Colca, Part 2

We set out Sunday morning at 6:00, as there was a limited window for the big finale at the end. As we drove through the small towns along the canyon, the mountains got closer and the cliffs steeper. We stopped periodically to take pictures and admire the scenery.

Noah did so well! We were amazed that he wasn't bothered by the altitude or dust or long car trips (as long as he had snacks). We got him a little Andean sweater, and he stayed good and warm. He really wanted to play with the alpacas and llamas that we saw, but those pics will come later.

This was our favorite view of the valley, before reaching the more precipitous parts. The terracing was amazing, and nearby was a rock, carved by either the Incas or those before, which was an exact replica of the terraces on the opposing side, and even served as a working model of an irrigation system for the mountainside. Just amazing.

Coming into the deeper sections, the picture doesn't do justice to the scale of everything.

We got out and walked the last 45 minutes of the trip along the canyon rim. Most of the time we couldn't see the bottom.

This was our end point, the Cruz del Condor. Andean Condors are among the most beloved birds in this part of the world, featuring in the coat of arms of four South American countries, and with good reason - they are magnificent. There's a particular spot along the cliffs in the Colca Canyon where these scavengers are known to soar, every morning for an hour or so. This was certainly the most touristy spot, as hundreds gathered to watch and snap pictures. I was really missing my zoom lens, but at times they glided so close it wasn't needed. With wingspans up to 11 feet, they are a beautiful sight.

This was also where we met up with the rest of our group. Four other students had taken a 3-day trip, most of it hiking through the deepest parts of the canyon, and ended up at the same spot. We all crammed in the van and returned together in the late afternoon.

Colca is a truly remarkable place, and it's supposed to be even more beautiful in the greener months of January and February. Everything is slower, tan tranquilo, and yet it is an increasingly difficult lifestyle to maintain here. I don't know if we'll return, but I know the more we see of Peru, the more we love it.