Photo: Steep trail down to river
On the way down saw some children passing us on their way home from school in Cabanaconde. Nestor told us that these were children whose parents had enough money to send them to school up above, and the children stayed there for the week and then came home for the weekend. Sometimes gringos would volunteer and teach English to the children in the isolated villages.
Photo: Colca Canyon village
We spent the night at one of the villages in the canyon. Nestor cooked dinner for us, including tea from leaves of plants he had picked on the way. We stayed in a room in a house that served as a hostal for tourists. In the village were rabbits, cuy, and pigs. The village had electicity, they used fluorescent lights, and solar heating for hot water.
Photo: Han, Roseanna, Ralph & Gioia
The next day we hiked to the next villages, visited a small museum, and soaked in a warm pool at the Oasis. At the museum, on display were a small insect that is harvested from cactus and is used as a red dye. The villagers get $50 a kilo for the insects.
After lunch at the Oasis we hiked back up 4000 feet to Cabanaconde. Amanda had difficulty, her stomach was upset. Han & I had dinner with two Italian woman, Roseanna and Gioia, and our guides. The Italians had worked as volunteers in a Lima orphanage.
Photo: trails in Colca Canyon
Photo: Ralph, Nestor, Han & Colin
Photo: Ralph, Amanda, Colin & Nestor
Photo: Looking at trail up canyon
Photo: Han & Ralph at bridge
Photo: Oasis in Colca Canyon
Photo: Church door at Cabanaconde
Photo: Church at Cabanaconde
Photo: Cabanaconde square
Map of South American trip
