Catarata de Pala Kala, Peru
June 2007
A couple of hours to the East (67 Km) of Lima on just off the Central Highway is the town of Surco and the start of the climb to Catarata de Pala Kala.
The route is picturesque and the walk not too difficult, though the earlier stages are a little steep.
Pala Kala is a nice escape from Lima and it's foggy cold winter climate.
Paths are rough but not difficult.
Resting along the way.
The scenery along the route is impressive. The land is terraced and worked by hand.
Leading the way. Though Johan here is 3 years old and did amazingly well. Pala Kala requires a little planning where kids are concerned. Plan more time or a little less distance.
The middle stretches are easy going. Paths meander gently upwards through farmland.
Top BSCS consultants apply solution skills to complex navigation problems.
Catarata de Pala Kala. The ultimate goal of the trip. Though not the most impressive waterfall, this trip is really about the getting there.
Night falls quickly and care should be taken to allow enough time to return. We left it to late returning from Pala Kala at 4pm. Way too late.
The start of the route from San Jeronimo de Surco. The steepest part of the whole trip
The whole route to the Catarata de Pala Kala is full of colour with an abundance of spectacular flora.
Farmers work the land in the old fashioned way, tending terraces by hand.
There are no roads here and everything is transported with Burros.
There are quite a few agricultural buildings along the way, built with dry stone. It gives a kind of alpine feel to the countryside.
All along the way the scenery changes from one spectacular view to another.
View from the track into one of the adjacent vallies.
Exhaustion is a risk especially for the young. This member of our party gratefully received a lift from passing farmers returning to Surco. There is more about this event on my blog.
