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Other completely different scenery is on the way up to the Andes. Here, of course, the desert is rocky and arid given the altitude, and at the highest point where we stopped(Mirador de los vulcanes), we could see the highest peaks of the Andes. This rather long journey saw us leave before dawn, and at one point we noticed that the windows were freezing on the outside.
El condor no espera
The stop at the mirador was short not only because of the cold, but also because the drivers pressed us with an almost litany repeated obsessively El condor no espera.
The jaunt in fact was organized to arrive early at the Colca Canyon one of the deepest in the world a good 3270 meters, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Arriving within a certain hour it is possible to spot condors; we were lucky, for we saw several of them, majestic, right above us, towering, suspended in the air in taking advantage of the currents and at the ready to swoop down to hunt.
Andean condors can have a wingspan of 4 meters, impressive. It is always sad to know that certain species are facing or have faced extinction. It is even more so for condors, for centuries believed to be herd predators; the reality is that they eat mainly carcasses or other birds and thus is a useful animal for humans.
The stages before climbing the Andes
On the way through the deserts and before climbing the plateau, we had also passed by Nazca and Arequipa. The former is where you find the famous drawings in the ground, unexplained both in terms of how they were designed (they are perfect lines, visible from above) and their meaning. To admire so many of them, and from above, it was possible to board a small airplane; we were alerted that the risk of turbulence and stomach upset was very high, so I and others decided not to put any further stress on our bodies, which were beginning to be quite distressed, and settled for seeing the nearest ones from a viewpoint.
There is a more in-depth explanation in this link.
Arequipa touristy? Mah.
Arequipa is a colonial city, well maintained, surrounded by majestic peaks and with the interesting monastery of Santa Catalina. I lurked for my own business in a bar on the second floor overlooking the main plaza, from where I could see one of their colorful parades with typical clothes.
In South America I have seen many others of similar cities with similar parades, that was the first one and I particularly liked it, but in general they are cheerful and deserve attention.
Home trip to Peru Travel to Peru: going to the Andes
Previous stop Tour to the Islas Ballestas and the animals of Peru
Next stop KO due to altitude sickness while traveling in Peru
Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent
Countries visited in my travel stories
Anecdotes, divided by type in travel narratives
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