​Conquering The World
​​​by Tomas Cironis
Colca Canyon - 2015
Colca Canyon 2015
Colca Canyon is a canyon of the Colca River in southern Peru, located about 160 kilometers northwest of my host town, Arequipa. With a depth of 3,270 m, it is one of the deepest in the world, for example more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the United States.
The condors can be seen at close range as they fly past the canyon walls. The best view point is called "Cruz del Condor". At this point the canyon floor is 1,200 m below the rim of the canyon.
We travelled for 2 days, in total 25 kilometers up and down from the hills. We slept in the Oasis in the middle of the canyon and especially during the night it is one of the best places to watch the night sky. I have never seen so many stars before. Unfortunately my camera wasn't able to capture it.
After 6 or 7 hours of walking into the Canyon, we found a house occupied by locals. They opened the window in few seconds and show us almost everything you can find in a supermarket. From Snickers, Red Bulls and beers to hats, bags and other typical peruvians staff. I guess that's their only possibility to make money. And if you didn't prepare and brought your own snack and drinks, you would be able to pay them twice more than usual for just a water.
The Colca Valley is a colorful Andean valley with pre-Inca roots, and towns founded in Spanish colonial times, still inhabited by people of the Collagua and the Cabana cultures.
The second day we got up at 4:30 am and went to the top of the canyon. I am in a really good shape so I tried to be there first, but I was beaten by some Canadien girl, who made it in 2 hours. My time was 2h 15mins and I almost died... After the trip when everybody was complaining about their feet, shoulders, head and everything else, the only thing that hurt me was my ego. I was beaten by a girl...
After having the lunch we reached the highest point of Colca Canyon, which is called simply "Mirador de los Andes". It is almost 5 000 meters above the sea level. I got small tip for you; eventhough it is warm all the day and you walk just in the t-shirt, take to this playce atleast jacket, all right ?
I found there snow for example... I tried to built a snow man but it was really freezing.
After all, it was an unbelievable journey and experience and if you'll be anyday in Peru near Arequipa, you have to see Colca Canyon by foot. It is possible to visit some of the places by Bus and stay in warm or use AC but that's nothing in comparing with the almost 25 kilometers long journey when most of us gets really exhausted.
You know, it's much more tougher because you go up and down with big differencies in alltitude and around 4 000m above seaa level it's starting to be hard just to breathe, you got headache and so on. And I must admire one of the girls which was part of our group, her knee was hurting and it's really hard to climb and walk down not using your knee but she did it without any help.
Good job Rike.
And I shouldn't forget my buddy Edmundo, who was with me all the time from the beginning to the end, we were supporing each other all the time. It is necessary to have someone with you on this type of journeys.
And in the end I must congratulate the best person of our group... me.
God job, awesome guy!