From Colca Canyon Lodge
To The "Crux del Condor"

Then Back To Arequipa

Having spent a very cold evening at the Colca Canyon Lodge. We quickly packed, no breakfast was ready, so we ate a cereal bar we had brought with us and headed out at around 7:00 AM the next morning towards the Cruz del Condor vantage point, a spot from where you have an extremely good view of the Colca Canyon and from where you can observe the spectacular flight of the condors. Peru's Andean Condors (Vultur gryphus) are listed by the World Conservation Union as "vulnerable." One of the world's largest flying birds, the condor soars on ten-foot (three-meter) wingspans and can weigh up to 33 pounds (15 kilograms). On the way we stop at the Mirador de Choquetico vantage point to see a a Shrine to Apu, the mountain god. The Inca believed that, by terracing, they were affecting the body of Apu, the mountain god. They would commonly carve the plans for the terracing on the mountain wall, seeking Apu's approval and a bountiful harvest. Also at Mirador de Choquetico we saw the fantastic hanging tombs or in Spanish "tumbas colgantes"; which resulted in the Colca Valley's name. We then stopped at the Cruz del Condor vantage point for about two hours to see some wonderful views of Colca Canyon and the famous Peruvian "Andean Condors" that frequent the area. After viewing the condors, we returned back the way we had come to the Mirador de Antahuilque vantage point to view the Colca Valley Terraces and three mysterious lagoons. We visit Coporaque Town which is situated 8 kilometres west of Chivay. Coporaque is the oldest religious precinct in the Colca Valley. It contains the Church of Santiago (James) The Apostle. We then continued on our trip back to Chivay and then toward our hotel in Arequipa.

The Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (IATA: AQP, ICAO: SPQU), known as Aeropuerto Internacional Rodríguez Ballón in Spanish, is the airport serving Peru's second largest city, Arequipa. This airport and Cusco's Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport are the two main air hubs in southern Peru. Its runway is fully paved. It is the main air entrance for tourists visiting the city of Arequipa, the spectacular nearby ruins, and the Colca Canyon, the world's second deepest canyon (only behind Cotahuasi Canyon, also located in Arequipa.) Arequipa's airport is served by Lan Peru airlines, Taca Air, and Aero Condor. It's only an hour to or from Lima and just a little over a half hour to or from Cusco. A taxi to the city center from the airport should cost only about 10 Soles, so if the driver is trying to charge you significantly more than that, it's probably because you're a Gringo! Some people question the depth of the world's deepest canyons so here are the official depths and world rankings: A. Yarlung Tsangpo in China is 6,009 meters (19,715 feet) deep, B. Colca Canyon in Peru 3,501 meters (11,488 feet) deep, C. Cotahuasi Canyon in Peru 3,354 meters ( 11,001 feet) deep, & D. the Grand Canyon in USA is 1,737 meters (5,697 feet) deep. There are Guided Tour Agencies offering standard city, Hiking, and archaeological tours of the area. Most of the Arequipa tour companies are located on Jerusalén street, the Santa Catalina Convent area, and near the Plaza de Armas. They offer tours of Colca Canyon, Cotahuasi, Toro Muerto, and the city tours in Arequipa itself. This page is for information purposes only and while we have made every effort to be accurate, it is the travelers responsibility to make the appropriate choice as to which hotels to use in Peru. We found that when touring Peru, Magical Cusco Tours gave us the best service of all. They even arranged very personal tours based upon our ages and experience. They were there for us whenever we needed them. Click on any of their links on our pages and they will give you a 4% discount for taking their package tours. Mention delange.org. Merchant Code Inka2010 for your discount! We suggest letting Ana Maria handle your tour. Note: The 4% discount applies to package tours only! Discount does not apply to hotel bookings, domestic or international tickets, meals or any other service booked as a single activity. Magical Cusco Tours also has a culinary tour that you may enjoy.Click Here For: Taste Of Peru.com their culinary tour page.