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Galapagos• Travel Tips• What to do• World travel

Top Things to do in Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Islands are one of the best spots to visit in South America. Located 900 km away from the Ecuador’s coast in the Pacific Ocean, the Galapagos is a volcanic archipelago of 18 islands, famous for its wildlife and amazing landscapes.  

Snorkeling and Diving: get in the clean water and go snorkeling and diving as much as you can in the Galapagos. The world under the Pacific Ocean waters is amazing and full of species to discover and colorful corals. Sea turtles, sea lions, whale sharks, tiger sharks, hammerheads, reef fishes, among others are part of what you will enjoy during the immersions. You can go snorkeling everywhere in the archipelago, but some of the best spots are Floreana Island, San Cristobal Island, Isabela Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santiago Island, among others.

Birdwatching: birdwatching is one of the most popular activities you can do in Galapagos islands. Let’s keep in mind that the islands were used by Charles Darwin for his researches and species classification for his theory of evolution; the site is basically a unique place for birdwatching. You can encounter flamingos, footed boobies, frigate birds, among others species you can spot. 

Wildlife spotting: a part from birdwatching, you can engage in multiple others activities in the Galapagos archipelago, such as the wildlife spotting. You can encounter marine iguanas on the beach, sea lions, penguins, tortoises, seals and finches. All these species inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution. You can engage in this activity everywhere in the Galapagos islands, since in all islands you will encounter beautiful species. However, the best spots are Isabela, Fernandina and Bartolomé Islands for penguins, Santa Cruz and Isabela islands for giant tortoises, Santa Cruz, Fernandina and Isabela Islands for land iguanas.

 

Hiking: in the archipelagos you can also go hiking thought exciting trails, such as the Sierra Negra Volcano trail on Isabela Island, which is located more than 1300 meters above the sea level; Playa Mann, Playa Punta Carola and Cierro Tijeretas trail on San Cristobal Island where you can enjoy stunning landscapes and do birdwatching; North Seymour Island trail where you can hike through cactus and Palo Santo trees and there you can spot many wildlife species.

For more information you can contact us at anamaria@magicalcuzcotours.com or call us (+1) 703-822-5311

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On 9 febrero, 2023 • By
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Cusco• Travel Tips• What to do

Five Best Things to do in Cusco

Cusco is a must-seen when traveling to Peru. You should definitely add 3 or 4 days in Cusco when planning your Peru trip. For many travelers visiting Peru without exploring Cusco is like writing a story without a real plot, since you cannot catch the essence of the country. Cusco is a vibrant city, rich in history and culture. Considering that, and being sure that you all have added a stop in Cusco in your Peru’s itinerary, in this article we tried to list top things and activities to do in Cusco area.

  • Sacsayhuaman: do not forget to pay a visit to this archeological Inca site located on top of the city, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of Cusco. Sacsayhuaman is a mural complex, made of huge stones of approximately 300 pounds each, and reachable on foot from Cusco city. The site is located more than 3500 mts above sea level, so if you suffer from altitude sickness consider taking a taxi.

  • Historical Centre: do not forget to visit Cusco’s main square, ranked as one of the most important square in the world. There you can visit the magnificent cathedral, and enjoy the vastity of the square. Take a stroll in the little street around the square, where you can find cozy cafes and restaurants. This spot has been considered the real essence of the Inca Empire.

  • San Blas district: San Blas is the vibrant, boho and creative district of Cusco, where you can find clothes shops, Peruvian artisans’ shops, art galleries and workshops and some of the city’s best restaurants and cafes. Its cobbled streets are fascinating, as well as its colonial architecture.

  • Rainbow Mountain: this is a popular spot for trekking lovers. You can hike the route by yourself in approximately 2 hours or you can rent a horse to make the experience a bit lighter, in one day you will have an amazing trekking experience and enjoy a stunning view. Once you reach the famous rainbow mountain you will enjoy an amazing and not-ordinary colorful landscape. Do not forget your camera! 

  • San Pedro Market: to catch the essence of Peruvian culture you should visit this huge market, located only 10 minutes from Cusco’s main square. This is a great place to try Peruvian authentic food, do not forget to negotiate prices, that’s the funniest part.

Here are only few things that you can do in Cusco, but Cusco is an amazing city where you can find pretty much everything depending on your preferences and specific needs.  

