Peru, Colca Valley / Canyon (The Valley of Wonder)
Trip Start
Aug 27, 2008
1
16
38
Trip End
Oct 25, 2008
Colca Canyon, Peru
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
PERSONAL:
The first thing that was noticed was that the air was very thin at this altitude of 3600m, and breathing was not at all easy!
Stopped at the roadside market (considering purchasing some souvenirs) - not sure if the orange beanie would upstage the bright orange Crocs!
The accommodation in Chivay was remote and peaceful - serene to watch and enjoyed the sun setting over the Valley. For breakfast, the hotel showcased various and unusual grains. Was also great to explore the surrounding areas (skeletons and burial sites).
Enjoyed dipping in the natural thermal hot springs before dinner and live show of Peruvian folkdances and music.
And of course the giant condors.
Also stopover for a spot of hawk handling - watch out for those much needed pedicure claws! Sampled the native fruits (unusual to the palate but delicious!)
Then it was back again in Arequipa for R&R
Attractions:
Colca Valley / Colca River
Vicuña
Chivay's Thermal Hot Springs
Andean Condors
Hawk Handling
FACT:
Colca Valley
A land of imposing snow-capped volcanoes, narrow gorges, terraced agricultural slopes that predate the Incas, arid desert landscapes and vegetation, and remote traditional villages. Wildlife roam the region (including llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and the celebrated giant Andean condors). The Colca River, one of the sources of the mighty Amazon, slices through the massive canyon, which remained unexplored until 1970s, when rafting expeditions descended to the bottom of the gorge. Reaching depths of 3400m (twice as deep as the Grand Canyon) forms part of a volcanic mountain range more than 100km long.
The Valley's extraordinary and meticulous agricultural terracing was first cultivated more than 1000 years ago. The air is very thin at this altitude, and breathing is not at all easy. The main town in the Valley, Chivay, sits at an altitude of nearly 3600m.
Local populations in the Valley, descendants of the Collaguas and Cabanas, pre-Inca ethnic communities that have lived in the region for some 2000 years, preserve ancient customs and distinctive traditional dress. They speak different languages and can be distinguished by their hats; Collagua women wear straw hats with coloured ribbons, while the Cabanas sport elaborately embroidered and sequined felt headgear.
Vicuña
Vicuña is a relative of the llama and the alpaca and vicuñas produce small amounts of extremely fine wool (knitted product is very soft and warm) but it is very expensive because the animal can only be shorn every 3 years. The Inca raised vicuñas for their wool and that it was against the law for any but royalty to wear vicuña garments. Before being declared endangered in 1974, about 6000 were left and today there are about 125,000.
Chivay
Chivay is a remote village in Colca Valley, one of the attractions is the Thermal Hot Springs
Andean Condors
The number-one draw in Colca Valley remains the almost ineffable wonder of seeing majestic, giant condors with massive wingspans soar overhead at Cruz del Cóndor lookout point over Colca Canyon and head out along the river.
