- Location: Peruvian Andes (near Arequipa)
- Depth: 3535 m
Saturated and varied your holiday will be in Peru - this country is rich not only with monuments and riddles of ancient civilization, but also surprises with its nature. Peruvian Andes - a source of inspiration and harmony with the world around many travelers. Three huge mountain ranges alternate with plains and deep gorges, creating a unique world in which many rare species of animals have found their shelter. Colorful villages with the local population fill the journey with a unique color of Indian traditions. And truly majestic spectacle is one of the deepest canyons in the world - Kotauasi.
More about Cotahuasi canyon
Kotauasi is located 375 km from Arequipa. In depth, it reaches 3535 m, which makes it the deepest canyon not only in Peru and all the Andes, but also in the world. For comparison, the Grand Canyon in America is inferior to Kotauasi in size almost twofold. These, as well as a number of other advantages make this place very popular with travelers and fans of tracking.
The deepest canyon in Peru and its valley have entered the national tourist zone since 1988. This amazing corner of wildlife has chosen as its haven many unique species of birds. For example, Kotauasi is almost the only place where you can see the flight of the Andean condor today or look at the amusing representative of the family of camels - vicuna, which looks very much like guacanos.
What to see?
In addition to unique fauna representatives, you can stroll along the Forest of Stones or the Cactus Forest in the Cotahuasi canyon. The latter reach a height of 13 m, which is a truly spectacular sight, and the starting point is the settlement of Tomeampamp. Picturesque and interesting places in the bosom of nature that are worth a visit during a walk in the surroundings of the Kotauasi canyon are the waterfall of Sipia, which reaches a height of 250 m, the hot springs of Lucio, and the Koropuna volcano, which is the highest volcano in Peru.
Among the sights of the Cotahuasi canyon, it is impossible not to mention the local villages in which the traditions of mountain settlers are honored and honored to this day. Those who are interested in the culture of the indigenous people of Peru, will learn a lot here for themselves. In addition, here you can buy excellent sweaters, carpets and other souvenirs made of alpaca wool. The settlement of Puyk is completely frozen in time - interesting stone houses with a thatched roof and the Quechua people with their traditions create the impression that technological progress has not come here. In the village of Pampamarca, you can admire the waterfall of Occune, as well as look at the system of agricultural terraces, borrowed from ancestors. By the way, the best corn in the country is grown here.
In addition to tracking, active and extreme sports are popular in this area. There are excellent conditions for going down on the mountain river on kayaks. A lot of impressions will bring you flying on a paraglider or hang-glider. The surrounding nature created all conditions for mountaineering in the canyon of Kotauasi. In addition, every year since 1994 the festival of sport adventures and eco-competitions is held here. In South America, this is a unique event, organized by the regional government and the Association of Perú.
To the tourist on a note
The Cotahuasi canyon, as a rule, is one of the points of many-day walking trails. However, there is always the possibility to confine yourself to this area. The starting point in its route can be made the town of Andino, which in its external appearance retained a colonial appearance. When going on a trip to the canyon, you should definitely put a warm sweater, comfortable shoes and sunscreen in your backpack. Besides, such a nuisance as mountain sickness is not ruled out. In this case, on the first day of travel it is better not to expose yourself to strong physical stresses, and also periodically chew coca leaves or brew tea from them. To fully enjoy the beauties of Kotauasi and see all its interesting places, it is better to allocate a trip to the canyon for at least a week.
How to get there?
To the canyon of Kotauasi, public transport from Arequipa regularly runs. In this case, your journey will take 10-12 hours. If you are traveling in a rented car , then it is worth to go on the road Carr. Panamericana Sur and road number 1S.
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