The essential experience.
A detail that changes the visit
Valley sightseeing and a descent into the canyon require very different fitness and time allowances.
For the curious reader
History, landscape and context.
The Colca Canyon is a canyon of the Colca River in southern Peru, located about 160 kilometres (99 mi) northwest of Arequipa. With a depth of about 3,270 metres (10,730 ft), it is one of the deepest canyons in the world. Its length is about 70 kilometres (43 mi).
Abridged background from Colca Canyon, by Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Paragraphs have been selected and shortened; this adapted background remains under the same licence. Retrieved 23 September 2026. Source revision.
From inspiration to a practical plan
Plan your visit.
- Physical demands
- High-altitude valley sightseeing can be gentle; descending into the canyon and climbing out is a strenuous multi-day undertaking.
- The consequential detail
- Valley sightseeing and a descent into the canyon require very different fitness and time allowances.
Through the seasons
A place in the world.
Peru.
Select the pin to open a detailed map. Use Closer look to see the surrounding region. Drag to move a zoomed map.
Map: Natural EarthIn pictures.
Colca’s cultivated terraces and villages add human detail to the immense canyon.
Follow the connection
Keep exploring.
Explore more places in the same country.
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Read the landscape more closely
Useful links and further reading.
Choose a source for the job: official visitor information for access, the UNESCO record for the named property’s designation, and background or library resources for deeper reading.
Read · Wikipedia
Colca Canyon: background reading
Encyclopaedic context and its bibliography. Follow the cited research for a deeper examination of particular claims.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Visit · Wikivoyage
Find travel information for Colca Canyon
A clearly labelled search of the community travel guide; check the page’s coverage and the age of practical details.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Books · WorldCat
Find books about Colca Canyon
Search library holdings and editions, useful for finding specialist histories, field guides and works beyond a general travel guide.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Photography · Wikimedia Commons
Find photographs of Colca Canyon
Explore further photographs and their individual credits.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Maps · OpenStreetMap
Explore the local map
Inspect the surrounding area.
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