One of the highlights of a trip to Peru, the majestic Colca Canyon, twice as deep as its counterpart in the United States, Grand Canyon, is home to many treasures. Expect to be greeted not by empty, arid lands, because the canyon is actually a very fertile, green area. Unlike the Grand Canyon, the Colca Canyon is at home on the road and descend into the heart of the canyon, you will be able to visit some of their villages.

The Colca Canyon is easily accessible from Arequipa, Peru’s second largest city beautiful. The bus ride from the city every day and takes about 5-7 hours, depending on the distance in the canyon, you decide to travel. The first between Arequipa and the Colca Chivay the floor is a charming little town on the edge of the canyon. Although there is not much to do, beautiful surroundings, the hot springs at nearby (8 km), delicious food and lively market certainly worth a stopover on the way into the gorge. The city has many hotels of all ranges of the prosecution of all preferences and budgets, and is an excellent place if you do not have enough time to travel all the way down.

For those who continue their descent, is the nearest village, Yanque, much smaller than Chivay, but much more charming. They are not adorned many activities here, but a small picturesque church and main square with a beautiful fountain, and several excellent hotels. The main reason for staying in Yanque is that the path from the village and follow the hike in the beautiful gorge, either with a guide or on your own. There is also a high place to stay nice when you want surrounded by nature and tranquility. Canyon view from your hotel room is truly breathtaking, if you stay.

The trip to the Colca Canyon usually ends in the small village of Cabanaconde and inviting, the most remote in the gorge at the bottom. Many travelers choose to spend the night here because it is just a short walk from the famous Cruz del Condor lookout point where you can enjoy the magnificent views over the gorge and the agricultural terraces.