Colca Valley, at an elevation of 3,600m/11,800 ft, is a mesmerizing place, a natural wonder renowned for its incredibly deep, narrow canyon (twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the U.S.) and surrounding rural valley of small, ancient villages and more than 8,000 hectares of agricultural terraces and canals.

Colca is one of the greatest places on the planet to view majestic, giant Andean condors soar high above the canyon, and the entire region is rich with the color and pageantry of starkly traditional Andean populations. While Colca is rightly appreciated for the Cruz del Cóndor (a viewpoint for viewing the condors) and the La Calera hot-spring pools - the overwhelming majority of visitors to Colca do these two things and nothing more - the Canyon and Valley have much more to offer. You can take an alternative route to experiencing Colca. Get to know it with gentle walks through terraced fields; on horseback, moving from village to village along the edge of the canyon; making steep descents through the valley on mountain bike; immersing yourself in the region’s traditions in an embroidery class; or studying the immense, clear night sky and Southern Hemisphere constellations.

Travelers with just a little more time and interest in a more personalized visit beyond the conventional package tours should visit some of the enchanting villages along the canyon’s edge, each marked by historic churches, that appear frozen in time. The region’s traditions and gorgeous landscapes are worth spending an extra night or two in the valley to explore.

Colca, as much or even more so than perhaps any other place in Peru, is a remarkable confluence of astounding natural beauty (the canyon and river), history (rustic art, terraced fields, colonial villages, prized churches) and living culture and traditions (the Cabana and Collagua peoples, with their wondrous embroidery and dress, festivals and dance).

If you have more time in the area, visit our section “Off the Beaten Track,” where we recommend, among other things, a hot-springs bath worlds apart from the conventional one.