Colca Canyon holds a title that surprises most first-time visitors: at over twice the depth of the Grand Canyon, it’s one of the deepest canyons on Earth, and yet the classic trek into it is entirely achievable over a long weekend from Arequipa. The descent from the rim village of Cabanaconde drops more than a kilometre in a single afternoon, and the reward waiting at the bottom is Sangalle — a genuine palm-tree oasis with natural swimming pools, an almost surreal contrast to the arid canyon walls above.
The trek’s second day threads between small farming communities terraced into the canyon’s slopes using agricultural techniques that predate the Inca, before the final morning’s climb back out — done early to avoid the worst of the heat on the exposed switchbacks. Most itineraries build in a stop at Cruz del Cóndor on the drive back to Arequipa, the canyon’s best-known viewpoint for watching Andean condors ride the morning thermals at close range.
Unlike the high-altitude treks around Cusco and Huaraz, Colca stays below 3,300m throughout, making it a good option for travellers who want serious canyon scenery without the acclimatisation demands of the Andes’ higher routes. The trek is walkable most of the year, though April through December avoids the heaviest rains.
