Blogs from Arequipa, Arequipa, Peru, South America

Another relaxed start to the day, we didn’t go out until 11:00. First stop was the Iglesias de la Compania which is right next to Place de Armas. Fantastic stone carving like many buildings here. Then down the road a bit to the other University-run museum, Museo Arquelogico Jose Maria Morante. This is also a small museum of just 5 rooms but they had amazing mummified bodies all in a sitting foetal position. One was also placed in a reproduced burial chamber so you see how they found them with ceremonial articles. At the third room we asked the lady in the room if she spoke English and she did. We thought she might have been a security person but wasn't wearing a uniform so Daisy asked her a question and she turned out to be ... read more

Nach all unseren kalten Nächten rund um Cusco und Puno, eingepackt in Wollsocken, Strumpfhosen, Schals und Hauben, freuten wir uns schon sehr auf Arequipa: Der Wetterbericht versprach wärmeres Klima, außerdem liegt Arequipa ja auf “nur” 2.300 Höhenmetern. Mit dem Bus ging es erstmal sechseinhalb Stunden in Richtung Westen, diesmal unter Tags mit herrlichen Ausblicken über die Landschaft. Aus den grün-grau-braunen Bergen fuhren wir in die karge Wüste. Ein Szenario wie wir es nur aus Hollywood-Filmen kennen. So luxuriös wie mit der Buscompany Sur del Cruz bin ich allerdings noch selten gereist: Mit breiten Ledersitzen, Kuscheldecken, Entertainment-Screens, Check-In mit Gepäckaufgabe, mehrfachen Security Checks, Mittagessen, Kaffee... So lässt sich eine lange Überlandfahrt gut aushalten. In Arequipa angekommen, haben wir uns sehr über die Essensvielfalt einer Großstadt gefreut: Das An... read more

Arequipa: The White City (11/06/2018-15/06/2018) Baby Alpaca or Maybe Alpaca? Maybe you've been wondering... "Amy you're in Peru, where the heck are all the llamas and alpacas at?" Well.. you're in for a treat, my lovely blog readers! This blog will contains plenty of them! Yay! Seeing them.. cuddling them.. and erm, eating them! Arequipa, with it's impressive chalky white buildings built from volcanic rock; is known as the White City and is the prettiest of Peru's cities. The city is surrounded by three gorgeous snow-capped volcanos - El Misti (5,822m), Chachani (6,075m) and Pichu Pichu (5,664m), and is not short of fun and interesting things to see and do. Colca Canyon Colca Canyon, the World’s second deepest canyon (the first is also in Peru) and twice as deep as the Grand Canyon is an impressive ... read more

Suzanne here... More lovely scenery made the five hour journey from Cabanaconde pass quickly, and we saw loads of wild vicunas (much like llamas). However as we neared Ariquipa the landscape changed. Suddenly everything was more built-up and industrial. I could quite easily have fled back to Colca. We arrived at Terminal Terrestre, inconveniently out of town. But at least it meant we could buy our onward bus tickets to Puno. Once this was achieved we agreed a price of 10 soles with a taxi driver (the colectivos all looked rammed) and despite the terrible traffic we were soon at our hotel. Hotel Bubamara was a plain, locked door with a small sign to indicate we were in the right place. We rang the bell and were welcomed inside. It was actually much roomier than we ... read more

Hits everyone! Sorry it's been a while but he internet hasn't been all that fab. So after we last touched base we went sand boarding in the dessert! What a laugh that was. Sand everywhere!!!!! We also got chance to stop off at a few other places of historical significance to the incas and we're really starting to get a feel for the place. After that we got footed it onto the night bus to get us to Aeroquipa in the morning. It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and slept the whole way! Once in Aeroqipa the day was ours to explore. We went to the maker and brought loads of different fruits to try (they were mostly delicious) aaaannnnnddd I got myself some walking boots for An absolute bargain!! You ... read more