Hostels Arequipa Peru
If for many years neighboring Colca Canyon was famed as the world’s deepest canyon, it is only because Cotahuasi Canyon wasn’t measured until 1995. At 3,535m, this geological wonder is the rightful owner of that title. The canyon was home to the Wari before the Inca conquered this region and annexed it to their empire in order to shorten the salt route connecting Cusco and the coast.
Arequipa is famed for many things, for the stunningly elaborate mestizo-baroque façades of its pearl-like volcanic sillar rock buildings, for its native son Nobel Prize-winning Mario Vargas Llosa, and for the resilience and hauteur of a people whose city has weathered various earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and great fires. One of its greatest claims to fame, however, are the 3 volcanoes which dominate Arequipa´s skyline are the white Chachani (Beloved), Picchu Picchu (Top Top), and the central, perfectly conical El Misti (The Gentleman). It’s the beautiful El Misti which has been adopted by Arequipeños as a symbol of the city, its people and its culture. It´s only erupted 4 times in 500 years, registering emissions in 1985 and a minor eruption 1948, but no major eruption since the 1400s. Although the city has been evacuated before due to eruption, Arequipa continues to develop even along its volcano-side and its routes are popular with hikers.
The town known officially as Machu Picchu Pueblo and colloquially as Aguas Calientes sprung up as a base for visitors to Machu Picchu Archeological Complex. It’s a vibrant and colorful one-street town firmly esconced on the ‘Gringo Trail’ and set in an overwhelmingly beautiful natural environment. Despite its desirable location, its a tiny town, prompting many to wonder just what there is to do there…
Beyond the elegant and inviting White City of Arequipa, an outsized landscape of volcanoes and canyons beckons. At twice the depth of the Grand Canyon in the United Stated, Arequipa’s Cotahuasi Canyon is truly the deepest in the world, with nearby Colca Canyon coming in second. As Cotahuasi is a longer trip from Arequipa than Colca, it isn’t as popular as the latter, which is a shame, as it has a lot to offer…
Today we’ll be talking about what to pack if you’re going to visit the Peruvian Amazon, be it Puerto Maldonado or Iquitos. There are a number of essentials that you’ll want to bring with you, but even if you have the whole list you still won’t have more than is comfortable for carrying: