Everyone knows the Grand Canyon in the United States. However, did you know that the Colca Canyon near Arequipa is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon? That results in a beautiful landscape, with a few, very nice traditional Peruvian villages. Moreover, you have the chance to spot the Andes condor, with a wingspan of no less than 3.20 metres, one of the largest bird species in the world.
Early in the morning, you will depart by minibus from Arequipa. The first stop is at “Cruz del Condor”. This is a busy viewpoint where you have a good chance to see condors flying between 8 and 10 in the morning. The view is incredibly beautiful, with splendid rock formations and a small river that flows into the bottom of the canyon. Nonetheless, it is of course all about the condors. You will often have to be patient and then they suddenly appear. It is a majestic sight, when the condors float by and land on a rock.
When you arrive by bus at the starting point, the actual tour starts. The first day you constantly descend to the last point in the Canyon. The path is reasonably good but dotted with large boulders. Walking sticks are very practical because that makes descending a lot easier as they give relief to your knees. After a few hours, you will reach a wooden bridge over the river and you will have reached the lowest point. After that it’s a little tough climbing to get to your first place to spend the night. The place is basic but there is a chance to have a hot shower. Dinner is also simple but nutritious.
The second day, you mainly walk through the valley, sometimes slightly uphill and downhill, you pass through a few traditional villages too. In one of the villages, there is a small “museum” where the proud owner wants to tell you all about the local customs in this region. Very interesting to hear and see. You end that day in a small bungalow park with a swimming pool and nice hammocks. Lovely to relax and recharge your batteries for the third day!
The last day, you leave early, still dark. That day is a tough climb to get to Cabanaconde, the end of the trip. You have to walk up here at your own pace (there is only one path, so getting lost is impossible and there are more groups walking the same path). It took us almost 3 hours of continuous climbing but it was definitely worth it, thanks to the beautiful landscapes you see along the way. Moreover, when you get up, you’re welcomed as a hero and can buy delicious sandwiches from a saleswoman. Then you walk to the village for a real breakfast.
By bus, you then go to a hot spring to relax in the warm water. You can cool down in the river that flows by, whose water is really fresh. On the way back to Arequipa, you drive through a beautiful landscape with many volcanoes on the horizon. You see llamas and alpacas everywhere, grazing. We enjoyed the trip, even though it was rather tough at times. However, thanks to the beautiful nature, we quickly forgot our fatigue.