors from the Cruz del Condor point of view is a surreal adventure.
The Cañon de Colca, as it is called in Spanish, allows travellers not only to spot Andean condors but also swim in secret thermal baths, experience a bird's eye view of an oasis and a walk on the dusty roads for 2-3 days to one of the deepest canyons in the world. Peru's most captivating landscapes and best viewpoints are located in the cóndor with its thermal winds.
Though the zone is highly visited, it is still off the beaten track; you have to ride on a 4x4 or bus from Arequipa for hours on roads of snowy volcanoes and altitudes of 16,000 feet / 4,910 meters above sea-level at Patapampa Pass. It is not a trip for the faint-hearted, but it is well worth the hassle!
