THE SPIRIT OF COLCA AND COTAHUASI CANYONS.

In the Arequipa Region in Southern Peruvian Andes is host to some truly astounding geological and geographical formations, the Colca and Cotahuasi Canyons, each twice as deep as America's famous Grand Canyon. These are claimed to be the two deepest canyons in the planet, and a fine specimen of Arequipa's lava-sculpted topography. Arequipa, a beautiful city of Southern Peru, is one of the 3 largest cities in the country, and the ideal vantage point from which to take a tour to the canyons.
Each independently stunning, the Colca Canyon is famed for the huge Andean condors flying high above it, and the vast reserve that the Valley produce to be kept in warehouses for times of drought; and the Cotahuasi Canyon mixes glaciers with hot spas, juxtaposes millennia-old rock carvings and gold mines.
During the Inca administration there was a lot of prosperity in the agricultural and farming Villages of the Colca Valley. They built large warehouses for the conservation of corn and processed meat (jerky), fish, manufactured goods, clothing, and dried food, among other products for use in times of hardship, natural disasters, or drought. Cosequently, the name of the Valley 'Colca' is meant for having been the pantry of the Andes. Today the descendants of these people stand out as being primarily an agricultural community, who still maintain the ancient terraces and use them for the currently production of goods. For example, the corn grown in Cabana-Conde (Maiz Cabanita) is prized for its sweetness, softness, and nutritive value. In antiquity herds of llamas and alpacas came from Puno and Cuzco to barter in exchange for the famous Cabana-Conde corn.
The Town of Chivay, capital of the Caylloma Province, that lies upstream of the Colca Valley, and located at about 12,000 ft above sea level, is the local jumping off point for visitors going to the Colca, but tours and local buses also depart from Arequipa, where also rental cars are available.
The small rim-side Village of Cabana-Conde is also a good spot for a short, tough hike down into the canyon itself. Thermal Springs are located 3 km from the Chivay Town. The town also is a popular staging point for tourists visiting the Condor Cross, where condors can be seen catching thermal uplifts a few kilometers downstream.
The archaeological sites include the Caves of Molle-Punco above Callalli where rock is said to be 6,000 years old and depict the domestication of the alpaca; the mummy of Paracra, above Sibayo; the Fort of Chimpa, a reconstructed mountaintop citadel that looks down on Madrigal; Inca and pre-Inca settlements throughout the Valley, and many others.
The most distant source of the Amazon River, the world longest River (6,785 km), that crosses 3 South American countries, Peru, Colombia, and Brazil, before it ends in the Atlantic Ocean, originates from a cliff at the Glacier Mismi (5,597m/18,363ft), one of the highest peak of volcanic origin in the Colca Canyon. It is accessible from the Colca Valley via Tuti, a one-day trip to a spring at 5,120m / 16,800ft, where snow-melt from the Mismi bursts from a rock face. The waters then flow into the streams of the Carhua-Santa River and then joins with the Quebrada Apacheta, becoming the Yoqueta River. The River has several more name changes before it becomes the Apu-Rimac River.
The Nevado Mismi is a 5,597m/18,363ft mountain peak located in the Chila Mountain Range which lies in the Arequipa Region in the Provinces of Castilla and Caylloma, 160 km West of Lake Titicaca and 700 km South East of Lima, capital of Peru.
The Cotawasi Canyon, the deepest canyon in the world, is the preferred destination of thrill-seekers and extreme outdoor recreation enthusiasts. It is formed by the flow of the Cota-Huasi River as it carves its way between the Copuna and Solimana peaks, each of which towers over the ravine at more than 20,000 ft above the sea level. At its deepest point, the canyon cuts roughly 3,535 m (11,560 ft) into the earth.
The Cota-Huasi Canyon is located about 200 km (124 mi) from Arequipa in the heart of the Southern Andes. From Arequipa, there is just one road to the canyon, through the mountains, and it is accessible by bus or minibuses. It is a 10-12 hours trip from Arequipa to the small town of Cota-Huasi.
Three buses companies serve the area and typically they depart from Arequipa around 5pm to arrive in Cota-Wasi around 5am the following day.
The Death Bull Petro-glyphs are located near the small Town of Corire en route to Cotahuasi. These ancient cave paintings are estimated to be more than 10,000 years old. Archaeologists have catalogued nearly 5,000 depictions of birds, animals, and humans etched into the white volcanic rock that protrude from the mountain sides. To visit the petro-glyphs, any of the three bus companies will make a stop in Corire, which is about 3 hours from Arequipa. From Corire, a 2 km (1.2 mi) trail leads to a checkpoint where visitors sign in and pay a small fee.
The magnificent Sipia Waterfall pours off the water off the edge of the cliff, crashing at an impressive 150 m (492 ft) below. It is one of the Cota-huasi Canyon's most scenic attraction. The Waterfall is accessible either by foot or by road and is located about 10 km (6 mi) from the town of Cota-Huasi.
The Lui-Cho Thermal Baths are known for the cleansing and therapeutic qualities of its sulfuric waters.
They are the product of the geothermal activity that boils beneath the earth's surface. The thermal activity of the Volcanoes in the vicinity heats the Bath's waters to temperatures between 33*C to 38*C (90*F to 100*F). The Baths are located about 17 km (10.5 mi) from the Town of Cota-Huasi in the small Village of Alca. A small fee is collected upon entry.