Stop 17: Arequipa and the Colca Canyon


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South America » Peru » Arequipa » Colca Canyon
October 29th 2010
Published: October 31st 2010
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We spent our first day walking around this beautiful colonial city. There are many amazing courtyards full of shops and cafes off the main roads. 

As you know no blog would be complete without a mention of food, and this one is no exception. Ellie had been scowering the guide booking looking for good places to eat. She had read about a Peruvian celebrity chef with a restaurant in the city. We had a fantastic meal there, the food was a modern twist on Peruvian classics. 

Arequipa is visited by streams of travellers for it's location in 'canyon country', where most backpackers undertake the ambitious colca canyon trek. After much debating we decided to woos out and go on a Minibus tour with no trekking. It had been described to us by Steve's cousin as one of the hardest thing she'd ever done and given that our next stop was Cusco and the Inca Trail , the infamous 4 day trek from Cusco to Machu Pichu, for which we wanted to be at our best, we decided the no trekking option would be the best option for us. So we boarded our bus, along with our 60 year old compatriates, for the less than arduous visit to the the world's second deepest canyon. 

We especially enjoyed relaxing in the hot springs but the real highlight was our final day. 

We started early (5 am) as we were off to watch the condors fly and it was important to get there early to watch them come up over the top of the cliffs. These amazing birds did not disappoint. We saw them soar past climbing on the hot thermals, only meters away. A magical way to end our time in the Colca Canyon. 


Additional photos below
Photos: 11, Displayed: 11


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ArequipaArequipa
Arequipa

Plaza de las Armas
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Patio

One of many in Arequipa
ArequipeñaArequipeña
Arequipeña

An Arequipan lady in Traditional dress
Colca CanyonColca Canyon
Colca Canyon

The site of our condor sightings
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Chicha

Our celebrity cooked starter!


31st October 2010

Amazing!
Hi Ellie and Steve! I love reading your travel blog! What an amazing journey! Good luck with the trek up Machu Pichu! Adios viajeros!!!! Un beso, Vanna
5th November 2010

Chicha!
We loved that place; was a very much needed reward after the Colca Canyon. Loving the stories and photos.

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