Colca Canyon
Another hiking trip out of Arequipa to the deepest canyon in the world. We decided we wanted to try this one on our own without a guide and tour because that would be too easy. Jumpíng on the local bus we went to Chivay which we discovered when we arrived that there is nothing there. Its a small town with 1 dirt road. Uh oh what are we doing here was my first thought. A town too small for taxis we jumped into a tuk tuk and drove off to a locals home where we got an empty room for the night. Our neighbour in the next room was a giant turkey..... litterally. We gathered enough information to understand that our bus departed to Cabanaconde (the start of the trek) at 4 am the next morning. With a 3 hour pit stop at the condor crossing we sat shivering on the edge of the cliffs waiting for the sun to heat up the valley enough to see a condor fly over head. Wow, huge birds!
Arriving in Cabanaconde we set out for the trailhead. Of course with no guide finding the trailhead was more difficult than expected. A minor 1 hour detour through farmers fields and over stone terraces we ended up in the desired location looking down into the vast canyon. Down we go! Switchbacking endlessly down on a trail that itself is clinging to the cliff we could feel the air enrich with oxygen and become more humid. The arid sand and cactai were slowly replaced with olive trees and banana palms. Crossing the river in the bottom we found a small hostel for the night. Our first stay in a mud hut! Enjoying the warmth at 2000m we chatted with other travellers around candle light before the sun set and darkness fell. Pushing off the next morning, it was a 3 hour hike to the next stopover point, in the heat of the sun it felt longer. This next location was the highlight, out from the layers of rock in the side of the canyon there was a natural spring gushing fresh glacial water that was channeled down to a pool at yet another small hostel. A dip in the pool next to the donkeys was refreshing. Up before the sun the next day to hike out, we started up the trail for the 1000m vertical climb back to Cabanaconde and the bus ride back to Arequipa.
Early morning at the canyon
Sun rising in the canyon
Condors!
Canyon
Arriving in Cabanaconde we set out for the trailhead. Of course with no guide finding the trailhead was more difficult than expected. A minor 1 hour detour through farmers fields and over stone terraces we ended up in the desired location looking down into the vast canyon. Down we go! Switchbacking endlessly down on a trail that itself is clinging to the cliff we could feel the air enrich with oxygen and become more humid. The arid sand and cactai were slowly replaced with olive trees and banana palms. Crossing the river in the bottom we found a small hostel for the night. Our first stay in a mud hut! Enjoying the warmth at 2000m we chatted with other travellers around candle light before the sun set and darkness fell. Pushing off the next morning, it was a 3 hour hike to the next stopover point, in the heat of the sun it felt longer. This next location was the highlight, out from the layers of rock in the side of the canyon there was a natural spring gushing fresh glacial water that was channeled down to a pool at yet another small hostel. A dip in the pool next to the donkeys was refreshing. Up before the sun the next day to hike out, we started up the trail for the 1000m vertical climb back to Cabanaconde and the bus ride back to Arequipa.
Hiking into the canyon
River below
Mud huts
Hiking Day 2
Pools fed by natural spring - Oasis
Sunrise hiking out
Out of the canyon
Happy Halloween !
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