Colca Canyon, near the city of Arequipa, stands out even in a country known for its diverse natural beauty. This scenic wonder, which lost its title of deepest canyon in the world to nearby Cotahuasi Canyon, is best known for the Andean condor colonies which call it home. As the sun begins to heat the canyon each morning, these massive, endangered birds ride the rising thermals, soaring in ever-higher circles while barely needing to flap their wings. In the mornings, travelers gather at the canyon’s most famous lookout, Condor’s Cross, to await the flight. As striking as it is to see these giants at close range, or to notice how they block out the sun above you, the canyon is a geological wonder with plenty more to offer visitors. 

In the last years, local officials in Arequipa, in the southern highlands of Peru, have been setting their sights on birders. It’s no surprise, considering that Peru contains an astonishing 10% of the world’s avian population. Arequipa’s astoundingly beautiful Colca Canyon is already the region’s principal attraction, but new albums and books focusing on the birds of Colca and distributed to those in the travel industry and to the plublic at large hope to open up a new niche market of bird enthusiasts. As a strategy, it makes sense- despite the wealth of natural beauty and pre-Columbian archaeological sites boasted by Colca Canyon, this geological wonder is already most well-known for its endangered Andean Condor colonies.