While visiting Colca Canyon and Arequipa, I enjoyed the majestic vistas and soaring Condors before enjoying the city’s Plaza de Armas. After an early breakfast, the bus picked us up and we started the drive to Colca Canyon. We had a few stops along the way. The first stop was at a nearby town square. The highlight of this town was the church was at least a few hundred years old. The locals had found a serious gold mine however in the way of tourism. In the middle of a square there was a fountain with young Peruvian children dancing halfheartedly. When they realized that a tourist was watching they would pick it up for a little while. There was another child who would find the tourists taking pictures and ask for money.
Other locals were selling the same wears that you see for sale everywhere. There was a few variations based on location because most of them do seem to be made in Peru, but for the most part everything is very similar. The biggest variation I found here was there was about three different women who had Falcons on their shoulders.
A tourists who was interested in a picture would approach and the lady would put the raptor on your shoulder for someone to take a picture. They didn’t have a set cost for how much it would be to take a picture it was more of a “donation”. I will admit I took a picture with one of these birds. There were also women with Llamas and Alpacas with decorated ear pieces that you could take pictures with as well.
After we left and we continued on the bus we stopped at a lookout point at the edge of the Canyon. As always there were a few vendors and people with Llamas to take pictures with from a vantage point. This time I couldn’t resist and got a picture with a Llama.
You should be careful that you pay the women with the particular Llama that you took the picture with. Since I took a picture with two different women I gave them each a “donation”. I don’t mean to insult the locals who are trying to make money. The tourism trade is huge and probably an easy way for them to make extra money. The best part however is that what the women are wearing is actually what a lot of them wear on a day to day basis. While in the Cusco and Arequipa areas you would see women dressed similarly, though maybe not so flashy, while going about their day.
It seems the men and younger generations are the only ones really straying from tradition. The people of Peru are a mixed race of Native Americans and Spanish. However, Quechua, the language of the Incas is still widely known as a second language throughout Peru. So much so that most of the older generation don’t even know Spanish. While in Cusco, we were once told by a waiter that Quechua was the language of his heart.
Next stop was Colca Canyon and it was amazing. The bus dropped us off at a viewpoint that was actually very busy with tourists. I noticed that there was a trail that took you to several other look out points with less people.
When it comes to avoiding crowds and less tourists, I have come to learn that if you put in a little effort to go do somewhere that is a little more difficult to get to there is generally a lot less people.
As I came to one vantage point and was taking pictures of the local birds, three condors in succession flew directly above us. Their wingspan was immense and they glided past us. I assume, looking for lunch. The Incas had great respect for the Condors. Since they played a great part in Incan religion. There were temples and even towns dedicated to Condors.
Colca Canyon was the highlight of the trip. Every step I go I seem to be running from crowds of tourists, but it’s still been worth every moment. The immensity of Colca Canyon was breathtaking along with it’s inhabitants.
Once on our way back, we made a couple more stops. Once we stopped to by ice-cream made by some local women who harvested the fruit from a local cactus to make it. The texture and taste was very similar to kiwis, but a little more tart. The amount of cactus here is amazing.
It took about three to four hours in the tour bus to get back to Arequipa. I had a couple of hours before I needed to head to the train station so I had a chance to do a little sightseeing. Luckily, I was dropped off close to Arequipa’s Plaza de Armas and Santa Catalina Church. After walking around and finding some interesting antique shops, I really understood why Arequipa was called “The White City.”
Though I was there a very short time, the feeling that I received from Arequipa was that it hadn’t been taken over by the throngs of tourists. Even though it’s Lima’s second largest city, it still kept some of it’s old school charm. I got this feeling after seeing a number of antique stores. Normally, I have no interest in antique stores, but finding a antique store in Peru was like walking into a museum.
Later, I was taken to the bus station and after a 10 bus ride I had arrived back in Cusco. Even though an incredible amount of time was spent on a bus, I am very grateful I take a few days and be able to spend it seeing another part of Peru.
