Huff, puff, and smell the flowers of Colca Canyon

Who’da thunk that hiking up the steep, deep, Colca Canyon, Peru would have been easier than hiking down the same 3,300-feet?

Going downhill was so rough that I couldn’t stop and smell the…well, I don’t know what they’re all called, but the flowers of Colca Canyon are fascinating. Going up, tiny petals shudder in canyon wind, strong shoots covered in buds obstinately grow toward the sun, and strangely shaped fruiting plants follow the trail up to the top of the canyon.

Walk with me.

Purple flowers and a view of Colca Canyon, Peru photo

Blooms and view.

Unusual tubular flowers, Colca Canyon, Peru photo

Unusual tubular flowers.

Looking up at yellow-orange flowers, Colca Canyon, Peru photo

Looking up at yellow-orange flowers.

Shockingly blue and tiny flower, Colca Canyon, Peru photo

Shockingly blue and tiny flower.

Flower looking like fireworks, Colca Canyon, Peru photo

Flower looking like fireworks.

Red trumpet flowers, Colca Canyon, Peru photo

Red trumpet flowers.

Droplet flowers, Colca Canyon, Peru photo

Droplet flowers.

Fruiting green vine, Colca Canyon, Peru photo

Fruiting green vine.

Orange bursting flowers, Colca Canyon, Peru photo

Orange bursting flowers.

Fruiting tree, Colca Canyon, Peru photo

Fruiting tree in Colca Canyon.

Delicately blooming purple flowers, Colca Canyon, Peru photo

Delicately blooming purple flowers.