The Colca Canyon (Arequipa)

From Nazca, we headed for Arequipa, mostly because this city is near the Colca Canyon. The canyon is super deep - second deepest in the world (the deepest is right beside it). We hiked from 3200m down to 2100m the first day, and back up again the next. It's desert down one side and green partway up the other, with a river cutting through the bottom of the canyon. You can still see zig zag paths that go right up and over the mountains- old Inca trails from the coast to Cuzco.

We spent the night in a little stone room in one of the tiny villages that are spread along the green part of the canyon. The people in the canyon lead (to us) incredibly isolated lives, cultivating the steep sides of the canyon on terraces, and of course, selling coca cola and bottled water to gringo hikers like us. The place where we stayed only got electricity a month before we arrived.

Walking from the village towards the canyon.

Entering the abyss.

On the way down.