The canyon of Colca, 2nd deepest canyon in the world, is just at few hours away from Arequipa, and it's a must do when you are around. To get there you go through amazing landscape, cross la cordillera at up to 5000 meter above sea level, and have the opportunity to see lamas, alpacas and the famous vicuña leaving above 4000 meters.

After passing many dry mountains of the Peruvian Andes you discover this incredible green valley cultivated at the time by the incas and Pre-incas. It is very impressive to imagine the work involve to create all the terraces needed for the cultures.


Nowadays, just few locals farmers still keep the tradition, as it is very hard work. Mainly growing potatoes: more than an hundred varieties in south America!

Two very distinctive ethnic groups leave there: the Cabanas and the Collaguas. The distinction between these 2 groups where the shape of their head; they used cranial deformation at birth: for the Collaguas a pointed head in honour of their sacred mountain, and for the Cabanas a flat head. That's pretty incredible when you go and visit their tombs.



They were not sealed, just few rocks where placed to cover the entrance, but not too much as for the dead being able to breath! They believed dead were just leaving in a different way, therefore they would as well place the body with all his possessions. Thats why all the tombs were looted by scavengers.
They stopped the deformation and are now using different shape of hat to represent the ancient tradition!





Our four days there were intense (from 5 am to 8pm non-stop!) but magical (especially the sauna and jacuzzi at the hotel, after long days trekking and horse riding!!). The most incredible moment was at the "Cruz del Condor" when the condors started to glide at the edge of the canyon and finally made it above our head. I wish my brother Yann was there as I know he would have loved it and he could have got an excellent snap of them, which I couldn't!



The funniest moment was our afternoon horse riding, when Cyril got a pony to ride!! See picture!

Location:35,Valladolid,Mexico