Ayo-Canco stretch (Ayo-Tingo sub-sector located in the district of Ayo at 1.830 meters above sea level in the province of Castilla) has a length of 7 kilometers and is part of the 44.65-kilometer road construction.

This stretch required an investment 3 million 200,000 soles and a total investment of 43 million soles to make the whole road; funds were obtained from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the regional government of Arequipa, Municipalities of the Valley of Volcanoes Association: Ayo, Andagua, Chachas and Orcopampa, located in the province of Castilla, and Huambo, in the province of Caylloma.

The private sector, such as Compañía de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A., is directly involved in the construction of this project, financing studies worth about one million dollars, among other important contributions, stipulated in the public-private partnership agreement signed in 2006.

The Colca Canyon was thought to be the world’s deepest canyon until it was discovered that nearby Cotahuasi Canyon is in fact deeper still. Nevertheless, a visit to the Colca Canyon is an incredible experience, not just for the spectacular setting, but also to see the giant condors. These birds, with a wingspan of over 3m and weighing up to 12kg, glide past on the thermals only meters away.

For those wishing to leave the gringo trail, the Cotahuasi Canyon offers some beautiful scenery and superb trekking, and the Valley of the Volcanoes provides a landscape unlike any other. The petroglyphs of Toro Muerto, over 2,000 carved rocks under the desert sun, is an incredible archaeological site visited by few tourists.

Adventure in Arequipa is also easy to find, with plenty of 6,000m-plus mountains and volcanoes easily accessible for climbing, and excellent trekking in the Colca Canyon and in the Cotahuasi Canyon. For those seeking greater thrills, some of the world’s best white-water rafting is possible in the region, through the Colca and Cotahuasi Canyons. For those wanting to ride the rapids without so much danger, good rafting is also found in Majes.