If you want to visit Ica and its beautiful tourist places, you have to take a tour of the Canyon of the Lost! This natural attraction is currently little explored despite having great potential as a tourist heritage.
Dare to discover the depths and secrets of the Canyon of the Lost, an attraction that is almost 3 hours from the city of Ica.
Adventure in the middle of the Ocucaje desert. 69 km southeast of the city of Ica (2 hours and 45 minutes by car), in the district of Santiago, begin the journey to the Canyon of the Lost, a little-explored geological formation, but one that will impress you in a matter of seconds. Dare to walk through its depths.
How to visit the Canyon of the Lost?
The tour to this attraction lasts approximately 8 hours (full day) and you will have to leave from the Plaza de Armas in Ica in the morning. It is recommended to take a certified travel agency to visit this attraction, since the place is not yet considered a protected area by the State. The cost per person to trek to this impressive natural anchovy over 100 meters high and 5 km long starts at S/150 (includes transfers, guided tours and snacks).
A guide will not only indicate the best places to take pictures of this wonder of Ica, but will also detail everything about the fossil remains of whales, megalodon teeth, and seashells found at this point. A lagoon is also part of the tour that you can do in a few hours.
The Canyon of the Lost
This canyon is believed to be about 35 million years old, and the fossil remains found around it attest to this. The four levels of this attraction invite you to stay tuned throughout the route. Keep in mind that the recommended age to do the tour is from 14 to 16 years old (due to the demand of the walk). So take your precautions if you want to go with the little ones in the house.
What will you see in the Canyon of the Lost?
- The mouth with the Ica river: it is the part with the greatest vegetation, in which -product of migrations- herons are found giving that space a touch of oasis.
- Garganta or Gorge: it is the most extensive part of the canyon
- Plaza Caracol: it was baptized like this by the reporter Luis Miranda, thanks to its shape and in addition to having a semi-roof.
- The face of the Puma: it can be observed in the stopped form that presents the image of the face of a feline: its eyes, its nose and its mouth.
- Ojo de Pez: it is a kind of stagnant water hole, caused by rain and by subsoil water. It is located under "The Face of the Puma".
What implements to bring for the tour?
- Water.
- A bag for waste and thus not contaminate the environment.
- Light clothing.
- Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Restrictions
- Do not drink alcoholic beverages inside the canyon.
- Do not enter the interior of the canyon with vehicles.
- Do not drive anywhere, since fossil remains are found and the tires can damage them.
- Do not go alone, since no one could help you in an emergency.
5 reasons to visit this place in Ica
Here are 5 reasons to visit the Canyon of the Lost in Ica. We are sure that you will remember this trip for a long time. Take note!
You will travel a unique dune route
The Canyon is located in the southwest of the district of Santiago, in the province and department of Ica.
To get to this natural attraction you will have to travel 90 kilometers from the city of Ica, which will take approximately 2 hours. Leaving the city, you must take the Panamericana Sur highway and at km. 339 you will find a detour to the right, which is the entrance to the Ica district of Callango.
Follow this detour along a trail path that will lead you to Boca del Río, on the left bank of Callango.
As you get to the Canyon, you will notice that the famous vultures or crows appear. You will also be able to see these birds while you are going down to the base of the canyon, which will take you about 30 minutes on average.
You will learn about the fauna of the Ica desert
The particular ecosystem of the coastal desert will give you a glimpse of the species typical of these scenarios. As soon as you arrive, you will see many species of birds, the most common being crows.
Also, throughout the journey through the Canyon you will see small reptiles running through the desert. Without a doubt, you will feel a very special connection with this natural setting.
You will be part of mysterious and beautiful paths
The name of this Canyon is one of the most peculiar among the natural attractions that the Ica region offers. Like all good names, there is a great story behind it, and this shows the importance of its geological configuration.
The name of Cañón de los Perdidos arises, thus, after an expedition carried out by the then mayor Pablo Alvites together with a number of residents and the local journalist Maycol Herrera. When this group of people was going to the place, they got lost, getting lost for a couple of hours. Upon finally reaching the Canyon, the journalist decided to title his report with the name "Canyon of the Lost."
You will explore the particular characteristics of the Canyon
The Canyon has 4 levels in which you can observe various natural features that have been formed over millions of years. Each of these particularities makes up the beauty of the Canyon.
A first zone of the Canyon is the mouth with the Ica river. This is the part with the most vegetation, where several herons can be seen, giving the space an air of an oasis. Without a doubt, it is a favorable setting to take many photographs.
The Cougar Face and the Fish Eye are found on the second level of the Canyon and are the most popular attractions. The Ojo de Pez is a kind of stagnant water hole, caused by rain and subsoil water and is located under the Face of the Puma. This is a fairly sharp and sharp image on the sand.
The gorge or gorge is the longest part of the canyon. You have to be very careful here because of its uneven floors. There is also the Plaza Caracol, which is made up of various rocky configurations and a kind of natural semi-roof.
You will discover a little more about the natural history of Ica
Several studies have determined that the Canyon was a seabed and that its estimated age is between 20 and 30 million years. In this territory, paleontologists have also found various fossilized remains of marine animals, such as whales, sharks, seashells, birds and others. The longest fossil found was that of a whale measuring around 30 meters.
#TheFact
Usually tours carried out by authorized agencies that include a trekking circuit are taken. These services have a price that oscillates between S/.150 soles, which include costs of transportation, guidance, and refreshments.
The recommended minimum age to do the tour in the Canyon of the Lost is 14 to 16 years old, due to the demands of the walk.
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