Encounter Peru 2023

We look forward to renewing our acquaintance with Peru's Colca Valley and the Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu in 2023! Our sample itinerary includes the regional capital of Arequipa, and sufficient time in the Colca Valley to explore all of its aspects, focusing on sustainable, locally-based tourism.

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Culture

The Colca Valley, home to the Collagua and Cabana cultures, is a showcase of Andean traditions and cosmology. Traditional modes of dress are still common, and high-quality handicrafts such as knitting, weaving, and embroidery display aspects unique to the valley.

Natural History

This is the land of the condor, and of the hummingbird. It is the home of torrent ducks, Andean foxes, vicuña, and cantuta, the national flower of Peru. Exotic plants like yareta that thrive only in harsh, high altitude environments, can be seen along with dryland fruits such as sancayo (cactus fruit) and tropical fruits like lúcuma. The variety of wildlife and plants that can be added to one's life list is long and utterly unique!

History

The known history of the Colca Valley goes back at least to the Wari culture, but undoubtedly has much deeper roots. The terraced mountainsides have been worked for at least a thousand years, with irrigation features that predate the Inca conquest of the region. History and legend coexist in equal measure in this ancient valley!

Geography

The Colca and the adjoining Valle de los Volcanes has been designated one of the world's first "Geoparks," highlighting the geological and geographical aspects of the region. Not only is the area traversed by the Continental Divide, it includes one of the deepest canyons in the world, the most remote source of the Amazon River, snowcapped volcanoes soaring to more than 20,000 feet (some of them still live!), and fanciful "castles" of stone.

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Come see the Colca!