Visiting the Colca Canyon is one of the natural wonders that anyone should enjoy. It is considered one of the most important canyons in the world, as it reaches a depth of approximately 4,160 meters. It is located in Arequipa; Peru, and is also known as «The Valley of Fire».
As an important feature, this canyon is twice the size of the Grand Canyon (United States), it also constitutes the highest active volcanic mountain range in the world and owes its shape to the volcanic activities of Sabancaya and Hualca Hualca.
The magic that surrounds this majestic place is magnified at dawn with the flight of the largest bird of prey on the planet, the Andean Condor, also considered one of the sacred animals of the Inca civilization; its scientific name is vultur gryphus. Being a huge bird, which can weigh up to 15 kilos, with a wingspan of three meters, it prefers to fly and glide for more than 5 kilometers, in places with winds that speed up its transit through the mountains.
From the top of their habitat, very early in the morning, they can be seen leaving from the Cruz del Cóndor, to look for the food of the day – carrion. Its excellent eyesight, as a good characteristic of the vulture family, means that at great distances it does not lose sight of its prey, which are usually large, wild or domestic animals.
This black bird, which can live for about 75 years or less, usually has a characteristic white collar when it is already an adult; It is a species in danger of extinction, since it reproduces every two years with a single offspring, which is why there are organizations that are dedicated to keeping them in captivity for their reproduction.
Once in the place, spectators must be patient, since there is no precise time or moment to see them fly; but, if they are lucky they will be captivated by the beautiful parade of the kings of this blue sky, which will definitely leave them speechless. Keeping quiet is an important and necessary aspect, since it is something that these birds will appreciate in order to undertake their perfect glide.
There is also the possibility that you will not be able to observe what tourists are looking for so much, such as seeing the condors fly, ruling the skies of Arequipa. However, this place offers many interesting things that you can enjoy, such as: admiring its ancestral customs, dances of the region and the agricultural landscape that they offer.
Finally, you will be able to do some extreme sports, if you prefer, such as canoeing, mountaineering, mountain climbing, fishing, trekking, among others. So as soon as you feel like a different trip with the possibility of knowing more about nature, do not forget to visit the Colca Canyon.