Cañon del Colca
With a week gone since our trek through the Cordillera Blanca and only a week to go until our trek to Machu Picchu, we should probably have put our feet up and relaxed with a few Peruvian beers. However, we took a different option, and decided to walk down the worlds second deepest canyon instead! Officially the Cañon del Colca (3191m) is almost twice as deep as the Grand Canyon (1829m) although the sides are not as steep, so to me it felt much less like a canyon and more like a really deep valley. If anyone knows what makes a canyon a canyon rather than a valley, then please let me know - while we are on the subject does anyone know the difference between a canyon and a gorge ?
Cañon del Colca
It was a 5 hour bus ride to the edge of the canyon. It was a bumpy road and the driver seemed to lose confidence in his rear suspension halfway, as we all had to get up and move to sit at the front of the bus! We had left early, at 4am, so there was a chance to spot some early morning Condors, and we were in luck. It was amazing watching these massive birds float effortlessly on the thermals.
Condor over the Cañon del Colca
Condors over the Cañon del Colca
It was a steep 4 hour trek descending 1000m to the bottom of the canyon, where we stayed the night with a local family in a basic adobe mud hut. I had to kill several large insects and spiders before Rach could finally settle down to sleep!
Cañon del Colca
Village, Cañon del Colca
First night accomodation
The next day was a gentle walk through the villages at the bottom of the canyon. There are an amazing numbers of families living in these villages that can only be reached by foot or mule. Strangely enough I spotted the first rugby pitch I have seen in all of South American in one of these villages. In the afternoon we relaxed and swam in an Oasis town, before sleeping in an even more basic mud hut!
Rugby pitch
Church, Cañon del Colca
Oasis
Relaxing at the Oasis
Second night accomodation
On the last day we got up at 5am to make the unrelentingly steep climb up and out the canyon before the sun rose, which would have made it unbearably hot. Once at the top we rewarded ourself with an egg breakfast and a soak in the nearby hot springs!
Climbing out Cañon del Colca
Adobe mud hut, Cañon del Colca
Local resident, Cañon del Colca
So you may have seen canyons, condors & cactai, but you didn’t get to see Carrie’s posh new cottage – ha ha! It’s lovely.
Glad to see you’re still having fun & keeping fit; still not convinced that you’re not really sat in London pulling piccies from the internet though
Take care
N
Our scam is out – don´t tell anyone!
According to perceived wisdom there is no discernible difference between a Canyon and a Gorge merely European and American language definitions. I dont subscribe to that though, as a canyon is a very deep erosion of land whereas a a Gorge is what you did with Jaffa Cakes !!!
Give me a pack of Jaffa Cakes right now, yes please!
I’m getting more and more jealous the more I read of your travels! The photos all look fantastic and I’m glad you’re having a fab time. Please keep up with the interesting posts! Now I’ve got all this time off work I’m starting to think that a holiday to South America sounds good….
Hi Jen, welcome on board the 12 countries 12 months bus. Rach and I both think you should treat yourself to a holiday over here and come visit us – leave Nigel at home to organise the wedding!
What you reading in the pic, Rob? Once an editor, always an editor…
I was (and still am, and probably will be for ages) reading One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. According to Salman Rushdie it is “The greatest novel in any language of the last fifty years” I dont think he can have read the latest John Grisham thriller though!
And presume that’s the original Spanish version Rob?! Get a copy of Shantaram, its a good backpacker read.
God no – the English version was bad enough! I´ve never heard of it but I´ll keep an eye out for Shantaram, cheers.
I don’t think Salman Rushdie has read Michael J Fox’s Autobography either, I have been told recently that it is a very good read and apparently he owns a Pug.
What is the other book in the picture, the one by your left foot?
I just want to clarify that i haven’t read Michael J Fox’s Autobography and have no plans to do so.
I finally finished One Hundred Years of Solitude and what did I find waiting for me in the book exchange :
It better be good Dave, or I am holding you responsible!