Peru Tour - 10 - Colca Canyon

3 Jan 2006 – Colca Canyon -> Arequipa

Have to get up really early today for the long drive.  Went for breakfast by 5:30 am. Albert came at 6 am to pick us up.  We picked up the other passengers, some were staying in really nice lodge by the river.  We then went to Yanque, a neighboring town to pick up one last couple. It was a small town and today there was some festival going on. Lots of traditionally dressed people and of course – llamas. And there was an eagle too! Took a whole bunch of photos.

We left for Condor Cross now that we had a full bus. (The ladies were next to me and driving me nuts – talking all the time!).  The scenery to Condor Cross was breathtaking. There were deep gorges and river in the middle. And then the agriculture and people walking with donkeys for their work….so serene.

Condor Cross was obviously a tourist spot. The deep end of the Colca Canyon started there and there was an occasional sighting of condors (an eagle like bird but with crest on their head – really elegant creatures).

There were two tiers for viewing the canyon. We went down first, took photos and then came up. And then we waited for condors to fly by. And they did – at 9:40 am two condors gave us a viewing (darshan). Beautiful! Such elegant birds. Everyone around me was busy taking pictures, it seems I was the only one enjoying the flight of the condors. (I had seen and recorded the flight of a condor before so I was free to enjoy this flight).

We stayed for a while and enjoyed the scenery and then started our drive back to Chivay. Lunch was at Chivay – it was okay. The sweet potato pakoras were good!

We walked around the Plaza for a while. I bought some chocolate and chips for the road. Left at 1 pm and very soon we encountered clouds on the road. Alfredo, out driver was superb! He kept us safe and drove wonderfully. It was snowing by the time we reached the highest point. No fun driving in this.

The ladies were too chatty! We arrived at Arequipa by evening. Checked into the same room as before. We walked to the Plaza to look around. We went to Govinda’s for dinner – big disappointment. Not tasty at all.

Went back to the hotel and packed. I bought too much stuff!