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On 30 marzo, 2022 • By
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Peru• Travel Tips• What to do• World travel

Best Museums to Visit While in lockdown

Coronovirus pandemic is definitely affecting our lives, but there are still tons of activities you can do virtually, such as visiting museums. This activity is particularly fun and can help you fulfil your desire of being in another place (even if it’s a virtual visit), but this is the time to adjust to the situation and find things to do that can help us cope with this unique and peculiar moment of our history. Also, if you were planning a visit to Peru in this list we also included some of the best Peruvian museums so that you can have a little taste of what you will experience during your future trip to Peru. We know it is going to be soon! ? 

So here a list of museums and art collections that we compile for your use. We got to help each other to overcome these difficult times. We chose to list them in alphabetical order, there is no order of importance or preference here! ?

  • Art Institute, Chicago, US: https://www.artic.edu/collection. The museum has a wide collection with art pieces from different ages. Apart from the collection you can also find other interesting writing and reading resources on their website.
  • Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy: https://www.uffizi.it/en/artworks Here you can find a collection of Renaissance, and you can enjoy paintings by Sandro Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Raffaello, Giotto among others…let’s say the greatest Italian painters of all times. There is also a sculpture section with Greek and Roman arts pieces.
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, US: https://www.metmuseum.org/ The MET has three locations, all temporary closed and here you can enjoy 5000 years of art in one place.
  • Museé du Louvre, Paris, France: https://www.louvre.fr/ On the website of the most famous and largest museum in the world you can take several virtual tours and learn about specific artwork of your interest. 
  • Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain: https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection Here you can enjoy works from Titian, El Greco, Goya, Ruben, van Dyck among others. The collection is quite monumental and you can choose to navigate it by artist or by theme such as saints, social realism, portrait, trades and professions.
  • Museo de Sitio Pachacamac, Lima, Perú: https://visitavirtual.cultura.pe/recorridos/MSPAC/museo-sitio-pachacamac/index.html this museum is located at 32 km south of Lima and it is one of the largest archeological complex in the country. Pachacamac was a sacred site named after the Goda Pacha Kamaq. In the museum you can enjoy several artworks, pottery and textiles from several cultures, among them Wari and Chimu.
  • Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan, Italy: https://pinacotecabrera.org/en/collezioni/filter-collection/ On the Pinacoteca’s website you can find the collection divided by historic phases, from 4000 B.C. to 2000. Every painting is in hype definition, so that you can enjoy them at the most, especially if you are an art expert.
  • Tate Gallery, London, England: https://www.tate.org.uk/art On their website you can find the British collection from 1500 to contemporary art, and learn about artists and the meaning of their works. There are also interesting resources for creative people and creative activities for kids. It is definitely worth a virtual visit!
  • Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en Here you can find information on the famous painter, tips and interesting resources for creative people and also activities to make with kids during this lockdown time. 

So no excuses then, let’s take this opportunity we have to stay home to do something productive, and learn about artists and their artwork. 

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On 13 abril, 2020 • By
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Sin categoría• Travel Tips• What to do• World travel

Top Things to do during the Coronavirus Quarantine

Most of all is experiencing a quite long period of quarantine and social distance due to the Coronavirus outbreak which is affecting the entire globe. As you might imagine travel industry is strongly affected by the current situation, people are scared to travel and many countries are shut down, which menas you cannot get in or out of the country. So international and domestic flights, trains, fluvial transportation are completely paralyzed. Many countries, including Peru, have adopted restrictive measures to face the coronavirus situation; basically, people must remain home, work from home, keep social distances and avoid going out for leisure activities, shopping, clubbing, going to the gym, etc. You can definitely go out for groceries, remedies and other basic needs you should have, but still could be a stressful moment for many people.


The New York Times

Below a constantly updated map of COVID-19 cases worldwide
https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

Considering the situation, we felt it could have been useful to write down a list of things you can do at home to make your quarantine better and funnier.

  • Plan a Trip: this is a very nice thing to do which can help you healing the frustration to be forced to stay home. Pick a country, obviously you should pick Peru ? , see the main destinations and consider your specific travel interests. Make up with a tentative itinerary and start looking for flights! Booking a flight is the first step, one you get that you’re nearly set. Your mind will feel better knowing that once all of this will be ended you have a beautiful trip planned.

  • Spend time with your family: if you get to spend the quarantine with your family, try to use this time to make things with them that you never had the time to do. Yes, I know it could be tricky to stay home so many days with the family, but still try to have some quality time with them: play cards, play board games, read a book to your kids, make up creative activities for your kids, etc.

