Colca Canyon Trekking

Hiking, Trekking, Climbing

V!VA User‘s Description

Colca Canyon has a number of trekking opportunities, ranging from easy day hikes to longer, more intense treks in and around the canyon. A popular trek begins in Cabanaconde and plunges 1,200 meters to Sangalle, a riverside oasis where you can choose from three campgrounds: Paradise, Oasis, and Eden. In contrast to chilly Chivay, the climate here is subtropical and lends itself to lounging with a good book or playing in the nearby pools. You can camp here for a few dollars a night or rent huts with makeshift beds. The huts sell food, but you're probably better off packing a stove and cooking your own outdoor feast. You can leave your organic trash with the campsite manager, but pack out cans, glass, and plastic. The abundance of trash strewn throughout the area should clue you in on the importance of being environmentally conscious. From the campsite you can continue another two or three hours, where you'll find another good camping spot further upstream on Río Colca. The path leading away from the camp heads uphill about 1,200 meters to the Cruz del Condór, where you can view the famous birds. The whole trip takes about two or three days.

Other treks follow the canyon rim, along a number of ancient Collagua and Inca paths that connect most of the villages in the canyon area. The best trekking can be found on the canyon's northern side, which is relatively devoid of tourists. Provided that you have plenty of water, can speak a little Spanish, and bring plenty of sun protection Colca Canyon is a great place to meander in a choose-your-own-trek sort of style. A longer, more adventurous trek leads from Cabanaconde to the Valley of the Volcanoes, which boasts legendary scenery.