More than 124,000 visitors from within the country and abroad toured the Colca Valley in the southern Peruvian Andes from January to August this year, the Colca Autonomous Authority (Autocolca) announced Wednesday.
The state-run entity stated the Colca valley, one of Peru’s major touristic destinations, located in the Arequipa region, received greater travel volume during the reported period due to the Independence day holiday weekend which took place in end-July.
“The valley of Colca attracted 24,668 tourists in August, a higher amount than the year-ago period which totaled 22,389 visitors,” Autocolca said in a reported which was put out early today.
Likewise, the new data revealed that 13,337 of the above-mentioned amount were foreign travelers and 5,617 were nationals while international visitors in the period ended August included 1,699 from neighboring South American countries.
Furthermore, the festivities which marked this year’s anniversary of foundation of Arequipa, the White City, also boosted visitor numbers in the Colca Valley which highest point is at 4,350 meters (14,271 feet) above sea level.
The valley is located four hours away from Arequipa city by road and it is on track to reaching the regional government’s goal of drawing around 200,000 domestic and foreign tourists by year-end.
(END) RMC/JCR/LOG
Published: 9/17/2014