Cotahuasi canyon trek, Peru
| country: | Peru |
| trip type: | Strenuous trekking holidays |
| departures: | 2010: 9 Jun, 7 Aug, 17 Oct |
| price: | From £2495 (15 days) excluding flights. Including domestic flights, transport, accommodation and most meals. Max group size 8 plus leader, English speaking local guides and drivers. We can help arrange flights from the UK & can also offer a fully tailor-made service |
| offers: | Fantastic opportunity to experience a rare glimpse into the Incan World. Our Cotahuasi canyon trek is a dream come true for trekkers looking for adventure away from the hoards - Book on our June trip (departing 10/6/2010) and save £100 - offer ends 30th March 2010 |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Cotahuasi canyon trek, Peru
15 days trekking the Cotahuasi canyon
This expedition, as featured on Extreme Dreams, explores the wild remote region of the Andes mountain range around Cotahuasi in southern Peru. Below Cotahuasi the Cotahuasi river runs though the deepest canyon in the world. Although this canyon has been run by a handful of extreme rafting / kayaking expeditions this is a little trekked area with few organised expeditions. As far as is known, this is the first group trek across the entire length of the canyon.
This challenging expedition encompasses real adventure with the natural wonders and fascinating ancient history of the region. We will trek along wild and rocky trials accessible only by foot, encountering spectacular mountain scenery and picturesque hamlets deep in the canyon.
Expedition highlights include:
The headwaters of the River Cotahuasi have their source in the Cordillera de Huanzo, a remote and very rarely visited part of the Peruvian Andes in the extreme north west of the Department of Arequipa, and discharge some 300km later into the Pacific Ocean as the River Ocoña. Although the Cotahuasi region was declared a Zona Reserva Turistica in 1988 very little was known about the area and even less about the canyon until a kayak / raft expedition first ran it in 1994. Subsequent interest and a surveying expedition confirmed the deepest point of the canyon (at Ninochaca just below Quechualla) to have a depth of 3354 m, making it the deepest canyon in the world and 163m deeper than nearby Colca Canyon which was previously thought to hold the record. In pre-Colombian times the canyon was a more travelled route; an Inca road ran through most of the length and many sections still remain, as well as agricultural terracing and ruins. This Inca road may well have been based on routes previously built and used by the Huari culture, an important power in the highlands of central and southern Peru from 600-1000AD.
This expedition, as featured on Extreme Dreams, explores the wild remote region of the Andes mountain range around Cotahuasi in southern Peru. Below Cotahuasi the Cotahuasi river runs though the deepest canyon in the world. Although this canyon has been run by a handful of extreme rafting / kayaking expeditions this is a little trekked area with few organised expeditions. As far as is known, this is the first group trek across the entire length of the canyon.
This challenging expedition encompasses real adventure with the natural wonders and fascinating ancient history of the region. We will trek along wild and rocky trials accessible only by foot, encountering spectacular mountain scenery and picturesque hamlets deep in the canyon.
Expedition highlights include:
- Trekking the entire length of the world’s deepest canyon, the Cotahuasi.
- Beautiful colonial architecture of the city of Arequipa
- Spectacular altiplano and volcanic scenery
The headwaters of the River Cotahuasi have their source in the Cordillera de Huanzo, a remote and very rarely visited part of the Peruvian Andes in the extreme north west of the Department of Arequipa, and discharge some 300km later into the Pacific Ocean as the River Ocoña. Although the Cotahuasi region was declared a Zona Reserva Turistica in 1988 very little was known about the area and even less about the canyon until a kayak / raft expedition first ran it in 1994. Subsequent interest and a surveying expedition confirmed the deepest point of the canyon (at Ninochaca just below Quechualla) to have a depth of 3354 m, making it the deepest canyon in the world and 163m deeper than nearby Colca Canyon which was previously thought to hold the record. In pre-Colombian times the canyon was a more travelled route; an Inca road ran through most of the length and many sections still remain, as well as agricultural terracing and ruins. This Inca road may well have been based on routes previously built and used by the Huari culture, an important power in the highlands of central and southern Peru from 600-1000AD.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive in Lima, rendezvous with expedition leader and transfer to hotel. Lima was founded in 1535 as “City of the Kings” by Francisco Pizarro (Conquistador of the Incas) as his capital. Although earthquakes have destroyed the original city the historic centre contains many impressive colonial buildings from later periods, and the city also has many first class museums, especially dealing with Peru’s impressive pre-Colombian history. |
| Day 2: | Fly to Arequipa. An hour's flight takes us to Arequipa (2,300m), Peru’s second city, set in a beautiful desert valley dominated by volcanoes. It is also known as “The White City” as much of the city is built from a white volcanic rock known locally as “sillar”, giving it a distinctive atmosphere. The historic centre has been declared a UNESCO heritage site and contains many fine colonial buildings and churches. Of particular interest are the Santa Catalina convent (a beautiful “mini-city” shut off from the outside world until the 1970s) and the Andean Sanctuaries Museum (containing frozen Inca human sacrifices discovered on nearby volcanoes by National Geographic expeditions). |
| Day 3: | Drive to Cotahuasi. Leaving early, we set off into the spectacular mountain scenery around Arequipa. Our route initially follows the Pan American highway through the desert, then inland following the Majes river valley (well known for the production of wine and pisco, Peru's national drink) before climbing towards the Andean mountains. We climb steeply to reach the high altiplano passing close to the mighty glacier covered flanks of Coropuna (at 6,425m the highest peak in southern Peru) and Solimana volcanoes. The road reaches around 4750m in the highest section before dropping steeply to the village of Cotahuasi. Despite the bleak and hostile terrain, some interesting high altitude plants and wildlife species can be found in this region: the domestic South American llamas and alpacas are commonly seen grazing and with luck we will also see their beautiful and much rarer wild cousin - the vicuña. |
