Chivay & Colca Canyon | Peru

Chivay is the gateway to the Colca Canyon. It is 163 kilometers by road from the city of Arequipa. It’s a small village where most people spend the night before visiting the Colca Canyon. Chivay is located in the highest area of the Colca canyon and 3,635 meters above sea level. The town is surrounded by volcanoes and is found on the banks of the Colca River. Here are my must do’s in Chivay, Colca Canyon.

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Chivay is the gateway to the Colca Canyon. It’s a small village where most people spend the night before visiting the Colca Canyon. Chivay is located in the highest area of the Colca canyon and 3,635 meters above sea level. The town is surrounded by volcanos and is found on the banks of the Colca River. #colca #colcacanyon #chivay #cañondelcolca #canyon #cañon #peru #pérou #travelperu #lifeofapassion #igersperú #visitperu #southamericatravel #perou #pérou #peru #perutravel #lama #alpaca #peruadventure #travelperu #peru🇵🇪 #perú

♬ Euphoria season 2 is making my brain explode – Mars

Viewpoints along the drive from Arequipa to Chivay

1) National reserve Salinas y Aguada Blanca

When passing the national reserve Salinas y Aguada Blanca, you will spot llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicuñas for the first time. Vicuñas are the wild relatives of llamas and alpacas but they do not spit and are an endangered species. Their wool is the finest and most valuable in the world, which can often be sold for around 600 euros per kg. We spotted the vicuñas, Guanaco, llamas and alpacas in the wild!

Fun Fact: How to recognize a llama from an alpaca? Alpacas have fluffy wool on their foreheads while llamas don’t!

2) Patahuasi

In Patahuasi we drank our first coca tea to battle the height sickness. Coca leaves are bitter, and the coca candies are ok, but coca tea can be sweetened to your liking. In Patahuasi we drank pink Coca tea and it was delicious. 

Fun Fact: When drinking coca tea you can also help your water intake as the rule is: per 1.000m you go higher in altitude, you must drink 1L water extra! 

3) Mirador de los volcanes, Mirador de los Andes

Stop at the Mirador de los Volcanes (4910m) to have an amazing view of the volcanic mountain range. I felt the altitude a little bit here when I stepped out of the van but all was good after. 

Fun Fact: You’re actually already in the Colca Canyon and you’re at the highest view of the Colca Canyon!

Chivay

4) Colca Canyon

The Colca Canyon is not the largest canyon in the world (that is Grand Canyon), but it is the deepest one with at one point a depth of 3km! So don’t trip and fall 😉 Enjoy the pre-inca villages and terraces (called Andenes)

Cruz del condor

The most famous viewpoint of the Colca Canyon is the Cruz del Condor. This is where you can spot condors in the ravine. The wingspan of condors is 3m long. It is recommended to go between 8 in the morning and noon to have a chance at spotting condors.

Fun Fact: A condor flew by us by one meter. WOW. It felt like Batman passing you by, a human with wings. You won’t say from a distance that they are huge until they fly over you! 

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Colca Canyon, the deepest canyon in the world with a depth of 3km at one point! Try to spot the condors at the Mirador Cruz del Cóndor! 🦅 #colcacanyon #cruzdelcondor #peru #travel #lifeofapassion

♬ Au Revoir – Sweet After Tears

5) Plaza de Armas 

Visit the Plaza de Armas and take a look at the  Chivay  Church. The Nuestra Señora de la Asunción church (18th century) is like in Arequipa made of volcanic stone.

6) Visit The planetarium

Chivay is the perfect place for the observation of stars in the sky. No light pollution here as you can see the Milky Way! There should be a planetarium in a hotel. We did not manage to get a look but good to know if you have some time over! 

7) Thermal baths 

The hot waters from the thermal baths, come from the Cotallumi volcano. Temperatures begin at 80ºC. but are tempered down to 38-27ºC. The locals say that the sulfur, calcium, and zinc in the waters are beneficial for skin diseases as well as muscle and bone pain. 

Price: 10 soles (€2,5)

Fact: Don’t go into the thermal baths if you’re suffering from a headache or altitude sickness. It only makes it worse as the heat rises to your head. We are speaking out of our own experience as someone from the group reacted to the thermal baths as she had a headache from the altitude earlier that day. 

Fact: The thermal baths in Iceland are more spectacular 😉

8) Wititis Dance (UNESCO)

The Wititi dance shows the forming of a courtship ritual and is typically performed by young people during religious festivities celebrated throughout the rainy season. Female dancers wear garments finely embroidered with colorful natural motifs and distinctive hats, while male dancers wear overlapping women’s skirts, military shirts, slings, and ‘strong hats’. The dance symbolizes the renewal of nature and society. 

9) Sibayo

66 kilometers from Chivay lies Sibayo. It is known as the ‘Town of Stones’ due to its streets, squares, and church made of stone. Visit the archaeological site of Huañaccascca as well as the viewpoint of Santa María. Its inhabitants preserve traditions from their Collagua ancestors.

10) Oasis of Sangalle

53 kilometers from Chivay is the ‘oasis of Sangalle’. Very beautiful scenery and an attractive hiking route. On the way, you can spot the Layja-Machai cave, the Chuirca waterfall as well as the Troja Rumi rock. 

11) Cold!

The temperature in Chivay dropped to less than 8 Celcius in the evening. We were glad we packed our warm clothes with us! But then again with our hats and our coca leaves/candies, we felt like hustlers.
Xoxo The Coca Hustlers

Fun Fact: Every hotel has an oxygen tank to help your altitude sickness. Came in very handy for our friend! The first 5 minutes are free, if you need more make sure to ask for a receipt so that your insurance can pay it back!

12) Tasty but sour

Try the cactus fruit! Looks like a Kiwi but tastes like a very, very, very sour Kiwi!

How to get to Chivay?

We went to Chivay by bus. You can do it as a day trip from Arequipa but I wouldn’t recommend that due to the elevated altitude.

Where to Stay in Chivay

We stayed at the Hotel Casona Solar. Bit secluded from the town but lovely! They also had electric heated blankets – which we needed as we were frozen in the evening! 

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