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VIRTUAL TOUR 360° |
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Colca Travel Guide
Off the beaten track
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Coporaque Hot Springs
In the small village of Coporaque, there are wells of hot spring waters on the banks of the river, unknown to virtually all tourists to the area. Because it’s a one-hour walk from the village to the springs, you’ll need to be in decent physical shape, and it’s necessary to go with a guide. The visit and guide can be arranged at the front desk of Casa Andina Classic – Colca or by writing travel@casa-andina.com. |
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Reserva Nacional Salinas y Aguada Blanca
Along the route to Colca, is a National Reserve populated by grazing alpacas, guanacos and vicuñas; it’s one of the best spots to photograph these rare and unique camelids. You can also view numerous species of birds and, if you’re lucky, the rare gato andino (Andean cat). Nearby are local villages that on market and festival days exhibit very fine hand-woven items. The lagunas are full of pariguanas, and the entire region is great for viewing native flora, including the queuñua (which flourishes at high altitude but is endangered because it’s being exploited for firewood). |
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Mountain biking
From gentle rides tracing a route through Colca Valley villages to single-track descents from Patapampa, the highest point in the Valley (4,910 m/16,100 ft), Colca is a mountain biker’s dreamscape. |
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Horseback riding
Horses are still a principal means of transportation through Colca Valley and visitors can take gentle rides along the edges of Colca River and to traditional villages. |
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Trekking
The Valley offers hiking and trekking for all levels of ability, from walks through the gorgeously terraced valley and above the river to descents into lower Colca Canyon and multi-day treks to volcanoes including El Mismi, where the great Amazon River has its origin. The region is loaded with excellent hikes that can be done independently if you have suitable gear and camping equipment. In most cases it’s best to go with a guide.
Easier hikes involve possible simply walking from one village to another in the region: from Chivay to Yanque (7km/4[bf]1/3 miles), and from Yanque to Achoma (another 7km or 4[bf]1/3 miles), Maca (12km or 7[bf]1/2 miles), and Pinchollo (10km or 6[bf]1/4 miles). From Pinchollo, on the way to Cabanaconde, it’s about an hour to Colca Geyser (Hatun Infiernillo). A popular, though fairly arduous, trek is to descend to the Colca River from the village of Cabanaconde (the trek takes 6 hours there and back, though there’s an opportunity for a refreshing dip in the river at the bottom).
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River Rafting
There’s excellent white-water rafting in the rivers and canyons near Colca, for both novices and experts. The best months for rafting are May through September, when water levels are low. (In the rainy season, when water levels are high, canyon rivers can be quite dangerous.) Year-round runs of moderate difficulty and scenic beauty can be arranged on day trips to the Río Majes (the Río Colca beyond the gorge). Rafting in Cotahuasi and Colca canyons is serious, technical terrain for experienced rafters.
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Mountain Climbing
Near Colca are plenty of Andes ascents to peaks and volcano summits. Practiced climbers can do 5,000m (16,400-ft.) summits in 2 days or less. The best months for climbing are July through September, although some peaks can be climbed year-round. It’s very important to be sufficiently acclimatized before making any ascents. Popular climbs include: El Misti, a 6,000m (19,680-ft.) volcano and demanding 2- or 3-day trek, suitable for inexperienced climbers accompanied by professional guides; Chachani (6,075m/19,931 ft.); Ampato volcano (6,288m/20,630 ft.), a 3- or 4-day climb; Hualca Hualca glacier (6,025m/19,767 ft.); and Coropuna (6,425m/21,079 ft.), in the Cotahuasi Valley. Other main spots are the villages of Yanque and Sibayo, as well as a visit to the right bank of the Colca River, visiting recently restored churches in Coporaque, Ichupampa and Lari. In all these villages, the local dress of Collagua and Cabana women is spectacular, with hand embroidery and beautiful use of color.
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| QUICK LINKS |
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| Casa Andina Hotels in Colca |
| Casa Andina Activities in Cola |
| Arequipa Travel Guide |
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More than 15 years of publications, including 220 books and guides about Peru and its environment. |
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More than 15 years of publications, including 220 books and guides about Peru and its environment, five encyclopedias and more than 1,000 articles in magazines in Peru and abroad. He is considered the most prolific publisher on ecological topics in the country in the last decade. Forest engineer, journalist, publisher, professional photographer and analyst of environmental topics, Wust is the only Peruvian to publish five articles in National Geographic magazine. Currently he is the director of Wust Ediciones. |
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Ten years crisscrossing Peru, producing 240 TV programs on diverse topics. |
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Ten years crisscrossing Peru, producing 240 TV programs on diverse topics. A journalist and writer, for nearly a decade he has directed and hosted the TV program Tiempo de Viaje, in which he travels throughout Peru (and occasionally other countries), documenting natural, historical and human scenes infrequently visited by conventional tourism. His perspective is not that of a tourist, but of a traveler, who immerses himself in what he finds and shies away from nothing in his reporting. He is also the author and/or publisher of an extensive series of books about Peruvian culture. |
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The author of 15 travel guides to cities and countries around the world, including 4 editions of Frommer’s Peru. |
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The author of 15 travel guides to cities and countries around the world, including 4 editions of Frommer’s Peru, and articles on subjects ranging from the travel industry to food and wine. A travel writer, journalist and photographer, Schlecht first traveled to Peru and trekked to Machu Picchu as a student in 1983, and he has returned repeatedly to Peru over the last two decades. He has also been a consultant on international development projects for the European Union and USAID, as well as a correspondent for a Spanish art magazine. |
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With nearly 15 years of travel experience, and having lived in different places in Peru. |
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With nearly 15 years of travel experience, and having lived in different places in Peru. Agronomist, theologist, and holding an M.A in Amazonian anthropology. He’s lived 7 years with the Aguarunan people of Alto Marañon; also in Huanchaco (Trujillo), Urubamba (Cusco), and Madre de Dios. Consultant in tourism, collaborator for several media resources and professor of Sustainable Tourism Diploma at Ruiz de Montoya University. |
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