Why I am here, suffering from soroche? I want to see one of the world´s deepest canyons! It is almost 3200 m deep – can you imagine?
I was so proud to find on the Plaza in Chivay the plaque announcing that it was Polish Expedition, who passed the canyon for the first time in the history – in 1981… I know personally few members of this team…
We were lucky: when we started from Chivay at 6.30 am sun appeared over the snowy mountains! We paid 35 soles entry fee and took a road heading to the rim of the canyon. I did not see any local transport on this road so the decisssion “join the tour” was right. On the way to the famous viewpoint “Cruz del Condor” there are 4 little pueblos with nice colonial churches to see. Local ladies in the traditional embroided clothing and hats sells ponchos, woolen hats and other local products. But they are not as nasty as some women in Africa.
Cruz del Condor is a great place: 1200 m above the river gives exciting panorama of the canyon and the mountains. Sorry – no flying condors today – but I was still happy: this is unusual place. Great day, but it was raining again on the return way to Arequipa. It is rainy season now – some backpackers from the hostel decided to take a trek down to the canyon (7 hours first day, 4 hours second day) – I do not envy them – the walk in the rain does not make me happy…
