Colca Canyon and its Condors

To wrap up our time in Arequipa, we were told we had to go to Colca Canyon. I'd heard of it before my travels, but it wasn't really on my radar. Colca Canyon is one of the world's deepest canyons and it is home to the famous, giant, Andean Condors. While this sounds super cool, after backpacking through 3 countries in a short span of time and going on countless adventures in between, I was exhausted. I wanted to spend the last bit of time just relaxing, which is rare for me. I usually want to squeeze every last bit out of the places I visit, so you know I was really, really tired.

Luckily, the receptionist at our hostel (Maycawasi Backpackers Hostel) convinced us to take a tour with the agency the hostel was partnered with. We paid about S./60 ($20 USD) cash and booked for the very next morning. We woke up at the crack of dawn and loaded into a small 12 passenger van. Although Colca Canyon is often associated with Arequipa, it's actually in Chivay, which is about four hours away.

We loaded into the van while it was still dark and picked up a few other passengers at other hostels along the way. About halfway through the drive, we stopped at a small restaurant where we ate breakfast (included in our package price). It was simple, like all the Peruvian breakfast's I've had, consisting of eggs, bread, fruit, and tea. Nonetheless, my rumbling stomach was pleased.

After eating and using the restrooms, we loaded back into our van and hit the road once more. The drive did not feel long and soon we were at the canyon. It was jaw-dropping.

Aside from the scenery, there were also baby llamas and alpacas you could interact with. Their owners often expect a "tip", so be wary when they ask if you want a photo with them. I got to play with a beautiful little llama named Misty. She was a baby and the softest thing I've ever touched. She seemed to be wandering around with no owner, but wasn't afraid. There were also locals selling juices and fruits, but I didn't try any.

Before heading back though, we saw about four condors. They are as impressive as people say they are. They wings were a wide as I am, and they glided on top of the wind with ease. It was beautiful to watch. We even got to see some baby condors soaring through the green canyon. After taking a few photos, we sat down and tried to absorb all of the beauty around us. We saw little communities built on the banks of the river and imagined was life was like for those in Colca Canyon.

There were hundreds (maybe thousands) of people there to take in the beauty. We had lots of time to wander and take photos. Our guide gave us information about the canyon and set us loose with a meet-up time. We were told to meet at the van, but with the hundreds of white passengers vans that looked just like ours, this proved to be quite the task.

After searching for and eventually finding our van, we all loaded back in, but not to go back to Maycawasi. There was another step on our journey. We drove a little ways down the road to the a natural hot spring. We climbed down a steep pathway and over some rocks before arriving at the bridge to the hots springs. If you wanted to cross and gain access, you had to pay about S./15 in cash. My friend and I, who had just been in Bolivian Hot Springs a few days prior, chose to save our money and wait for our group on the other side of the bridge.

We decided to venture out onto some large rocks that were in the rushing river. After some careful hopping, we settled on to our respective rocks to soak up the sun and dip our toes in the crisp, refreshing river. Using of knapsacks as pillows, we laid there in the sun and I found the relaxation I was looking for. That moment, which seemed to stretch through eternity and end all to fast at the same time, was pure bliss.

When our group started making their way back across the bridge, we begrudgingly got up and followed them to the van. After taking our seats, we settled in and headed back to Arequipa. In the middle of the drive, we stopped and got out. We saw and old church with many statues and intricate design work. Outside, there were many vendors selling souvenirs, hand-made jewelry, and more. Having seen many South American "souvenir" street markets, I chose to spend more time in the church and walking around, but I did buy some things.

Eventually, our guide called us back to the van and we set off on the final leg of our journey. We got back to Arequipa in the night and we rightfully tired from the long day. Overall, the entire day was phenomenal and I highly recommend this tour. We definitely got more than we paid for, and I'm so glad our receptionist told us to go to Colca Canyon. If you are in the area, it is an absolute must!

I'm almost done wrapping up my Spring Break trip, but I'm so glad to have been able to share with you. If you haven't, please check out the rest of the stories from this trip of a life time, and if you have, stay tuned for the last installment of this series. I'm going to wrap it all up with a comprehensive post about Arequipa.

Until then,

XX Didi