Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cotahuasi, Cañón del Cotahuasi
JOHNNY HAGLUND/GETTY IMAGES ©
Sights & Activities
The main access town is appropriately named
Cotahuasi
(population 3800) and is at
2620m above sea level on the southeast side of the canyon. Northeast of Cotahuasi and
further up the canyon are the villages of
Tomepampa
(10km away; elevation 2500m) and
Alca
(20km away; 2660m), which also have basic accommodations. En route you'll pass
a couple of
thermal baths
(admission S2)
.
From the Sipia Bridge, about an hour outside of town, you can begin a number of inter-
esting hikes into the deepest parts of the canyon. Forty-five minutes up the trail, the
Sipia
waterfall
is formed where the Río Cotahuasi takes an impressive 100m tumble. Another
1½ hours on a well-trodden track brings you to Chaupo, an oasis of towering cacti and
remnants of pre-Inca dwellings.
