Colca Canyon, Peru

I first heard about Colca Canyon while reading a guidebook on Peru. I hadn’t seen it anywhere else before! Initially, the dry desert landscape didn’t jump out at me, and I don’t seem to really be drawn to canyons. I haven’t even been to the Grand Canyon yet! But as I did more research, I began to plan a 3-day adventure to this remote part of Peru to spend time outdoors, get some good hiking in, and enjoy the hot springs at the bottom of the canyon.

Some guidebooks state that this canyon is the second deepest in the world, but the measurements can vary quite a bit depending on how you measure it. In any case, it is incredibly deep and quite vibrant, with many interesting local animals and plants. One of the main tourist draws is seeing the Andean Condor take flight. They are among the largest in the world that are able to fly, with wingspans of up to 10 feet!

After a long travel day from Cusco and a 6-hour bus ride from Arequipa, I spent the first night at a local hostel where I met other travelers from around the world. The small town, Cabanaconde, served as a jumping-off point for many hikes down into the canyon. The town square had a huge party going on, with a massive live band playing music as many danced in traditional clothes while enjoying a never-ending supply of local beer. I soon got some rest before getting up early the next day and hitting the trail.

I ended up hiking with some girls from the Netherlands, which made things safer for all of us. After many hours, we reached the bottom of the canyon and our small hostel ($12/night!), where we would do a cold plunge in the river and soak in the hot springs. What a great way to end a long day of hiking!

The next day, I set off on my own, with some arduous hiking to the next town up the canyon. After many hours, I settled into my hostel for the night before once again getting up early for the massive several-thousand-foot climb out of the canyon. On the way out, a condor happened to fly right overhead! And a fox then decided to follow me for the last half of the trail—instant PTSD from past South American fox encounters. The canyon trip was well worth it, with jaw-dropping views, quiet trails, and really cool people from all over the world looking to get a bit further off the beaten path.

I barely made it onto the bus with literally 0 seconds to spare. Still sweating and heart pounding. The bus took forever, but we all eventually made it back to Arequipa.