  • Cook: we are fun of cooking activities, so why not? Pick a receipt that you have always tried to make and you never did, make sure you have the necessary ingredients at home or do some online grocery shopping. Cooking is a very relaxing activity and could help you overcome this stressful moment. If you have kids you can try to cook them…yes it could get a bit messy, but it is worth a try.

  • Read a book: read that classic novel that you have always wanted to read, or that saga or trilogy that you never had the constancy and courage to read or that book that you started several times and you never end. You have plenty of time now! Reading is also a very relaxing activity that could make your mind flying away from the current situation we are experiencing.

  • Watch a TV series: Netflix, Amazon prime offers several TV series, there are also other streaming services you can check. A useful tip: select the one with more seasons, you will have time to finish them. Warning: the majority of these TV series are addictive!

  • Fix stuff at home, but not only: take the opportunity to fic that kitchen cabinet that has been broken since 2010 ? …fix stuff at home that you have never had time to do. This is the time to fix relationships as well, make that call that you have always tought about but you never had the courage to do. That’s time!
  • Upgrade your hi-tech skills: that’s the time to start using facetime, whatsapp calls, skype, zoom or other tech tools to be able to talk to your friends, share the latest updates, photos, videos, and keep in touch with a videocall to feel less lonely during this period.

  • Help people in need: if you are able to do so, this is the right time to do it. You have elderly people living in your building? Help them doing the grocery shopping online, make a donation if you can to hospitals in need, etc.

We hope these tips and suggestions will be useful to make your “stay at home” moment more pleasant and entertaining.

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On 19 marzo, 2020 • By
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Peru Destinations• Travel Tips• What to do

Six Basic Tips for Hiking Trips

Peru is this place to go on holidays if you love hiking and adventure. There are many different places to discover, some of them located at extremely high elevations. Those are the places where you can be affected by heavy headache, dizziness, hangover, fatigue, shortness of breath and nausea. Altitude sickness, “soroche” as we call it here in Peru is very common for tourist visiting Cusco or Puno, since thoses destinations are respectively located at 3399 and 3827 meters above sea level. But don’t worry, here I give you some useful tips that will help you taking under control altitude sickness or completely avoid it while traveling here:

1. Try to drink “mate de coca” (coca tea) two or three times a day. This hot beverage, very common among Peruvians, tastes good and helps a lot with altitude sickness symptoms. It is made of selected dried coca leaves, which maintain 100% of the properties and vitamins. It especially helps with the shortness of breath and the fatigue.

2. It is necessary on the first days no to make heavy activities so you can enjoy the next days without any problems. So try to rest once you arrive in Cusco or Puno, this is truly the best advice and the most ignored to avoid altitude sickness. I know you guys want to go and have a walk around to discover the place once you arrive, but believe the best thing you can do is to rest for at least a couple of hours. Remember that your body is trying to get used to the least amount of oxygen.

3. Try to avoid heavy food, since your dizziness and nausea can get worse. Your stomach will not tolerate a big amount of food at least for the first couple of days. Also try to avoid fresh vegetables, fresh fruit with skin, fresh cheese and all the food sold on the streets for the first days. Consuming foods that provide energy to your body such as Andean grains (quinoa, kiwicha), fruits, jams, cereals, among others.

4. Drink a lot of liquid during your trip, because the height dehydrates, it is good to drink between 4 to 5 liters of water per day.

5. As for the clothes, it is essential to take with you same hats and glove for the cold, but also a raincoat because the weather can change very often, so it is better to be prepared. Also trekking sticks, preferably two in rainy months so that you can use them as support.

6. Bring sunblock, it helps you avoiding sunburns, that can also bring you headache and dizziness. Remember that the sun is very strong at high altitudes, so do not forget your suncream and good hat.

 

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On 27 enero, 2018 • By
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Peru• Peru Destinations• What to do

What to do in Puerto Maldonado

I love traveling and looking for new spots around the country and! I was so tired of the city life so I decided to escape somewhere wild and look for the very essence of nature. I am just back from a fabulous trip to the jungle… and what atmosphere, what an amazing experience I had guys!!! Puerto Maldonado is located in the southeast region of Peru, in the Department of Madre de Dios, located on the riverside of Madre de Dios and Tambopata. It is also known as the Capital of Biodiversity, due to the marvelous flora and fauna species we can find over there. If you love nature and adventure Puerto Maldonado should definitely be included in your Peru’s trip itinerary. Here a couple of suggestions on wat to visit while you are in Puerto Maldonado:

Lake Sandoval: If you want to enjoy a beautiful scenery go to the Lake Sandoval, which is located in the Tambopata Candamo National Reserve. It is the natural habitat of more than a thousand species of birds where you can perform different activities, such as boat trip to see different animals in there. Natural habitat such as flocks of macaws, parrots, monkeys, turtles, cranes and other species.

