The town of Callalli is located on the top of Colca, place of connection for different paths that lead to Cusco and Puno. It´s also the starting point for some of the adventure activities that take place at this area, such as hiking and mountain biking. Callalli´s people are expert traders of craft, commerce, potato and andean cereal farming and especially to cattle raising. Next to Callalli there are some enormous rock formations, Stone walls, known as the Castles of Callalli. In this walls you can practice rock climbing. If you get to the top, you can get beautiful views of rivers and mountains that form some miles later, one of the deepest canyons in the world. Very close to these cliffs of stone is Mollepunku cave inside which yo can see some petroglyphs. Based on studies, the early human populations that occupied Colca first settled on this higher parts.
Useful Tips:
- Callalli is located about 45 minutes from Chivay by a good paved road.
- It can be reached by hiring a private car for about 50 soles or contacting one of the tour operators located in Chivay. Recommended: www.ampatoexpeditionscolca.com
- Acces to the cave is free.
Text & Photos by Iñigo Maneiro (www.bitacora.pe)
