Where condors fly.....

Going down from the high pass between Arequipa and Chivay we arrive at the Colca Valley. This is the place to see the condors of the Andes.

The road down makes large curves. It is high, but to me it never feels dangerous. We "only" have to go down 1210 meters. The landscape is breathtaking.

Llama "corrals".

We stop at a viewpoint above the Colca Valley. Down in the valley lies Chivay (3650 m).

This is another of the tourist traps on our trip. In all these places Peruvian ladies, dressed in lavishly embroidered dresses, sell us their handcrafts. While they guard their stalls they keep spinning or knitting.

   

The Colca Valley has terraces dating back to pre-Inca times.

Normal walking was for us already difficult (3600 m!!) Imagine carrying loads like this. 

A good way to keep animals in our out a piece of land is to grow cactus on top of the walls.

 

This Llama is called "Spot". He (or she?) belonged to our hotel. Sometimes he could walk free.... and got very naughty, trying to spray snot over anybody who wanted to get past him.

  

The Colca valley with all its terraces.

Here the canyon gets more visible. At its deepest point it is twice the depth of Grand Canyon.

    

Another photo opportunity.... 

   

Waiting for condors.... I saw this beautiful bird. Compared to the huge condors this is just a very small bird. Yet, he is the giant of his family; a "Giant Colibri". 

On our way to "Cruz del Condor", where we hope to see the condors, there are ancient burial chambers hanging high against the mountains.

Yes, this is obvious a large canyon. The depth here is around 1500 meters.

Our first condor.

   
   
   

 

 And then more and more. 

 
 
 

 
 
   

This really is the place where condors fly.....