arequipa & the colca-canyon

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Leaving with a bus from Pucallpa over the mountains to Lima, it was one of the most horrible busrides I have had. The first 10 hours of the 18 hours busride climbed the mountains on a terrible road and I got breathing problems due to the quick increase of altitude... Moreover a black-uniformed guy with a pump-gun came on bord in the night to protect us on a dangerous part of the journey where no police is around. I felt slightly uncomfortable... ;-)
Arriving exhausted in Lima I was glad to escape instantly with another connection south to Arequipa - about 12 hours more, but this time also more relaxed.
Arequipa is called the white city - due to the white vulcanic stone they use so much there. The city is pleasantly clean with a beautiful plaza in the centre. Situated on about 2000m it gets there already quite cold in the evenings and is a good preparation for the far more extrem altitudes of the Andes.
I spent 1 day exploring the city by feet. The marvelous Santa Catalina monastery (I loved it most because of its beautiful colours), the lovely San Camillo market and good vegetarian food at a Hare Krishna restaurant (so great after 2 month rice, yuca and bananas).
The next day I went on a 2 days-tour to the Colca-canyon - it is said to be the deepest in the world... In a little bus I was lucky to be together with nice people and a cool guide who made it a really good experience. Passing the highest point of 5000m by car we drove into the awesome Colca-area. I enjoyed beautiful landscapes and lamas & alpacas everywhere... Bienvenido en la sierra!

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Photos

plaza del armas in arequipa
arequipa is one of the cleanest cities in peru and its central plaza one of the most beautiful I have seen...

beautiful colours
...in the monasteria de santa catalina, in the heart of arequipa...