Canopy walkways: You can discover a different experience at 20 or 30 meters from the ground by walking over a suspension bridge. This is a way to capture the landscape, nature and animals much closer since most of the species live in the highest parts, and this is a great chance to take the best picture ever. I can swear that your friends will be jealous of your amazing adventurous experience in the Peruvian jungle!

Wildlife Rescue Center: Taricaya Center is responsible for receiving those animals that were removed from their natural habitat for illegal trafficking purposes. The goal of the rescue center is to carry out a rehabilitation program to take care of their health and to develop their natural abilities so they can be released to their natural habitat once again and live in freedom. You can take a tour of the rescue center and visit the different animals such as monkeys, jaguars, cougars, macaws, among others.

Hike in the forest: You can take a walk through the Amazon rainforest of Tambopata merged into the greatest biodiversity of animals that you can find as birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and mammals. You can also capture the endless species of plants that exist in this place among huge trees and palm trees.

My experience in Puerto Maldonado was outstanding; I was totally trapped by the sounds and the wideness of the Peruvian jungle. If you are looking for a great adventure, peace and nature, Puerto Maldonado is the right choice for you.

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On 28 diciembre, 2017 • By
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Peru• Peru Destinations• What to do

Five Restaurants You Should Hit While in Lima

While in Lima there are few culinary spots that you should not miss it! Here I want to share with you five restaurants that I highly recommend if you are up for discovering new taste, new ingredients and delicious food in general.
Central Restaurant: Central celebrates the biodiversity of Peru. Fresh product and an inexhaustible curiosity to discover and integrate new ingredients into the menu bring Peruvian cuisine to the forefront in the heart of the traditional district of Miraflores in Lima. Address: Calle Santa Isabel 376, Miraflores

Astrid & Gastón Restaurant: Astrid & Gastón opened in 1995 as a clearly French style restaurant distilled from the owners´ academic training. Astrid and Gaston discovered in themselves a mission to experiment with Peruvian ingredients, draw their inspiration from local traditions, and claim and value a style of gastronomy that every day unveiled itself before their amazed eyes. The tasting menu is a three-hour long unique experience that tells stories about Peru, its products, landscapes, and feelings. This is a long sequence of dishes complemented by art, music and design, typical of each season’s storytelling. Address: Av. Paz Soldán 290, San Isidro

Malabar Restaurant:  In this restaurant, Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino offers a creative cuisine in which he fusions his Peruvian heritage with the influence of his grandmother and his 4 years of experience working in Italy. The result is a «personal style» of our Peruvian flavors. The style of Malabar is directly related to the products that the Chef uses from all the different regions of our country. His objective is to recover, rediscover, and promote the products that have a high gastronomical potential. The restaurant has a modern decoration, warm ambience, an amazing variety of Piscos and a great bar where you can taste the original recipe of the Pisco Punch. Address:  Camino real 101 San Isidro

Osaka Restaurant: here you will experience Nikkei cuisine infused with traditional Creole style cooking, which in turn provides new, surprising, and delicious results. In just few year his kitchen has captivated the hearts of food critics from the “Wiken” magazine and “The Daily Mercury”, who proclaim Chef Ciro Watanabe to be a “Revelation Chef” for 2010. Despite all of his accomplishments, his story is only beginning. Address: Indira Miranda: Conquistadores 999, San Isidro

Costanera 700 Restaurant: Its Chef was the first to merge traditional Latin and Japanese cuisine and take the best from two amazing food cultures. This restaurant offers an excellent variety of traditional Peruvian Creole seafood dishes along with delicious Japanese specialties such as sushi and tempura. Both culinary traditions are fused together here along with the different flavors that originate from the Pacific Rim. The décor is oriental style, with plants and subtle lighting augmenting the classy and pleasant atmosphere. Costanera700 offers a mixture of flavours and has now over 25 years of experience in fish and seafood combinations at the Nikkei Style.
Address: Gate 1: Av Del Ejercito 421 – Miraflores; Gate 2: Manuel Tovar 179 (on the back)

So once in Peru do not forget to pay a visit to these amazing restaurants. One last tip: book your table in advance since the request is extremely high.

