Tour agencies neglect to tell you what to expect before you sign-up for the difficult Colca Canyon trek. There's probably a good reason: if they did, you might think twice about doing it.
This 3-day trek is no joke. It begins at 3,500 metres and proceeds downward into the valley for 5 to 6 hours. The next morning you walk back up, trekking on the other side of the mountain. After 4 to 5 hours, your reward is a swim in a beautiful, natural oasis. It's then another 4 hours - the hardest part of the trek - straight up to the top.
The trail is rocky and steep and daily temperatures are sweltering. Many trekkers simply can't make it back up. Instead, they end up on the back of a donkey that escorts them to the top of the mountain. This trek is difficult for those (like us) who are not trained trekkers. You should, at the very least, be physically fit before undertaking the trek. We made it - without any donkeys - and it was a superb feeling of accomplishment!
Thanks to the Flying Doctors for the drugs they gave us along the way. :) The most amazing moment was when we arrived close to the top of the mountain and were greeted by 9-year-old Olga and her 7-year-old brother Oliver selling water and chocolate at 3,400 metres high. For locals like them this rough terrain is no big deal, even in their rubber boots.
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Arequipa
Known as "the white city" because of the unique stone used to construct local buildings and churches.
The Santa Catarina Monastery is impressive - in its heyday, it housed 450 nuns. The place is practically a city in a city. Arequipa offers quite a few very good restaurants and is a good base for undertaking the Colca trek.
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