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Located
in the department of Arequipa, the Colca Valley covers a series
of beautiful trekking circuits which have been recently discovered
for adventure tourism. The area features a network of practically
endless trails that wind through the mountains, linking lovely
colonial villages. The area is also studded with beautiful
lakes, bizarre stone formations formed by wind erosion and
unique flora and fauna such as Andean condors, vicuñas,
queñual forests and clumps of yareta plants. The main
attraction of the area is without a doubt the chain of snow-capped
volcanoes, some of them active: Mount Hualca Hualca (6,025
masl), Sabancaya (5,976 meters) and Ampato (6,288 meters),
among others.
Since the time immemorial, the Colca has been home to the Collagua
and Cabana tribes, descendants of the Pucará people
of the southern highland plains and from the Quechua people
of Cuzco, who proved to be skillful hydraulic engineers
and master builders.
One of the most popular trekking routes in the Colca is the
trail that links the town of Cabanaconde and Tapay in a
circuit that takes two to three days and gives hikers views
of impressive landscapes, Cabana towns such as Cosnihua
and Malata, and many pre-Hispanic ruins.
Climate: The rain season runs
from December to March, while the best time to visit is
from April to June. The climate is dry and sunny by day,
with cold night. Average temperatures reach 20°C.
Access: Located 150 km (around
4 hours) northeast of the city of Arequipa.
Services: Both the city of
Arequipa and the Colca Valley (the towns of Chivay and Yanque)
one can hire the services of tour operators which offer
organized package deals involving trekking or horseback
riding. The area also features lodging and restaurants for
every taste and budget.
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