How to get the Colca Canyon? First head for Arequipa, the second largest and most beautiful city in Peru, which is tucked away on the altiplano at an altitude of 2325 metres. You can fly in from Lima or Cusco, or take it more leisurely, as I did, by bussing the 1000 kms south from Lima along the Pan American Highway and Pacific Coast, stopping off at Pisco, Ica and Nazca on the way.

Arequipa was founded by the Spaniards in 1540. It really has style, together with a magnificent backdrop of snowy volcanoes, the cone of El Misti and the Nevada Chachani, both being about 6000 metres altitude. The superb Plaza de Armas with its imposing palm trees is surrounded on three sides by double storied arched colonial buildings and on the north side is the huge cathedral, its twin towers now enshrouded in scaffolding due to their collapse in the 2001 earthquake.

What a great place to rest up awhile! You need four days at least, preferably a week, because your trip to see the Colca Canyon will take two days or even more, while shopping and sight-seeing in the city will leave you exhausted.

Other Wildlife in Colca Canyon The canyon is also home to a wide variety of other birds and animals. As well as condors, you can hope to see giant hummingbirds, and over 100 other types of birds. The Canyon is also home to what is possibly the cutest animal in the whole of Peru: the vicuña. These beautiful animals were almost hunted into extinction for their wool - but luckily are now protected by law and can roam the slopes as they always have done. Apart from vicuñas there are wildcats, guanacos, tarucas and many other species which are unique to the micro-climates of the canyon.

The most spectacular point is the place known as Cruz del Condor, about 60 km from Chivay. As its name suggests, this is the perfect place to see condors as they rise on thermal air currents in the morning and afternoon. It is known that the Incas reached the Colca valley in the 15th century, but they never really conquered it. The Spanish, too, never managed to establish themselves permanently in Colca. Today, however, tourism is slowly conquering the valley, as it becomes Arequipa's most important attraction. The base for excursions to Colca is the village of Chivay, a typical Andean village with a number of small hotels and hostels which, although simple, are comfortable.

We recommend you spend at least 2 days and a night in the canyon on your Perú holiday to experience it properly - it's a very special part of Peru and somewhere that a lot of visitors miss in favour of more 'obvious' sights. We're sure that if you give it a go, you certainly won't be disappointed! Also, as well as our guided tours, we also offer some really great treks in the canyon.

Insufficient Time a few days, a week or even a month would not be enough time for travelers to see, learn, and live all of the splendor provided by the Colca Valley. The Valley is a reminder of times past. Visitors will return haunted by a feeling that life has changed and that society has lost two precious qualities: the ability of people to live at peace with nature, and with each other.

Climate in the Colca Canyon In the dry season (mid April to mid November) temperatures usually fall to below zero at night and reach 15-20°C during the daytime. During the rainy season (end of November to end of March) changes in temperature are less dramatic as the overcast sky impedes the penetration of the sun’s rays and the heating of the atmosphere during the day and the frost and cold at night. Temperatures vary between the 5° and 10°C. More information about Colca Canyon, Colca trek.