25 May – Arequipa
We left Cusco and headed back to Puno for the night brfore heading for Chivay. Having thought we had done with altitude, we were amazed to find ourselves at 5000m for lunch. However Chivay was slightly lower!!. From Chivay we left very early to visit Colca Canyon, the second deepest in the world and the home of some 40 Condors. We got to the view-point just before the sun had warmed the air to create the thermals the condors need. What a sight we counted 12 soaring up from the canyon and then perching in a rock about 30 metres from the view point. They are certainly magnificent creatures in flight – a wingspan of over 3 metres After a couple of hours we headed for Arequipa.
Today we visited a monastery which was really a nunnery and a city within a city. Dating from the 16th century it was a very interesting visit. Tomorrow we head too sea level and the coast for 3 nights of camping. Having not camped for some time it will be quite a shock.
