Another easy 10 hours on the bus to Areuipa. Arequipa is famous for the Andean Condors residing in the Colca Canyon a couple hours north. We spent a couple of nights in Arequipa before heading to the Colca Canyon. We caught up with some people from the Lares Trek a couple of nights for dinner, we also went to a museum that houses "Juanita" the ice maiden. She is an almost perfectly mumified Incan that was found at the top of a nearby Volcano after an eruption disturbed her grave. It was interesting - she was sacrificed at 12-14 years old to appease the gods (erupting volcanos). Unfortunately we didn't get a photo of her as cameras where not allowed into the fridge that is kept at -20 degrees and 99% humidity. Gotta love Google
 |
| Juanita the Ice Maiden |
 |
| El Parque Central |
 |
| One of the three volcanos surrounding Arequipa |
The Colca Canyon
We did a two day tour of the Colca Valley and Canyon. The canyon is the worlds third deepest and has some absoultely amazing views that include the unique inca terraces that were built to farm land at altitude on difficult angles. The tour covered a huge amount of territory and included a pass at almost 5000m above sea level. The views of the ice capped Andes, canyons, mountain ranges and valleys were awesome.
 |
We encounted hundreds of camelids - Alpacas, llamas and vicunas, and many locals in a few small towns and villiages. At the end of the first day we went for a trek to some ruins and down to some hotsprings that sat next to a river in a valley with mountain ranges on either side - an awesome setting.
 |
| Vicuna - one of the wild camelids |
 |
| Llamas & Alpacas, the domesticated versions.. |
 |
| The hot springs |
 |
| Rickety Suspension bridge we had to cross in the dark to get home from the hot springs |
 |
| An adult Condor and a brown juvenile flying off. |
 |
| Some Incan terraces, many still in use. |
 | ||||
| Adios PERU!!! |
