Cañon de Colca

At 5:40 I was fetched by the guide (Roy) at my hotel, to go to the busterminal. With 4 in a mini taxi is complicated. We are in a hurry, the bus will leave at 6:00. At the terminal we meet the other two. The trip to Cabanaconda is about 5,5 hours over a high plane of 4600 m. Incredible landscape, empty and rough. About 190 km. In Cabanaconda we take lunch and leave at 13:30 for a long descent of 3,5 hours into the cañon. It is a descent of about 1000 m. This is the deepest cañon in the world (3200 m top to bottom). Downstairs we sleep in a lodge. After having removed a few scorpions (not poisenous). I was early awake 5:30 and enjoyed sunrise. A 4 hours walk brought us to the oasis. But first we visited a small local museum. The oasis is a green place near the river, with a lodge and a nice swimming pool. They use the irrigation water for the pool. Our cabin is beautiful. Bamboo and palmleaves as a roof. Only wild animals will be kept outside, not the small ones. I will see the stars and if it starts to rain I will be wet. It is a quiet afternoon, and we make a small excursion to a waterfall and I swim a few times. Very relaxing. Diner in the oasis was very 'romantic' with candlelight. 20:00 to bed because we should wake up at 2:00. At 2:30, our climb of 900 m started. A clear sky and full moon We took breakfast in Cabanaconda at 6:00, took the bus and at the right time we were at Cruz del Condor, but unfortunately we had bad luck and did not see Condors. But the views are beautiful. A few hours later we went into a hot springs bath in Chivay and took lunch. A very successful tour.