| Day 4: | In Cotahuasi (2680m). Cotahuasi is the main centre for exploring the network of valleys and canyons that contain the headwaters of the River Cotahuasi. A short drive takes us to the nearby highland village of Pampamarca and a chance to visit the bizarre rock formations at Huito and the Uskune waterfall. We return via the thermal baths at Luicho, an opportunity to soak and relax before beginning our trek through the canyon! Andean condors are present in the whole Cotahuasi region and with luck we will be able to spot one of these majestic birds (with a potential wingspan of over 3m!) soaring gracefully on thermals. |
| Day 5: | Trek through Cotahuasi Canyon to Mayu (1,800m; 7-8 hours approx). Below Cotahuasi the river, of the same name, has carved out the deepest canyon in the world. A short drive takes us closer to the start of the canyon at Sipia Bridge where we enter a wild rocky world only accessible by foot or raft/kayak. A short walk brings us to the Sipia waterfall, where the entire river plunges spectacularly over 100m into a narrow fissure. From here the trail climbs before traversing along a narrow trail cut out of the canyon wall in places (not for vertigo sufferers!) to reach the small citrus growing village of Chaupo some 3 hours below Sipia. From Chaupo the trail levels and continues through giant cacti forests before passing below the hamlet of Velinga to our riverside camp at Mayu. A small thermal pool here gives us a chance to relax tired legs. |
| Day 6: | Trek through Cotahuasi Canyon to Quechualla (1700m; 6 -7 hours). Below Mayu we continue deeper into the canyon, at times following remains of the original pre- Colombian trail and passing the archaeological site of Huaña, consisting of the remains of storehouses & agricultural terraces that once lined this route in ancient times. Beyond Quechualla we continue to reach the side valley of Uswa, the deepest point of the whole canyon. Quechualla itself is a pretty little hamlet with its streets covered in vines; grapes and wines are grown and produced here in season. |
| Day 7-8: | Trek through Cotahuasi Canyon via Huachuy (3,200m,) to Marpa (approx 1,500m). From Quechualla the trail climbs for several hours out of the canyon to reach the small highland village of Huachuy, at 3,200m the highest point of the trek. The next day is the longest and toughest day of our trek (approx 10-12 hours). We continue through the rugged scenery along the canyon’s rim to reach an abandoned mining camp on a ridge at Estacion. From here the trail begins a long steep rocky descent back down into the canyon to reach the ruins of Marpa. We camp below the site by the river. |
| Day 9: | The Lost City of Marpa. Today is a well deserved rest day, where we can explore the ruins of Marpa. These are by far the largest in the canyon; it is possible the site once covered an area similar in size to Machu Picchu. Probably dating initially from the Huari period, extensive areas of terracing as well as residential areas cover the steep canyon walls on both sides of the river, showing that the ability to plan and build cities on steep mountainsides was not confined to the Incas! We spend a day here to relax and explore this impressive site more thoroughly. |
| Day 10-13: | Trek through Cotahuasi Canyon to Barrera (5-6 hours per day). Below Marpa the canyon is hardly known except to a few river runners; the route continues beneath rocky walls, with sections of the original trail and archaeological remains showing that it was once an important route in pre-Colombian times. On day 12, the rivers Marán and Chachas join the Cotahuasi in quick succession to form the River Ocoña, which continues to the Pacific Ocean ; near the second confluence is the village of Chaucalla (900m). Below here the canyon starts to open out and we have finally reached the Andean foothills and lowlands. We spend the final night of the trek at Barrera. |
| Day 14: | Drive from Barrera to Arequipa. In Barrera we meet our transport for a full day’s drive following a rough road on down the Ocoña River valley to meet the Pan American highway; which takes us through Peru’s rugged desert coastal plain before climbing into the mountains back to Arequipa. |
| Day 15: | Fly to Lima. We take an early morning flight back to Lima today where our expedition ends. For those of you wishing to spend a few extra days in Lima, we are happy to organise hotel accomodation. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. how this holiday makes a difference
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We are committed to maximising the benefits of our trips to the local community and minimising the negative impact associated with tourism. We employ local agents and staff, which means that not only will we have the best and most knowledgeable people for the job, but we are also supporting the local economy. Additionally we can gain a real insight into Peruvian culture by spending time with these guides. We treat every person associated with this trip with equal respect and expect you to do the same. Our expedition leader, James, is passionate about preserving this unique environment and our guide, Marcio, reputably knows this isolated wilderness better than anyone and is happy to share his local knowledge with us on the expedition. Marcio hopes to promote his fascinating region to fellow adventurers, and - with our support and contributions - this is possible. Much of our time in Peru is spent camping – a practical and low impact way to sleep while in the canyons. Our equipment and supplies are locally produced and sourced where possible, which not only supports local economies but also reduces the environmental impact of the transportation of these goods. We follow a responsible camping policy, whereby we leave minimal evidence of our stays – taking all rubbish with us, burying our natural waste and taking care not to disturb plant life. While in the towns and villages, we stay in locally run hotels. This enables us to make a positive contribution to the local industry and is also gives us a better sense of life in rural Peru. To greatly reduce our impact on the environment there will be a maximum of eight team members. This helps to minimise the damage associated with large scale tourism. You will be issued with instructions as to how you can help to reduce your impact on the environment through simple measures such as unwrapping new products before leaving home as Peru has no formal recycling system. We hope that you will follow our advice to help make a difference. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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