Colca Canyon (Peru)

After a short collectivo ride from Chivay to Cabanaconde, in the region of Arequipa we arrived in a small very charming hostel called Pachamama. There we met very helpful and friendly workers that became friends. They gave us many tips and cues for the Canoyon of Colca. We decided to spend 4 days and 3 nights in the canyon, starting in Llahuar, Fure then Tapay. The workers then started the wood oven and we ate divine pizza. 
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​The next morning we ate an other delicious meal with the bread they had made themselves! We then hopped on a small van to see the Condor’s. They we’re so beautiful and magnificent. It was with a big effort that we got back on the van.​
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Then the great adventure began, we headed down the Colca canyon trying not to think about the fact we would have to go back up the last day. ​

The views kept us occupied. We could see the Colca river at the bottom, the cactus, flowers, palm trees, it was extraordinary!

As soon as we arrived at Llahuar we hurried to enjoy the natural hot springs with an incredible view on the Colca river.

 

The place was really charming with the Pool table, the river, and a surprisingly ugly small dog! We were eating supper when,  out of nowhere, this tiny dog puts her two front paws on my mom’s chair. The first thing my mom said was « your really ugly but that kind of makes you cute at the same time! » We didn’t really give the dog any attention besides me and my brother debating on her name.
At first wanted we thought we could call her E.T. (she was that ugly). But mom said there could only be one E.T and so we called her T.E. ​

The next day we started walking towards Fure and Olivier pointed out that T.E was following us. My mom assured us that she would turn around. Well, an hour later, she was still going strong, following our every step!

Along the way, we crossed paths with a local who told us (from what my moms best Spanish could understand ) that the lady running the guest house left to get gas but she would be there at 3:00 o’clock. We kept going and arrived to this very small quiet village. As expected no one was there. So we ate a small lunch with what we had, nuts and vanilla cookies. Dad and Olivier left to go see a waterfall that was from what they described spectacular, while I stayed with my mom who had sprained her ankle and T.E of course. 

When dad came back, he was curious (no surprise) so he opened what he thought was a small door locked door thinking it must be the access to the kitchen. Turn out it was actually a wall! Regardless, he looked around inside and said « well I hope she didn’t only go get gas, there’s nothing in here! » There was a pack of Oreos and a few Halls.

We later found the actual  kitchen with a lot more supplies. The lady finally came, much later than expected, and cooked us a mountain of spaghetti for diner. That night we slept very well, though I felt bad for T.E,  who’s name had become T for short.
Mom and dad didn't want the dog on the beds. The poor thing was shivering, so I flipped my coat inside out and wrapped her inside and let her sleep on a shelf in our room. Before leaving, we asked the lady if she wanted to keep her but, using sign language, she explained that she had cats and couldn’t keep her.

​On the third day we headed towards Tapay, T on our heals. The variation of the flora was so fascinating! At lunch we stopped in a small village where we didn’t find any restaurant until we took a chance and went in a weird looking place that was indeed a restaurant and we had chicken, rice, french fries and soda. We stayed there a while, waiting for the hottest part of the day to pass. We watched Karaté Kid in Spanish understanding maybe a word out of 10. We fed some guinny pigs and T had a nap on the alpaca wool blanket. Then we walked another two hours up and arrived to Tapay.

We dropped the bags and went out to explore the small village. We ate apples from a tree and then heard noises. We followed the sounds and arrived to a party in an outdoor courtyard were every one was drunk! We laughed a lot and after 15 minutes, we were out of there! Again that night, we ate a delicious super and went to bed with T in my coat, this time I placed her on a chair. 

The next day was the last. It was a pretty hard day. We hiked  400 meters down to the very bottom of the canyon and then, 1200 meters up and out of the canyon on the opposite side. The path was steep and the sun was merciful with no shade for relief. T made it with bearly any water! We arrived back to Pachamama hostel and they right away loved T. The hostel called the Lluhuar guesthouse and they said it wasn’t their dog. They inquired here and there and found out it was the dog of someone who had moved away. So one of the workers adopted her. T definitely made the best decision of her life when she decided to follow us! She now has a loving home :)

​The next day was goodbye, a new adventure awaits in Cusco! ​