Over the mountains to Colca & condors

We hired a driver for the trip up and over the 4900m pass to get to the Colca Valley. Amazing drive, but completely shrouded in clouds as we crossed the pass - slow going. Mark and I got to see it all on the way back in the (also slow) bus, five days later. Molly too had great views when she left for Cuzco - there was snow!

Despite cold rain on our first day in the valley, we loved the Colca area. The first day wasn't sunny so we checked out the morning dancing in the plaza and walked locally to Uyo Uyo ruins and some hot springs next to the river.

It's low season for tourism so it's very peaceful. We did meet some Swiss people near a waterfall and they gave us a lift in their rented Hilux, which was heaps fun. We saw big groups of Peruvian tourists on rented quad bikes - it looked so dangerous! As did the ziplines and bicycles suspended over the river.

With sunshine the next day we were hopeful to see condors! This is the spectacle of the valley - buses, vans and cars flock to the lookout over the spectacular canyon every day, full of people wanting to see these magnificent birds. With our driver Roly we arrived early and waited as the crowds grew. I chatted with cattle farmers from the Cuzco area, who'd driven a whole day to see the condors.

And finally the condors started rising from the depths of the canyon, circling up in the sun-heated air. First juveniles and females, and finally the black and white males. It was awesome 😃, especially when one glided right in front of us 🤩.

We also visited a geyser that was half way up Hualca Hualca Volcano - more incredible scenery. Then back upstream to Chivay for Molly to head off on her own to Cusco for 6 days. Czytaj więcej