What it is
Where the Ánimas valley is a field of needles, the canyon is a corridor: the river that drains the whole slope has cut a single deep channel, and the sediment stands in walls rather than spires. It is dry most of the year — a bed of grey stones and braided channels — and in the rainy season it carries water, which is why we only go in when the weather allows.
The mountains on the way
The road from the valley to the canyon climbs briefly out of the bowl and turns east, and there they are: the Illimani, 6,438 m, the mountain on every postcard of La Paz, and the Mururata, 5,871 m, flat-topped beside it. Locals will tell you the story of why the Mururata has no summit. Your guide certainly will.
The walk
Our tour walks 40 minutes to an hour on the riverbed: flat, on loose stones, between walls up to 200 m high. Easy to moderate. The full canyon — about 8 km to the village of Palca — is a half-day for people who hike regularly, and we run it privately on request.
Bring the same kit as the valley — sun protection, water, closed shoes with grip — plus a snack: it is further from anything, and there is nothing at the bottom but the village.
