Chivay

Chivay is the Colca Canyon’s unashamedly disheveled nexus, a traditional town that has embraced tourism without (so far) losing its unkempt high-country identity. Long may it continue! Around the market area and in the main square are good places to catch a glimpse of the decorative clothing worn by local Colca women. The town itself affords enchanting views of snowcapped peaks and terraced hillsides, and serves as a logical base from which to explore smaller towns further up the valley.