060806 - Cabanaconde, PER

After a few very exhausting days in Cuzco we leave town late on the 5th to go with an overnight bus to Arequipa where we get to early in the morning. At 5am the bus terminal seems already quite busy and the only spot we find to sit is directly in front of a woman who continually screams out the destination to which her bus company would go to at 5:30am. Puh!! That was probably the most annoying voice I have ever heard. But we don't want to stay long there and try to figure out how we possibly can go to the Colca Canyon.

The Colca Canyon is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the US. Near the end of the canyon is the Mirador, or Cruz del Cóndor, where you can see these gigantic birds. That is our destination for the day.

We find out that we have to go to a different terminal and take two buses to get to Cabanaconde. A few hours later, as we get there, I am exhausted as hell. Dirtroads. Crowded buses. Strange smell coming from under the seat. But I am feeling better than the Hamster who seems to get sick again. So first thing we do is taking a rest. And since there is not much to do because the few bikes the owner has are for maintanance reasons in Arequipa and he is the only one renting out bikes in Cabanaconde, we just hang out.
Overnight stay at: Hostal Valle del Fuego; basic, with private bath and hot shower; very friendly owner; kinda alternative feeling