Birdwatching in Colca Canyon can be a truly rewarding experience due to the region’s diverse bird species and breathtaking natural beauty. Colca Canyon, located in southern Peru, is one of the deepest canyons in the world and offers a rich ecosystem for birdlife. Here are some key points to consider for birdwatching in Colca Canyon:
Best Time to Visit:
The best time for birdwatching in Colca Canyon is during the dry season, which typically runs from May to September. During this period, the weather is more stable, and bird activity is higher.
Bird Species:
Colca Canyon is home to a wide variety of bird species, including some unique and rare ones. Some notable birds you may encounter include Andean condors, giant hummingbirds, Andean flickers, white-winged cinclodes, Andean hillstars, and many more. The canyon’s diverse habitats, including scrubland, grasslands, and high-altitude forests, provide a favorable environment for birdlife.
Cruz del Condor:
The Cruz del Condor viewpoint is a popular spot for birdwatching in Colca Canyon. It offers a magnificent vantage point to observe Andean condors soaring through the canyon’s deep valleys. These majestic birds have an impressive wingspan and are one of the main attractions for visitors.
Birdwatching Tour:
Hiring a local birdwatching guide or joining a birdwatching tour can enhance your experience in Colca Canyon. Experienced guides are knowledgeable about the region’s bird species, their behaviors, and their habitats. They can help you spot and identify different birds and provide valuable insights about the local ecosystem.
Equipment and Preparation:
It is advisable to bring a pair of binoculars and a field guide to identify the bird species you encounter. Additionally, wearing comfortable clothing, sturdy footwear, and carrying water and snacks are essential for your birdwatching excursion.
Conservation and Respect:
When birdwatching in Colca Canyon, it is crucial to respect the natural environment and the birds themselves. Keep a safe distance from the birds to avoid disturbing their natural behaviors, and follow any guidelines provided by your guide or local authorities.
Colca Canyon offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature and explore the diverse birdlife of the region. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced birdwatcher, the canyon’s stunning landscapes and unique avian species are sure to leave a lasting impression.
Colca Canyon Facts and Information
Where is the Colca Canyon?
The Colca Valley is located in Arequipa, at 151 kilometers northwest of the city. From there you must travel around 40 kilometers to reach the Colca Canyon, which begins between the town of Pinchollo and Cruz del Cóndor.
How to get to the Colca Canyon?
The only way to get to the Colca Canyon is by land and is usually done from Arequipa, although it is also connected by highways with Puno and Cusco.
What is the height in the Colca canyon?
The height in the Colca varies between 2,900 and 4,500 meters above sea level, so it is advisable to take some precautions to avoid altitude sickness or soroche. However, the highest part is on the way to the Colca Valley, in the town of Patapampa, particularly in the famous Mirador de Los Andes, located at more than 4,900 meters above sea level.
Climate in the Colca Canyon
Throughout the year, both in the valley and in the Colca canyon, the days are usually sunny and with low temperatures at night.
The warmest months are between December and April, with an average minimum of 5 °C and a maximum of between 18 and 24 °C. The rest of the year, between May and November, the minimum is usually -2 °C and the maximum is between 15 and 20 °C.
For its part, the rainy season runs mainly between January and March, as in most of the highlands of Peru.
When to go to the Colca Canyon?
In general, the whole year is a good time to visit the valley and the Colca canyon. However, the ideal months are November and April, since there is no presence of rain.
Where to sleep in the Colca Canyon?
The best options to sleep in the Colca Valley are in the towns of Chivay, Yanque, Cabanaconde and Coporaque. There are from basic hotels to some very luxurious, such as Colca Lodge and Belmond Las Casitas and Aranwa Pueblito Encantado del Colca.
For its part, the ideal place to stay in the Colca Canyon is the town of Cabanaconde and its surroundings, since it is located a few kilometers from the famous Cruz del Cóndor, one of the places that every visitor to the Colca hopes to see during their stay.
Where to eat in the Colca Canyon?
The most important towns in the valley and the Colca canyon (Chivay, Yanque and Cabanaconde) have a wide variety of restaurants of all kinds, with menus and buffets; In addition, it is also possible to find some bars and cafes.
If you want to try any of the typical Colca dishes, we suggest you order the roast alpaca or llama, meats with which they also prepare delicious chupes and stews. Also, be sure to try the fried, roasted or stewed guinea pig, depending on the town you are in, as each one has its own way of preparing it.
Once you have acclimatized to the altitude, also try the famous Colca sour, which differs from the classic pisco sour by using sancayo, an ingredient that is grown in the area.
What to do in the Colca Canyon?
