Hazel's Travel Blog: Colca Cayon Trek, Arequipa, Peru

A two day trek into the Colca Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world - we asked if it was hard before undertaking such a task, 'a little bit' was the deceptive response. We left our hostel at 3am cranky & sufficiently sleepy, picking up 5 other passengers/fellow trekkers along the way. Three girls get on with pink roller suitcases, I wonder if they know where they're going.

First stop is 3hours later at Cabanaconda for a 6am breakfast of bread, cheese, jam & really really salty grey/brown eggs. We arrive at Cruz Del Condor at approx 7.15am where we are to see Condors in flight. Hovering on the hot air currents in the canyon these birds are marvelous to watch as they glide through the air. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures decent enough to add in here as they were too far away & fast moving to capture on camera.

We begin our trek at 9am down into the canyon for 3hours straight until we reach the river at the bottom, cross a shaky little bridge, upon which our guide insists on jumping with each step. Death Imminent. Apres this ordeal we begin an uphill ascent, which lasts at most 10minutes, but unfortunately for three Russian girls in the group, lasted about 30. Armed with a pink handbag & fake nails, one of the girls is particularly unaware of the hikes difficulty and realises that what you trek down, you must trek up.

Me, Donal & our new Canadian friend, Joel, speed on ahead leaving them behind, even though we ourselves were travelling at no great pace.

We reach our halfway point at approximately 1pm to a stunning little arrangement of bamboo cabins & well kept green gardens where it has been arranged for us to have lunch, pasta soup followed by alpaca stir-fry..yum! The Russians emerge from the mountainside finally, to adjust their make-up & decide with distain against the alpaca meat..a long day to take on with an empty stomach.

AND SO THE PENGUINS MARCHED ON...to arrive at the cliff edge where we could finally see our destination in far sight, a mirage of a clear blue oasis surrounded by plush green palm trees...oh but to be there with our feet in its cool waters! Our guide, Jhon, a friendly & good humoured Peruvian guy had a tricky day going back and forth between us and the Russians ensuring no one had fallen off the cliff face, while we trekked ahead and they struggled behind. But alas with our destination finally in sight we were determined to get there before sun down at 6pm...I cannot describe the feeling when we finally arrived there after a long, hard but extremely enjoyable day, to this Paradise of lovely green grass & trees with dangling white flowers with the appearance (but not the smell) of lilies.. Arrival at 5.15pm meant we had time for a well deserved swim. WOW. A night ahead of sleep in a mud-hut cabin with bamboo roof & no electricity ahead of us, so cool, it felt like we were camping!

A few beers and a pack of cards later (thanks Lynda!!) we had accumulated a group to play 'Asshole', a game with so many rules its impossible to not be the asshole at some point. Honestly, one of the best nights we've had so far, we met some really great & hilarious people.