 

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On 22 noviembre, 2017 • By
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Nazca• Peru Destinations• Travel Tips

Top Things to do in Paracas and Nazca

Paracas and Nazca are often in touristic itineraries, they are two beautiful towns located in Ica region, approximately 3 hours south of Lima. If you are planning to visit just Paracas you can even embark in a day trip. You can reach Paracas by bus or by private transportation from Lima in about 3 hours. There are plenty of things you can do there, many different adventurous activities and beautiful landscapes to enjoy. Here a list of things you must see once there:

Ballestas Island: Early in the morning motor boat leave to Ballestas Islands, in Paracas National Reserve, to observe sea lions, boobies, pelicans, penguins and other marine birds, among the many other species which converge there looking for shelter. On the boat trip tourists can see the famous «Candelabro», an enigmatic form that many people believe is related to the Nazca lines.

Paracas Reserve: Paracas National Reserve has been declared World Heritage Natural Side by UNESCO. You can visit the Julio C. Tello Museum, the Cathedral and “la Boyeda”, where you can have a short walk around the sea going in to the cave. You can also enjoy the beautiful landscapes from several viewpoints, such as the Wolves and Lagunillas beach. Due to its geographical location the area has the strangest and richest ecosystems in the world.

Chauchilla Cemetery: the Chauchilla Cemetery, 30 km south of Nazca, consists of several tombs containing remarkably well-preserved mummies from the Nazca culture. This is also a very mysterious and spiritual spot.

Nazca Lines: Located on the plains of San Jose and on an extension of 50 km, the geoglyphs represent figures of animals and plants, some of these figures may reach up to 984,3 feet in length and cover an area of 1000 m². These lines constitute one of humankind’s enduring mysteries, as for some recent studies these lines were made by UFOs. So there is a lot of mystery on their existence.

Cahuachi: This immense ceremonial and pilgrimage centre stands in the middle of the desert, and consists of more than 40 mounds, topped with the remains of adobe constructions, with several intact pyramids, cemeteries and elaborate underground tombs –only partially excavated. A wealth of pottery has been discovered here, as well as graves containing only trophy heads. The sands around the area are eerily littered with ancient pottery fragments as well as human femurs and skulls. Cahuachi is reached via a rough 25 km dirt-and-gravel road from Nazca.

Cerro Blanco: Located east of the city of Nazca, the largest sand dune in Peru; ideal for adventure sports such as sand boarding, boogie and paragliding. Here you will have plenty of fun and you will definitely enjoy wonderful landscapes and sunny days! So bring your sun block and a hat.

Ica region is a very nice place to visit in Peru, where you can embark in many different activities and you can enjoy the Pacific Ocean breeze and the sun.

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On 3 noviembre, 2017 • By
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Cusco• Peru• Sacred Valley

Top Sights in the Sacred Valley

Many tourists coming to Peru are definitely more interested in Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu and the majority of the time they skip a visit to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. In my opinion that’s a BIG BIG BIG mistake, since this place is magic, here you can find a very special energy that you are not able to find in any other place in Peru. I believe the name “Sacred Valley” can better define what I actually mean. This is a spiritual place where you can definitely recharge your battery after the tiring excursion to Cusco and Machu Picchu. Here a list of places you should not miss once in the area:

Pisac Ruins: The small town of Pisac is located 32 Kilometers (20 Miles) from Cusco. On the top of the modern town there are the ancient ruins, which consist of a vast amount of agricultural terracing and a small Inca village. Made up of groups of terraces, the outline of the site forms the shape of a giant condor. In ancient times the condor was considered to be the messenger of the sun, and the one who was in charge of carrying the spirits of the dead onto the world beyond. For this reason Pisac was also considered to be a place of great spiritual worship.

Pisac Market: Peru’s most famous crafts market takes place in Pisac on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sunday. This ancient Inca village is nestled in the shadow of an imposing Inca fortress and temple and it is famous for its beautiful and colorful market where tourists can shop for traditional handicrafts and every kind of handmade Peruvian products.

Awanakancha: AwanaKancha provides an opportunity to see products made from South America’s four camelids (alpaca, llama, vicuña, and guanaco) from the first steps of the production process to its end: the animal, the shearing, the textile weaving and dyeing, and the finished products, which you can purchase in the showroom. It makes a great stop for the whole family, as kids usually have lots of fun feeding the camelids on-site.

Ollantaytambo Temple: Second in importance only to Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo includes some of the Inca’s best stonework, including a series of ceremonial baths, elegant trapezoidal doorways, and a sun temple that faces the rising sun.

