Cotahuasi Canyon is in Southern Sierra of Peru, near Arequipa.

Understand[edit]

Get in[edit]

From Arequipa's Terrapuerto there are several bus companies going to Cotahuasi and Alca. Ana express, Inmaculada, Cromotex and Nazareno offer services leaving between 18:00 and 19:00, costing between S/30 and S/35.

Get around[edit]

Most of the villages are connected buy bus. In some cases there's only one service a day, though.

• Cotahuasi – Alca: every hour.
• Alca – Puyca: 05:00, back 13:00. Cost: S/6
• Cotahuasi – Pampamarca: 05:00 and 16:00, back 06:00 and 13:00. Cost: S/6.50
• Cotahuasi – Charcana: 15:00 back 06:00. Cost: S/7
• Cotahuasi – Quechualla: 05:30 back 08:00. And on F Su M: 13:00, back 16:00. Cost: S/7

See and do[edit]

• Ruins of Maukallacta: 40-60 minutes walk from Puyca. Built by the local culture of Allccas, Maukallacta was afterwards occupied by Waris and Incas.
• Ruins of Ccalla: 2-3 hours walk from Alca or 1-2 hours from Lucha. Typical Wary city.
• Luicho hot springs: three different pools around 35°C. Costs: S/3, S/4 and S/6. Open from 03:00 to 21:00.
• Uskune waterfall: 20 minutes walk from Pampamarca.
• Huito stone forest: 40-60 minutes walk from Pampamarca. Beautiful stone formation at 4000 masl. Condor observation.
• Charcana-Quechualla trail: in this 5-6 hours trek you descent to one of the deepest part of Cotahuasi Canyon.

Eat and drink[edit]

Buy[edit]

Sleep[edit]

Easy to find local accommodation or a place to camp in every village.

Pampamarca: Hospedaje María Vargas (tlf: 966368688) S/10, dinner S/5, breakfast S/4.

Quechualla: Hospedaje Plaza Quechualla (tlf: 054-630933), full pension S/30.

Stay safe[edit]