Cotahuasi III

Friday 20/7 - Cotahuasi (day 3)

Trek: Charcana (3417m) - Picha - Pueblo Ushua (535m) - Quechualla - Velinga.

Mery, the landlord of the 'B&B',

already at work in the early morning cold.

I met few people on the trail from Charcana to Picha, three in total?

Typical house near to Picha.

The second person met underway, very kind,

he confirmed me I was on the right way.

Small graveyard underway, dead bodies are put in sitting position

 stones a build around, the tombs are oriented to the east (towards sunset).

View of Picha, 5 houses in total, reached after 3 hours of overall flat hiking.

Drying Corn.

Drying Corn.

From Picha onwards the trail goes down to the Rio, 2900m deeper,

the descent takes 3.5 hours.  Nobody seen underway.

Deeper in the canyon.  Only cactus plants.

The Pueblo Ushua and the first bridge over the Rio.

Another of these strange graveyards.

Quechualla, some 10 houses, reached soon after crossing the bridge.

A lot of fruit trees (mangoes, oranges, and wine grapes).

The man here kindly offered me some of his wine.

Do you see the guineas pigs?  Peruvians like theit meat.

A closer look to the guineas pigs.

My Inka Cola transformed into wine, another miracle.

The trail follows the Rio for another 3 hours to Velinga.

And passes by some pre-inka ruins.

In the narrow parts the trail often crosses the river.

A hot water spring underway (Ninochaca).

Let's take a welcome bath here, even if it is getting late

You will not see more.

On another bridge.

And this is what follows.

Then, it became quickly scaring DARK.

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