El condor non pasa

We wake up at 2.15 am as our guide is coming to pick us up at 2.30. Destination Canyon del Colca.
This canyon is the second deepest canyon on earth, after the Colhuasi, which is not too far from here either.
The reason why we opted for the Colca is that you can admire the ever elusive condor at the mirador "cruz del condor".
The condor is the biggest living bird on the planet. Its wings are over 3 meters wide, it can fly at 60 kms per hr, primarely feeds of dead animals and to fly does not really flaps its wings, it uses warm ascending currents.
For this reason it is likely to spot the condor at 8 am at the mirador (good currents at that time of the day) and for this reason we had to leave so early to cover the 5 hrs journey to get there on time.
You might say "5 hrs to cover such a short distance?".
Well, when the road is like this, yes.

We make it on time to the mirador, together with hundreds of other visitors.

The only one missing is the condor, therefore we have to cheer us up with the wonderful views of the canyon.

View from the mirador

View from the gallery N1

And number 2
On the way back to Arequipa we still have time to take few picture of the canyon from long distance.

And back to the altipiano at 5000 meters we can see how the locals pile up rocks to make votive offerings.

Finally just a tip: If like us you plan to make an effort to see the condor and wish to visit the Colca Canyon, but at the same time you do not wish to wake up at 2pm and travel for 16 hrs, then we suggest you find accomodation in Chivay. This is a pretty small town, close to the canyon, that offers all type of accomodations........we wish we knew!