The Colca Canyon Experience

After taking a plane from Cusco, then a taxi to the bus station, then a public bus for 4.5 hours, we finally were dropped off at dusk in the main square in the quiet canyon town of Yanque. We walked four blocks on dirt/dusty streets to our Bed and Breakfast, MiskiWasi, which has just four rooms that open to a private garden.

Flying over volcanoes on the way to Arequipa

The deserted, yet beautiful main square in Yanque

After checking in, we walked to some local hot springs that were just a bit outside of town. The scary part was that you had to cross an old rope bridge that crossed the ravine, straight out of Indiana Jones movies.

Swinging rope bridge

We then headed back for dinner cooked by the co-owner, who had gone to culinary school. We had a quinoa soup, then chicken or grilled trout, then crepes for dessert. After a rough day of travel, it really turned our anniversary around.

The next morning, we had a guide take us around the Colca Canyon area. We had met him the previous day during check in when he served as an interpreter for us. He took us to the Cruz del Condor, which is a great viewpoint for condors as well as flocks of emerald green parakeets.

flocks of green birds

He let us hike along the rim to this point and we actually saw some foxes who were scavenging some dead cows or alpacas nearby. What a treat!

Fox enjoying life

Woman next to road with her Alpaca

Looking down the great Colca Canyon

The condors were magnificent! We saw several fly just overhead and just watched in awe as the floated gracefully through the sky.

Condor taking off

We then headed back on the most bumpy road I've been on, other than when we've gone four-wheel driving in Utah, back toward Yanque. We stopped along the way to take in more views, and in a town to visit an old church and of course, get our pictures taken with an eagle and alpaca.

After a picnic at our B&B, we headed for a 2.5 hour hike to some pre-incan ruins. After we got back, we went horseback riding until sunset for a couple hours. We are all kinds of sore from the trotting! It was a packed day, but when you only have one day in the Colca Canyon (which is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon), you've got to take advantage of every moment of daylight!

This is quinoa before harvest, with volcano in background

Horseback riding!