Hostels Arequipa Peru
Pirwa Arequipa Hostel is lucky to be located in Arequipa’s striking historical center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s distinguished by its mestizo-baroque buildings (whose intricate carvings include a mix of European and pre-Columbian symbols) constructed of pearly volcanic sillar stone. Although merely walking around the center is a nice way to pass the day, there’s plenty to see and do in Arequipa’s historical center:
We all stress a bit about packing for trips, especially when all you’ve got is a backpack and whatever goes inside needs to last you months. If you’re struggling to compose your packing list, have a look at our recommendations on what you really should keep handy, and what it’s okay to leave behind.
Most travelers don’t have much time to spare in Arequipa, as they tend to treat the city merely as the gateway to Colca or Cotahuasi Canyon. If you’re also short on time, a city tour is an efficient way of seeing some of the city’s best sights quickly. For those with more time, they can provide a great overview of what the city has to offer, allowing you to decide what most interests you so that you can return to it later. Today, we’ll be talking about what you’ll see during one of these tours.
Every December, from the 25th through 27th, Huancavelica celebrates one of its major claims to fame- the Peruvian Scissor Dance (Danza de las Tijeras or Galas), which UNESCO declared part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the World. This unique and acrobatic dance with roots honoring the pre-Columbian deities of the natural world was once danced by the holy men, the “Tusuq Laylas”, whom the Spaniards ran off into the hills, declaring them devil`s spawn. They were allowed to return only on the condition that from that point forward their dance would honor the Catholic religion.
Those of you traveling through Bolivia or Peru during the holiday season will notice that Christmas here is quite different than in many other places. Firstly, it falls in summertime and, in the Andes, the rainy season. Rather than ubiquitous Santa Clauses on every corner and in every shopping mall, there’s the live-action neighborhood nativity with real animals and people.