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While most adventure trips to Peru are focused around the Cusco region, the far south of the country offers many options for more alternative and off-the-beaten path tours, including day hikes, trekking, off road biking and whitewater rafting. Peru's second city, Arequipa, is located in the country's far southern highlands, nestled between several snow-capped volcanoes and just a few hours drive from the country's canyon region, home to the world's deepest canyons. This region offers a number of excellent trekking tours and numerous day hikes. The Canyon region is also a popular spot for biking and whitewater rafting. A popular trip from Arequipa is to the Colca and Cotahuasi Canyons, the deepest canyons in the world. In addition to offering stunning vistas, it is also one of the places you are most likely to see the Andean Condor. Other wildlife is also abundant and it's a great location for viewing the various camelids found in the country. Dotted throughout the canyon are a number of traditional villages, allowing you to replenish your supplies while getting to see a bit of local life. What people tend to do is a two day tour which involves heading in a bus or car to Chivay before staying overnight and heading back the following morning. You can also head through the Colca Canyon if you pick the right car tour between Puno and Arequipa. However, for those who prefer something a bit more adventurous, there are many possibilities. One of the most popular choices here is trekking. Treks are offered in various lengths, from 3 days up to 7. This is extremely challenging for many reasons, and one in particular is the fact that there is a lot of climbing up and down when it comes to canyon trekking. The intense dry heat only adds to the trekking difficulty that you are likely to find. Mountain biking is another popular type of excursion in the canyon, as is horseback riding, rafting, kayaking and rock climbing. Perhaps the best part is, you may not need to choose between all of these. There are a number of tours that offer combinations of these activities so you don't have to pick just one. You can start out by rock climbing, move on to mountain biking, then enjoy a bit of horseback riding and, finally, hiking. Along the way, you can even zip line over the Colca River. A particularly welcome respite on most tours in the canyon is a visit to Chivay and the local hot springs there. These will allow you to give your muscles a chance to rest before you head off to your next adventure. Taking a camping break is possible, and one lodge even boasts springs in its walls. There are many different agencies and local guides offering adventure tours in Colca Canyon. It's essential that you pick somebody that is reliable and has that recommended experience. The reason that these are classed as adventure tours should always be solely because of the intensity of an activity, not about compromising safety.
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