Highlights from Peru: Colca Canyon

From Arequipa, we ventured to the Colca Canyon. To reach the Colca Canyon, we passed through Pampa Cañahuas National Park. The views were stunning, as were the seemingly endless herds of wild alpaca, llama, guanaco, and vicuña.

Alpaca, llama, guanaco, and vicuña are all closely related. Llama and alpaca can both be domesticated, and therefore are much more common, while guanaco and vicuña will not breed in captivity. In Peru, the meat and fur fiber of the alpaca are considered to be of particularly high quality.

Above, a riverside thermal pool. The Colca Canyon is full of hot springs, with multiple locations to visit in nearly every small town.

Above, the Incan ruins of Uyu Uyu, located just outside the town of Chivay. Below, a spring-fed waterfall that is critical to the still-operating agricultural water management plans of the original Incans. Through a system of canals and tanks, water can be sent to any of the millions of terraced fields. We hiked to both the ruins and the waterfall from our hotel just oustide of Chivay.

Sorry for all the donkey pictures...there were just too many. Although the local farmers raise llama and alpaca, neither serves well as a pack animal. Therefore, to transport their harvests from the fields to their homes or to the market, donkeys are a necessity.

Above, the beginnings of the Colca Canyon. Although the walls of the canyon are not as steep, the Colca Canyon is in fact more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon at a maximum depth of 13,650 ft.

Above, a local traditional dance being performed in the central park of the small town of Chivay. This particular dance is well-known because both males and females don dresses and spin.

The most famous point in the Colca Canyon is the Cross of the Condor. Almost daily, Andean Condors can be seen gliding upwards on the warm thermal air. Fully-grown Andean Condors can have fully-extended wingspans of 3 meters and often way upwards of 20 or 25 lbs!

Above and below, more shots of the Colca Canyon and the surrounding environment. We arrived at the perfect time--the rainy season had just ended, so we had clear skies, but we were still able to enjoy the plant life brought by the rains.