Trekking in the Colca Canyon is a highlight of any visit to Peru, and we were no exception to that rule.
It is also home to the famous ‘Cruz del Condor Viewpoint‘ where you can view magnificent Andean Condors up close.
For the awesome teen it was his first major hike. He read websites and planned for months before we even arrived in the town.
He had mapped out an ambitious three day journey but then got cold feet and took an overnight trip down to the Oasis (3 hour or so hike from Cabanaconde) with Buster instead – his best friend since the age of three. He loves to take photos, Mom was happy to get the ones displayed on this page to put online.
I hung out with my buddy Tiger, and took some shorter day trips around town. I’ve had Fybromyalgia after being mugged for around 20 years… I know my limits when it comes to strenuous exercise.
The Oasis – also called Sangalle – is the most common trek tourists embark upon. It is only three hours from the town and cheap with $10 rustic hotel rooms plus a variety of warm and cold pools to enjoy while soothing sore muscles.
Coming back up is a bit tougher, you can pay to ride a mule or expect to spend around 5 hours rambling on the dusty dirt trail; cold beer anyone?
I viewed the trail from high above – very comfortably from above! – thankful I’d stayed in town. Looking over the cliff below, I saw the patches of green that are shown closer up in the photo the awesome teen took on his trek down.
It really is an oasis, with the few owners who live below and manage the grounds and pools tending to thriving gardens with a variety of exotic species on display.