Hiking Colca Canyon, Peru

Colca Canyon Hiking (6th & 7th March 2017)

We found a company to do the two day, one night trek with in Arequipa that had some reputable information online after two days of searching for a good company. We ended up going with Peru Andes and paid S./125 per person (NZ$55 and not including fees and extras).

We were picked up from our hostel at 3AM after having only two hours sleep and feeling a bit worse for wear, we had a three hour van ride to a little town called Chivay, for a simple breakfast of bread rolls with Jam and coffee/tea. Very quickly after we finished eating, we were ushered to the Condor hangout where we did see a few Condors and Hawks riding the early morning thermals.

The Colca Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the world, it is 3,270 meters in depth and historians believe that the Inca people arrived in the area in approximately 1320 AD.

Michael at lookout point, Cruz del Condor, looking down the valley trying to spot some Condors.

Colca Canyon

Andean Condor, with a maximum wing span of 3.3 meters.  In person these scavenger birds are truly massive, you can see them riding the thermal currents.

A male Andean Condor (Vultur Gryphus), a national symbol for most of the South American countries - these birds also play a role in traditional folk law and mythology.

Michael and Shahn at the Cruz del Condor Lookout

By 9am we had started out days hike from the outskirts of the town Cabanaconde (3,287m above sea level). This first day was a huge day and we ended up hiking over 12 kms, first was 6 kms (approx 3hrs) of very steep and slippery tracks that were well used once we reached the Colca River (the canyon floor) it was then clear how steep the rocks were and just how far we had walked!

The river was a long way down!!

A lonesome Mule, carrying gear up the canyon on its own - well trained!

The tour group heading down the canyon walls, some sections were incredibly steep and narrow.

After walking uphill slightly we had lunch in San Juan de Chucoho (2,300m), for 1 hour and relaxed a bit we needed to walk the remaining 6 kms which was predominantly uphill for 2kms then mostly a gentle slope down to the nights accommodation.

We went to a bisecting river/stream which had had a huge laha / mud slide go down the stream 12 days prior, it made such a mess and took out the usual Swingbridge and a temporary one was in place do that was a bit dodgy too.

Michael was sweating so much that he had a salt crust forming on his shirt and we drank close to 8 litres of water during the hike, but necessary!

We marched in towards our lodgings for the night at Sangelle Oasis (2,180m), called this because they have the river very close but also because there are a few waterfalls so fresh water can be taken there - also there are swimming pools at each lodging. We had a beautiful swim and felt refreshed, was quite warm! Total first days walk was 7 hours and we were feeling it, was asleep instantly and slept soundly until 4am.

4am and the final day walking only uphill, with a 4hour hike ahead of us we opted to start early because we knew it would be a tough climb.  About 3kms in walking distance but about 1,300m in altitude difference, so you can imagine it was a pretty strenuous ascent. 

Sunrise on the ascent up the Colca Canyon. 

Michael with the three German family members on our tour at 5.30am, stopping for a quick break about 2/3 way up.  Looking up to the peak that is where we finished the hike. 

 Our tour group, made it to the top after the hike up and keen for breakfast! Our guide (the guy on the left, his name is Marcus and he was quite funny)

 On our way to the small town called Cabanaconde, we had another breakfast of the usual bread and jam but with eggs instead of juice.

 Wandering along the terraced fields to get to the small town for our breakfast, about 7am.

Waiting for our bus to arrive so we could get on the road and to the hot springs for a soak!

Pre-Inca terracing for agriculture along the valley.

 Shahn trying on an Alpaca wool Jersey, which she bought from this lady for AU$15.

Went to a natural hot spring to ease our weary bodies and it was loooovely. So good to stretch everything out and get clean from the sweaty walk.  

We noticed that I have a large rash on my legs where the boot is rubbing the sock onto my leg and viola - was a mix of sweat and laundry powder but the guide also didn't carry a first aid kit either but managed to get some aloe Vera to reduce the swelling and redness.

The volcano, Sabancaya was hidden behind the cloud but it is 5,976m high. 

Michael pretty excited to see that his GPS was showing, 4,919m altitude.

On the way we passed through a National Reserve which houses the four different kinds of South American Camelides (Llama, Alpaca, Vicuña and Guanaco).

"Here's a llama, fuzzy llama... llama, llama, duck"

Arrived back to Arequipa, to the hostel and picked up bags then made our way to the bus terminal as we have a 8.30pm sleeper bus with CIVA, hopefully the advertised 180deg reclining chair works well as we have a 10hr+ bus to Cusco. We are so tired from the big days that we will sleep well even if it was a 160deg bus seat!

NOTE:  Deepest apologies for the black spots on the photos, we didn't notice them until a month after the photos were taken and so there was dust from the desert and dirt on our camera sensor.