Maras: It was home to the descendents of the Incas of the Hurin Cusco Clan. In Colonial times, it was the first salt producing center of the central – Sierra. This picturesque town is located 53 km northwest of Cusco (1hour drive) by a paved road. The town has a large church and several colonial houses with code-of-arms of noble families on their facades. Close to Maras, at the Peasant community of Pichingoto, there are salt mines, known locally as “salineras”. Landscape is awesome in this area.

Moray: Located 9 km west of the town of Maras, along an unpaved road, his archeological site is perhaps one of the most mysterious of the pre-Hispanic Cusco area. The site consists of a large irrigation system and a series of concentric agricultural terraces, constructed by means of stone retaining walls. The location is believed to have been an enormous agricultural laboratory in which the Incas purposefully created several microclimates in which they grew a variety of crops.

Chincheros: Known to the Incas as the birthplace of the rainbow, this typical Andean village combines Inca ruins with a colonial church, some wonderful mountain views and a colorful Sunday market. On a high plain with sweeping views to snow-laden peaks, it’s quite beautiful. Since it is very high, it’s unwise to spend the night until you’re somewhat acclimated.

So remember once in Peru do not forget to visit the Sacred Valley. If you have already traveled there and you have more suggestion feel free to add tips and recommendations in the comments.

 

 

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On 17 octubre, 2017 • By
1
Arequipa• Peru• Peru Destinations

What to do in Arequipa

Arequipa, also known as the “White City”, is located in the south of Peru, about 475 miles far away from Lima. You can easily reach the city by plane or by bus if you have more time available. The bus ride will last approximately 16 hours, so it is a long ride as you can see, especially due to the highway conditions. I can say that Arequipa is really worth a visit if you are in Peru for more than a week. Here a list of sights you must visit once there:

The Cathedral and the main square: The construction of this church began in 1544, predominantly in the neoclassic style, with three naves, enormous columns, a great Belgian organ and a French neo-gothic pulpit. It was gutted by fire in 1844, it was then rebuilt and damaged again by the 1868 earthquake.  Most of what you see today is what has been rebuilt. It has splendid treasures of gold and silverwork, such as two monstrances of gold and precious stones. The interior is simple and airy, with a luminous quality, and the high vaults are uncluttered. It also has an international flair since both the altar and the 12 columns (symbolizing the 12 Apostles) are made of Italian marble.

 

Santa Catalina’s Monastery: The Monastery of St. Catherine of Siena, or Convent of Santa Catalina, is a religious building located in the historical center of Arequipa. We believe it is the most fascinating religious complex in Peru. Its architectonic style is mainly colonial; visitors can enjoy walking through the colorful narrow streets and merged into the meditative atmosphere of the place.

Colca Canyon: The fabulous Colca Canyon is reached via three packed dirt roads. All leave from the city of Arequipa and lead to the town of Chivay, crossing the Salinas and Aguada Blanca national reserves. The shortest road (148 km or 4 hours) is the recommended one since it is in good condition. Perhaps one of the major attractions of the area is its spectacular terracing, considered among the most extensive in southern Peru. The possibility of observing the flight of the condor in its native habitat, and the impressive scenery of one of the most beautiful spots on Earth make the Colca Canyon one of the most important travel destinations in the southern Andes. Usually it is better to spend the night in the area, since the daily hike could be tiring.

Tristan del Pozo Old House: a large mansion, finished in 1738 and located in the historic center of the city. The house, built for the General Don Domingo Carlos Tristan del Pozo, is one of the best example of “Arequipeña” architecture. In the house there is an art gallery divided in three areas with more than 40 art pieces from the BBVA Continental collection.

Carmen Alto viewpoint: if you love amazing landscapes you should not miss the Carmen Alto viewpoint. Here you will enjoy the view of Arequipa’s 3 volcanoes: the Chachani, the Misti and the Pichu Pichu. The Viewpoint (Mirador in Spanish language) is located about 6 Kilometers from Arequipa and I suggest you to visit it early in the morning to enjoy a stunning view of the city.

Yanahuara Viewpoint: This scenic viewpoint is located in the picturesque Yanahuara district, perched on a hill overlooking the city, 2 Kilometers far away from the city. Here you can enjoy a stunning view of the traditional neighborhoods of Arequipa.

The last tip that I can give you on Arequipa is that you should not miss a visit to the local market, where you can find local products and traditional handicrafts from the region. The fabric produced in Arequipa is extremely colorful with beautiful floral patterns. So, I am sure you will enjoy a visit to this city and you will be trapped by its colonial and baroque charm.

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On 10 julio, 2017 • By
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