Colca Canyon, Canyon and valley in Arequipa Department, Peru
Colca Canyon is a deep gorge in Arequipa Department, Peru, extending 100 kilometers and reaching 3,400 meters at its deepest point. The Colca River flows through the canyon and is flanked by steep rock walls, agricultural terraces on the slopes, and several small settlements scattered along the valley.
The Collagua and Cabana cultures settled along the river before Inca times and built terraces on the slopes that are still farmed today. The Inca later integrated the valley into their empire and used natural rock niches for storage along the canyon.
The name Colca comes from the Quechua word for granary, as the Inca used rock niches for storage. In the canyon villages, women wear embroidered hats and skirts during festivals that identify their home community and form part of local identity.
The journey from Arequipa takes about four hours and crosses a high pass that can cause altitude sickness in some travelers. The Cruz del Condor viewpoint sits at the most accessible part of the canyon and offers the best chance to see condors riding thermals in the morning.
Near the village of Chivay, thermal springs form natural pools where mineral-rich water bubbles up from the ground and is framed by surrounding mountains. The pools are used for bathing by locals and visitors alike and sit within the old terraced landscape.
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