Canon de Colca Day 281 26/06/2015

After breakfast we headed out to buy provisions and our boleto turistico (70 Nueve Soles each - £15!) to give us access to the Canon de Colca. Our plan was to walk to Sangalle at the bottom of the canyon, 1200m of descent and then the same reascent. The local shop also sold bus tickets so whilst we were there we bought them for our return trip to Arequipa with the bus leaving at 0900 tomorrow. From the square the route to the canyon heads north across farmland before dropping steeply down in to the canyon. Luckily the path is a continuation of zig zags making it slightly easier on the knees although we were both glad that we'd taken our poles with us. You could see the green oasis of Sangalle at the bottom of the canyon where there are natural swimming pools by the side of the Rio de Colca. Despite all the walking we do it's very rare for us to descend first. After just over 2 hours we reached Sangalle and stopped at one of the cabanas for drinks. Coming down had been thirsty work. After an hours rest and not wanting to delay the inevitable any longer we set off just after 1200 to head back to Cabanaconde. The sun was now high in the sky enhancing the colours across the canyon, as well as making for a hot and dusty walk back up. We stopped for lunch on the way up taking in the views. After c2 hours Diane started to flag but the sight of a hummingbird gave her a new lease of life. The area is renown for condors that nest on the rocky outcrops and are best seen early in the morning or late evening. Unfortunately the effect of the pollution from all the tourist buses is taking it's toll and they are now only occasionally seen. We weren't in luck today but the hummingbird certainly made up for it. We eventually reached the high plateau and had a rest before walking back through the farmland, passing a pack of mules heading down into the canyon carrying roof tiles. We stopped off in the square and quenched our thirst with 2.5 litres of water. The water we'd taken with us had got warm in the heat of the sun and whilst it would help to avoid dehydration it didn't help to alleviate the dryness we both felt. There was a tuk tuk parked up in the square and we joked about how long it would take to get back to Chivay in it. We were both filthy from the dust and headed back to the hotel to shower and enjoy a celebratory beer. We ate in the hotel again (no free pisco sours this time!). Argentina had just drawn with Colombia in the Copa Cup. Thinking they'd go to extra time we headed off to bed only to realise from the cheering of the hotel staff that the game went straight to penalties. Argentina won and are through to the semi finals.

The early morning view from our room 

The main square in Cabanaconde 

 About to head down into the canyon 

Sangalle - an oasis at the bottom of the canyon 

The view west 

And east 

An inviting sight 

A lovely hummingbird 

Flagging on the way back up 

Flagged! 

Heading back across the farmland to the village 

Local transport carrying goods down to Sangalle 

Cabanaconde church