Hi there
We have just finshed walking in the Colca Canyon
Doing a two or more day hike from Cabanconde without a tour is easy. We had no need for a guide especially if you are wishing to save $$$$. There is the occasional farmer to clarify directions, and everyone over there is very helpful. We would have preferred to have a good map, but we got along fine without.
Public bus to Cobanaconde is 15 soles each 6 hours
- Avoid taking a mule if you can. The tracks are being wrecked by hooves, and for some trips, the mule must make a return journey after lugging your bag/backside one way. These tracks are the lifeline for the towns on the other side, and school kids need to make the trip, and mules are better utilised carrying produce over to keep these communities alive. From a more selfish note - mule drivers will often want you to start walking at 2-3am, so the mule can make the return trip before the heat gets up.
- Take a good treking pole if you can. It helps balance and knees...
- Take as little gear as you can. The tracks are STEEP and continuous, with loose rocks overlaid with fine ground sand (from the continuous action of hooves). Arlene had a good slip over, and Benj almost did on three occasions. Your knees and legs will appreciate a lighter load. There is good cheap food and accommodation down the bottom - why lug a tent and own meals? If you really want to camp, we suggest do it somewhere you don't need a mule to carry your gear for you. Leave spare gear back in Arequipa, and we easily left some gear at the hostel at Cabanaconde also.
- We stayed in Hostal Valle Fuego in Cabanaconde. Very helpful with small map, directions, and surprisingly accurate time estimates between locations. They booked a rather rustic bungalo down in the Oasis for us, with a BEAUTIFUL pool!
- If doing the 6.5hr trek down to the Oasis via the villages, set off early: 7:30am no later. You want to be there for the pool, and well before the direct sun goes (very early in the bottom of the valley).
- The 'Oasis'. We stayed in Oasis Camping, which was thoroughly adequate. Two points - we were in the cabin right beside the path out. The mule driver assembled four mules for the upward trip at 1:30am. They grazed noisily for over an hour before taking their load of loud French tourists away. Also the bed was a mattress on a makeshift bamboo base which sagged terribly. If you can sleep on a slope all night, good for you. We suggest two singles, not a double bed, or be more choosy which one you get given.
- The Cruz del Condor could be visited by buying a bus ticket to Arequipa on a later bus, then catching an earlier bus from Cabanaconde and hopping off at the lookout out of Cabanconde (10mins?). Be back on the road for your return bus to Arequipa.
Hope this helps. We wil be publishing our trip later on www.mytb.org/arleneandbenj
Cheers
Arlene
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