Cruz del Condor
Right at the beginning of the Colca canyon, where the valley ends, is the famous Cruz del Cóndor, the dream of every traveler who plans to visit this region. Over a 4,160-meter abyss, a viewpoint has been installed that is filled every day with people who come to see the majestic Andean condors fly.
These birds are attracted by the thermal air currents that rise through the canyon, mainly in the morning, taking advantage of gliding and being seen from a few meters away. Males, females and young condors deliver an unparalleled show in the middle of a beautiful natural setting.
Thermal baths
Thanks to the rivers and springs that emanate from the mountains of the Colca Valley, there are three places where it is possible to relax in hot springs to which medicinal properties are attributed, mainly for arthritis, rheumatism and stress.
Very close to Chivay are the La Calera Thermal Baths, an ideal spa for the family, where there are artificial pools containing water from the Cotallumi volcano, whose temperatures are around 38 °C.
Towards Coporaque, on the banks of the Colca River, the Sallihua Hot Springs emanate from the Pumachiri volcano, a beautiful place made up of rock pools and surrounded by beautiful vegetation. It is perfect for those seeking relaxation over fun.
Finally, near Yanque, are the Chacapi Hot Springs, whose temperatures reach up to 45 °C. This site is particularly beautiful, since its stone pools are located on the river bank with views of a small canyon between two mountain walls.
Pinchollo Geyser
It is not necessary to arrive at dawn to witness this natural spectacle. At any time it is possible to see how a jet of hot water emanates from the underground layers of the earth whose pressure could reach 20 meters, leaving a cloud of steam around.
The Pinchollo Geyser is located 15 minutes from the town of the same name and only 20 from Cruz del Cóndor, making it an unmissable stop in the Colca Canyon.
The most beautiful towns
Along the valley and the Colca canyon, some twenty small towns can be seen from the main highway, inviting travelers to learn about their customs and the heritage of the original Collagua and Cabana peoples. Although most of these towns are quite small, in many of them you can see the impressive churches that the Spanish built in a mestizo baroque style, as they combined the architectural trends of Europe with the decoration of the natives.
The most recognized town is Chivay, the entrance to the Colca Valley and the largest town of all. Nearby is Yanque, whose main attractions are in its surroundings, such as the Siphon Bridge and the Hanging Tombs.
In Coporaque you will be able to see one of the most beautiful churches in Colca, as well as in Maca, one of the most picturesque towns in the region. We cannot fail to mention Cabanaconde, the starting point for those who stay in the canyon, to leave the next day for Cruz del Cóndor.
Trekking Cabanaconde – Sangalle
There is no better way to explore the depths of the Colca Canyon than doing the trekking route of only two days, which usually begins at the San Miguel viewpoint (3,200 masl), very close to Cabanaconde.
From there, the walk goes down the canyon towards the Colca River, passing through the Tapay viewpoint to San Juan de Chuccho, and then continuing towards the Sangalle oasis, also passing through Cosñirhua. The night is usually spent in Sangalle, to return to Cabanaconde the next day.
There are different options for exploring the bottom of the Colca Canyon, options like:
Patapampa or Mirador de los Andes viewpoint
This place is not really within the Colca Valley, but on the way to it, in the Patapampa area. At 4,950 masl, it is the highest point on the route, but also one of the most beautiful, since from there you can see the Misti, Chachani, Ampato, Hualca Hualca, Chucura, Mismi, Ubinas and Sabancaya volcanoes. The latter gives a beautiful spectacle, since every 45 minutes an impressive fumarole emanates that can be seen from the viewpoint.
Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve
Like the Mirador de Los Andes, the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve is not located inside the Colca valley or canyon, but on the road, as you leave Arequipa. It is a landscape of special scenic beauty, especially due to the view of the Misti, Chachani and Ubinas volcanoes, and also the Salinas lagoon (4,300 masl). Undoubtedly, the latter is one of the greatest attractions of the reserve, as it is one of the few places where you can see the three varieties of flamingos that inhabit South America.
In this place you can also observe diverse fauna, such as vicuñas, llamas, alpacas, tarucas and parihuanas, among other species.
Recommendations
- The ideal way to get to know the valley and the Colca canyon is to stay at least one night there. This way you will better acclimatize to the altitude and, in addition, you will be able to enjoy each place with enough time.
- Nights and mornings in the area are usually cold, but the temperature rises rapidly around 11AM. We suggest you bring a jacket and layered clothing.
- When you are at the Cruz del Cóndor, be silent. This way the condors will feel more confident to fly over the area.
- Before photographing the people who live in the valley and the Colca canyon, ask their permission so as not to disturb them.