COLCA CANYON

Scorch of Wessex
Chris and Geraldine HANCOCK
Sat 11 Oct 2008 00:20

COLCA CANYON

 

We are now seasoned bus travellers, they are extremely comfortable, lots of leg room and with WIFI on board (when it works). After 5 hrs we reached Chivay, the capital of the Colca Canyon Region.  The Canyon is the world’s deepest and its rugged walls are covered in pre-Inca agricultural terraces. It is home to farming communities and huge condors. These are best seen in the mornings as they soar on the warm air currents. Today something wasn’t right as we only saw one after a 2 hr. wait.

 We are both feeling the altitude, 10.400 ft, and puffing well! Lets hope we are acclimatised by the time of the Inca Trail.

                           

Wild Vicunas at 4000 mts.                                              Spinning wool

 

                            

Funky Lama                                                                     Vendors at 4900 mts. You can’t see it but it was snowing.

 

                                  

Each villages sport its own type of hat.

Equally it would appear that the costumes are worn every day and not just for the tourists.

 

                      

Pre-Inca terraces

                      

Volcano                                                                   Reputed to be the deepest canyon in the world.

 Sorry about the pic’s quality, taken by surprise after a 2 hr. wait. Wing span 3 mts.

 

Christians Icons

                     

                                                                                                                         Mary in local dress

                                                            

At each sides of the alter, there was one of these angels                Automatic bell ringer