Where is the Cotahuasi Canyon?

The Cotahuasi Canyon, located about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Arequipa in the heart of the Southern Andes, is the deepest canyon in the world. It is formed by the flow of the Cotahuasi River as it carves its way between two peaks, Coropuna and Sulimana, each of which towers over the ravine at more than 20,000 feet above sea level. At its deepest point, the canyon cuts roughly 3,535 meters (11,560 feet) into the earth – only slightly deeper than its nearby rival, the Colca Canyon

Attractive Places

• Sipia: The Sipia waterfall begins its journey at a point where the Cotahuasi River abruptly reduces its course to only 5 m wide and precipitates into 150 m of free fall crashing violently into the rocks.
• Luicho: The tourist complex of the thermal waters of Luicho consists of three pools with waters that spring from the hill of the same name, which vary between 33 and 38 °C. They have well-known medicinal and relaxing properties, making them ideal for people suffering from stress.
• Forest of stones of Santo Santo: whose extension is of 5 square kilometers, being to 4.200 msnm, to 17 kilometers of distance of the town of Cotahuasi.
• Forest of Puyas Raimondi: in the town of Lauripampa.
• Giant Cactus Forest of Judío Pampa: in the town of Quechualla, a town that is also famous for its vineyards and variety of fruits. The peculiarity of these giant cactus is that they can measure approximately between 12 and 13 meters, in addition to living with a type of bat with which it establishes a symbiosis.
• Several typical villages of the Peruvian highland:, with narrow streets, whitewashed houses with lime and rustic balconies.

How to get to

In Arequipa Several buses depart from around 5 pm, arriving in Cotahuasi around 3 am. There will be several hostels open 24 hours a day, and there will also be workers waiting for potential customers at the bus station. If not, an illuminated hostel sign is clearly visible on the hill in front of the bus station entrance.

There is a tourist information office in Cotahuasi where you can get a map and lots of tips, and they will be happy to help you with directions. Check your plans with the tourist office, as all the information included here is subject to change.