Once you've settled in it's hard to leave Las Casitas del Colca, a small ecolodge near the rim of Peru's Colca Canyon, the second deepest canyon in the world.
Simple Yet Sophisticated
Nineteen casitas are dotted through the property. A hot water bottle warms your feet while sleeping, because the electricity is turned off for several hours each night. In the morning at Las Casitas del Colca, wrap yourself in one of the Orient-Express Hotels' thick terry cloth robes and fling the shutters open to enjoy the view of Colca Canyon. Perched near the edge of two-mile deep canyon, this "hotel" is set in the middle of a working farm. Breakfast is local grains and fresh fruit from the farm. The trout you eat at dinner was caught in the pond earlier in the day and it's served with vegetables from the garden.
The rooms are charmingly rustic, with furniture made by local craftsmen. On warm days, breakfast is on the patio overlooking Colca Canyon. Closer views come as the resident dog guides you on a path toward the rim, or while horseback riding on one of the farm's ponies. The farm even has a llama orphanage.
Good for What Type of Travelers?
Guests here tend to be well traveled and interested in exploring new, less-known locales. They come to Colca Canyon to see the giant condors fly around the canyon and experience a primitive rural lifestyle that hasn't changed for centuries.
When to Go?
The best time to visit is during Peru's spring, summer or fall.
Pros and Cons
Pro: A slice of heaven in a rugged setting.
Con: You need to plan on at least three days for this trip, because it's a four- to five-hour drive on often rugged roads from Arequipa (Peru's second largest city) to Colca Canyon. Make sure any package you buy includes a driver for the ride to Colca Canyon. Would you like to see pictures of Colca Canyon?Contact Information
Visit Las Casitas del Colca to learn more.
