10 essentials: what to see and do in the Grand Canyon of the Colorado

When considering a trip along the West Coast of the United States, you must be clear that the Grand Canyon must be a essential visit because it is considered one of the great Wonders of the World.

I assure you that the scenery What you are going to be able to see will remain forever in your memory, and the photos are not capable of showing the dimensions of this great natural site in the western United States.

Declared Heritage awarded by the Unesco, everything I can tell you about its beauty is incomparable with the feeling it produces when you have the opportunity to visit it.

What is the Grand Canyon of the Colorado like: what areas does it have?

Although I tell you that Grand Canyon It is 446 kilometers long, and especially since its depth reaches up to 1.600 meters, it is impossible to convey the real dimensions of this impressive natural area in Arizona.

You will only be aware of it when you look at the first of the viewpoints you reach.

The truth is that you can stay for many minutes absolutely absorbed, enjoying the beauty of the shapes and colors, and appreciating the incredible dimensions.

And this feeling is greater because Grand Canyon of the Colorado You are approaching a large plain, completely flat, that does not warn you of the height at which you really are, and that only breaks abruptly when you reach the edge of the cliff.

South Rim south of the Grand Canyon 

In reality, arriving by the South Rim (South Rim), which is the most common route for tourists who visit this place, this plain has a altitude of 2.100 meters.

In summer you will notice this altitude thanks to the pleasant temperature enjoyed at the viewpoints, which is around 20-25 degrees Celsius.

And you will appreciate it even more when you learn that the ambient temperature at river level, a kilometer and a half below, usually reaches 45 degrees, typical of the desert area through which the Grand Canyon extends.

North Rim north of the Grand Canyon

The altitude is higher in the North Rim (North Rim), reaching almost 2.500 meters, which means that in winter this area of ​​the Grand Canyon spends long periods covered by snow and with road access closed.

In any case it is from the south rim from where they are enjoyed The best views, facilitated by the proximity of the river to this edge.

West Rim of the Grand Canyon

Another area that you can visit of the Grand Canyon is known as west rim.

The advantage it has is that it is the closest area from Las Vegas, making it the most common destination for most of the plane or minibus excursions from said city, and the disadvantage is that it does not offer landscapes as spectacular as those you find in the South rim.

How to go to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas

For go to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas You have various options that go from the rental car tripIn the day trip by plane and helicopter, or the minibus excursion which you can also do in one day.

Here you have all the information about all the options to go from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon.

Of course, if you also want to from here reach the northern edge, Called North Rim, you would have to go around the entire Grand Canyon, which would mean traveling 345 kilometers and a five and a half hour trip!!!

The right option for go to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas, is to leave towards the northeast passing through Saint George, on a six and a half hour trip.

The best things to see and do in the Grand Canyon of the Colorado

La visit the Grand Canyon of the Colorado through the most popular area of ​​the South rim It will be a tour in your car or a bus space shuttle free to use for the different viewpoints of this great wonder of landscape.

See the Grand Canyon from the South Rim viewpoints

From each of the viewpoints you will have different perspectives, which I can tell you reach their greatest splendor during the sunset, is what will offer you majestic scenes.

Desert View at Grand Canyon

On the journey eastward through the viewpoints of the South rim, it's worth it get to the beginning of the canyon, where you will find the Desert View viewpoint and the Anasazi Indian Watchtower.

At that point, which is 42 kilometers from Visitors Center, is where you will see the beginning of the formation of the Grand Canyon.

Very close to the east entrance of the national park, the building of this viewpoint is an emulation of one Indian Watchtower Anasazi.

This tower was actually built in 1933 to facilitate views of both the Grand Canyon and the desert area that disappears to the east (hence the name of the viewpoint as desert view).

Inside the tower you find a large store of remembrances., option that you also have in the aforementioned Visitors Center from the main entrance of the park to the south.

Helicopter Tour of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado

If you have one or two more days on your trip, you can do various other activities, which you can start from Visitors Center.

In this regard, one of the Most popular tours in the Grand Canyon is the possibility of fly over it in a helicopter.

If you would like to hire a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon, the advice is to do it well in advance of the date of your trip, especially if you are going by high tourist season.

If you decide at the last minute, as soon as you arrive at the South Rim, at the airport that is before crossing the national park entrance, you must do the early booking for the morning of the next day.

How and where to watch the IMAX documentary of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado

During your visit to the national park, in the South Visitor Center you can see an excellent National Geographic IMAX documentary, with a duration of about 35 minutes.

The Grand Canyon IMAX schedules They are, from March to October, from 8,30:20,30 a.m. to 9,30:18,30 p.m., and from November to April, from XNUMX:XNUMX a.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.

The IMAX ticket prices (2020) are, for adults, $13,59; children 6 to 10 years old, $10,33; and seniors, 12,50 euros.

Children under 6 years old have free tickets, and if you buy the online entry, you will have a 20 percent discount.

Where to hike the Grand Canyon of the Colorado

Another activity you can do on your trip is hiking through the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, for which there are established routes of different lengths, the most popular being those called South Kaibab and Bright Angel.

Of course, if you want to go down to the bottom of the canyon and reach the Colorado River, keep in mind that you will not have time to go down and up in the same day.

How to Raft the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon

Another alternative you have during your visit is to do rafting down the Colorado River, well in areas of calm waters or also in areas of whitewater.

The excursions start from towns that are near the canyon.

Mule excursion to go down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon

One of the most curious activities is the possibility of go down to the Colorado River riding a mule.

This is such a popular excursion that it must be booked several months in advance.

How to get on the Skywalk glass walkway south of the Grand Canyon

Once outside the limits of the national park, you also have the option of taking other excursions to other places near the Grand Canyon.

A different excursion is to go to Skywalka tourist attraction which has been mounted in a canyon south of the Grand Canyon National Park, in which you can walk on a glass platform that protrudes from the cliff.

Of course, not everyone who visits considers this excursion to be really worth it.

How to see Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Colorado

Al south of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, outside the national park, you can take a trip to Havasu Falls, an area where several waterfallsWithin the territory of the Havasupai Indians.

Finally, and before your visit, you may find it useful Download the pdf with the Official Guide in Spanish to the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, which includes a map of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon which will allow you to get an idea of ​​what you are going to find.

Map: how to get to the Grand Canyon

On this map you can see how to get to the South Rim Visitor Center of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado.