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.
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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. We suggest getting your hotel and then letting them arrange tours of the area for you. If you call the hotels Concierge Services ahead of your arrival, all of this can be pre-arranged for you. We do this all the time. It is safe and it works!!! We have never experienced a problem doing it this way! We have links to Expedia.com on our page so that you can arrange your flight and hotel in Arequipa.
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 Colca Canyon Detail Map, Courtesy of Rumi Llaqta Hotel | |
| Click Here To See A Video Of Two Condors Flying At "Cruz del Condor" 3.61 MB File |
 The "Crux del Condor" Lookout Point |  View To The Colca River From The "Crux del Condor" Lookout Point |  View Of A Condor From The "Crux del Condor" Lookout Point |  Shrine To Apu, The Mountain God, To Show Him How The Terraces Would Look | In Colca Canyon, If He Approved, The Terraces Could Be Built! Note The Beautiful Peruvian Torch Cactus (Trichocereus Peruvianus) |
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| Colca Canyon Lodge The Breakfast Tables Were Set But No Food Was Ready! | Freezing Cold Rooms! No Hot Water For Bathing! We Finially Leave! |
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| At Mirador de Choquetico We See Wonderful Pre Inca Terraces | Wait, What Is The Rock On The Bottom Right About? |
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| It Is A Shrine To Apu The Mountain God | To Get Apu's Approval For Making Terraces |
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| Apu Approved These Terraces | Apu Approved These Too! |
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| We Notice A Bridge Crossing The Colca River To The Left | Bridge Crossing The Colca River |
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| Colca River | Colca River Terraces |
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| Also At Mirador de Choquetico There is Something Strange here! | Ancient Man Made Structures! |
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| Fantastic Hanging Tombs | Of Colca Canyon |
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| Fantastic Red Hanging Tombs | Fantastic Red Hanging Tombs |
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| Crux del Condor | Everyone Is Looking For A Condor |
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| Hey! George See's One! | Andean Condor, Vultur gryphus |
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| Flying Condor At "Crux del Condor" | Soaring Condor At "Crux del Condor" |
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| Condor Feeding At "Crux del Condor" | Close Up Photo Of A Condor At Ica Airport, Ica Peru "Pepe" Was Saved As A Baby |
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| Views Of Colca Canyon From "Crux del Condor" | Views Of Colca Canyon From "Crux del Condor" |
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| Views Of Colca Canyon From "Crux del Condor" | Views Of Colca Canyon From "Crux del Condor" |
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| Cross At "Crux del Condor" | Tour Bus Stop At The Cross At "Crux del Condor" |
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| The Lower Level Viewing Area At "Crux del Condor" | Restrooms At The Lower Level Viewing Area "Crux del Condor" In Background |
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| View Leaving "Crux del Condor" | Church Of Santiago (James) The Apostle In Coporaque Town |
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| Antahuilque Lookout Point View | Antahuilque Terraces |
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| Antahuilque Mystery Lagoons | Antahuilque Mystery Lagoons |
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| Chivay Town Observatory | We Say Goodby To Chivay |
