Arequipa – Page 11 – Pirwa Hostels BLOG

Into the Depths of Colca Canyon near Arequipa, Peru

February 16, 2015 Pirwa

In the last years, local officials in Arequipa, in the southern highlands of Peru, have been setting their sights on birders. It’s no surprise, considering that Peru contains an astonishing 10% of the world’s avian population. Arequipa’s astoundingly beautiful Colca Canyon is already the region’s principal attraction, but new albums and books focusing on the birds of Colca and distributed to those in the travel industry and to the plublic at large hope to open up a new niche market of bird enthusiasts. As a strategy, it makes sense- despite the wealth of natural beauty and pre-Columbian archaeological sites boasted by Colca Canyon, this geological wonder is already most well-known for its endangered Andean Condor colonies.

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The Lord of Tremors & the Holy Week Festival in Cusco, Peru

February 14, 2015 Pirwa

Holy Week is fast approaching! During this time, Cusco is a very popular destination for domestic and international travelers alike, as the erstwhile Imperial City of the Incas celebrates the event in its own Andean-Catholic style, notably with feasting, folkloric music and dance, and processions of the Lord of Tremors (also known as the Black Christ)….

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7 Awesome & Overlooked Wonders of Peru

February 11, 2015 Pirwa

Peru has such an overwhelming wealth of natural, cultural, and historical richness that merely working out your itinerary must-sees can be a challenge. Some, such as the Nazca Lines and Machu Picchu, have become so iconic that they require no mention. Others you may not have heard about yet. In no particular order, this is a list of some of our favorite awesome & overlooked Peruvian wonders:

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Traditional Holy Week Dishes at the Qosqo Mijuy Food Fair in Cusco

February 9, 2015 Pirwa

It’s been announced that this year’s Qosqo Mijuy (Cusco Eats) Food Fair will take place April 2nd and 3rd. The fair will be divided into two sections, one for prepared dishes and one for a farmer’s market called ‘Leading the Change’ offering reduced-price, locally-grown produce from the Sacred Valley as well as seafood. The aim of the fair is to bolster fading Holy Week culinary traditions in Cusco, which involve preparing 12 types of dishes. This, in part, is why they offer cheaper options during a time when seafood prices skyrocket. Even though it typically takes place during the very busy Holy Week, the fair is overwhelmingly popular- in previous years, it’s attracted more than 7,000 people each day. These aren’t Mistura numbers, but for a mid-size event in a provincial city, it’s pretty great!

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Colorful Carnaval in Cusco & the Sacred Valley of the Incas

February 7, 2015 Pirwa

Fall into the magic of the former imperial city of the Incas. This year, the central day of Carnaval in the towns of Cusco District will be Sunday, February 15th. It’s a time of colorful dances, parades, and competitions. Celebrations take place not just in Cusco city proper, but also in the surrounding Sacred Valley of the Incas and the Southern Valley, especially in the towns of Pisac, Calca, Coya, and Urubamba. (Last year, more than 5 thousand visited Coya on the main day of its carnaval. Dancers and musicians gathered from the country communities surrounding Cusco, Arequipa, Tacna, Puno and Apurímac.)

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