After our Machu Picchu adventure we left Cusco early the next morning and went on the "4m Express" bus to Yanque (near the Colca Canyon-- which is deeper than the Grand Canyon). The bus was about 9 hours long and we only stopped a few times to make use of "Inka toilets". The last 4 hours of the trip was on gravel road which was bumpy and not very fun--but, driving straight through the Andes mountains was phenomenal. We arrived in Yanque and had a relaxing evening!
The next day we hired a taxi to drive us to the Colca Canyon National Park and the Condor Lookout. We went for a beautiful hike along the canyon and saw 3 condors at the look out. The valley was spectacular with terraces dating back to before the Inkan empire. On the way back we made a few stops in small villages and went to a cool cathedral, drank cactus juice and enjoyed the views. We spent the afternoon in Chavay and relaxed in the hammocks at our hotel in the evening!
The next morning we went horseback riding through the valley-- it was so much fun. My horse was named Francesco! In the afternoon we caught our 5 hour bus to Arequipa. We spent the next day in Arequipa visiting many museums and cathedrals. A highlight was the Santa Catalina Monastery, stunning architecture and amazing history. We also saw the famous "Juanita" frozen Inkan mummy-- one of the most well preserved in the world.
Next we headed to Puno, on the famous Lake Titicaca! We enjoyed a tour to the Uros floating islands and Taquile. The boat rides were fun and the lake was absolutely massive-- so beautiful. We enjoyed our last evening together as a family with a delicious pizza dinner!
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