When deciding where to travel in South America, you might consider landmarks to see, foods to eat, or great treks. Whichever is more important to you, Peru is an excellent location! Today we’ll take a closer look at hiking in Peru, for which there is a lot of choices.
The Inca Trail is one of the most famous in the world, and definitely the most popular of all Peru treks. However, if you prefer to get off the beaten path and go for something different, perhaps you’d like to consider the Ananizo Canyon.
It’s not been explored by many and you won’t find big crowds if that’s what you like to avoid. Let’s see why you should add it to your itinerary.
What Will You See?
As the canyon is positioned within the incredible Andean mountain range, you’re going to see some absolutely stunning landscapes. Along the hike, you’ll come across different trees, including eucalyptus, as well as a crystal clear river and the waterfalls that splash down to create it. Colorful stones and pebbles line the way.
In addition to the pretty flora and natural beauty, you’ll get to see some llamas and alpacas in their natural habitat. Sure, you see plenty in Cusco, but they aren’t roaming free and grazing on the fresh grass in the hills. It’s much more pleasing to see them this way.
Once you get to the canyon, you’ll get a spectacular view over the 9km stretch, which is full of more attractive flora and fauna. From the Waraq Pata lookout, you can take some excellent photos, and if you are a lover of birds, this is a fantastic place to do some spotting. Peru has more varieties than anywhere else in the world, so make the most of it.
Location
The canyon is located in the Pitumarca district in the Canchis province in Cusco. It’s around a three-hour drive from the city and along the way, you’ll see more beautiful sites. It sits at 4,200masl, so you will want to take that into account. Being prepared for the altitude is essential, so you may want to acclimatize in the city for a few days beforehand.
Combining Tours
If your time in Cusco is short and you want to get the most out of trekking, we offer this tour in combination with others. If you want to visit the famous Rainbow Mountain that is Vinicunca, you can do them together.
Or, if you prefer to stay away from the large groups, you can combine it with the lesser-visited colorful mountain of Pallcoyo.
Another popular trek around Cusco is the Ausangate circuit. We can also organize for these two to work together if you would like.
Recommendations
Whether you are a seasoned hiker or just want to visit the zone, you will need to be prepared. We always recommend hiking boots as the terrain can be tough and weather in the area may make it slippery or more difficult to walk on.
It’s also always a good idea to be prepared for rain and cold in the mountains. We never know when the heavens will open, and you’ll get warm while walking but will soon feel the chill when you’re standing at high altitude.
Make sure you take water and snacks with you as the altitude can make it harder to walk and you’ll get tired and thirstier faster. As long as you prepare for the altitude and everything else, you’ll have a great time!
Explore the Incredible Canyon
We hope we’ve given you enough information to decide whether you would like to visit this great example of natural beauty. We think it’s definitely worth it and that if you go, it will be one of the most memorable trips of your vacation in Peru.