Arequipa – Page 9 – Pirwa Hostels BLOG

The Overlooked Wonders of Nazca, Peru

March 5, 2015 Pirwa

Nazca invariably attracts crowds of tourists. After flying over the Nazca Lines, however, what else is there to do in this tiny desert city? If you’re planning on visiting some of the area’s archeological sites, the Antonini Archeological Museum on Avenida de la Cultura can help you get more out of these visits. There, you can admire the famed pottery of the Nazca civilization, the intricate textiles of the Paracas civilization before them, and burial tomb reproductions. The garden boasts a scale model of the Nazca Lines and working aqueduct. If you don’t understand Spanish, ask for a translated booklet at the front desk.

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Adventures in the Manu Biosphere Reserve in the Peruvian Amazon

March 3, 2015 Pirwa

Peru’s largest national park is Manú Biosphere Reserve, which stretches from the cloud forest and high-altitude jungle of the eastern slopes of the Andes down into the Amazon Basin. It’s one of the world’s most bio-diverse parks, protecting 15,000 plant species, more bird species than the United States and Canada combined, and more mammals than other Latin American rainforests.

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What to Bring on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

February 28, 2015 Pirwa

The most important thing to consider when planning what to bring with you on the Inca trail is what will be provided for you and what you must bring, and what will be carried for you and what you must carry. Inca Trail operators generally provide all camping gear including tents, stoves, cooking equipment, foam mattresses, food, and utensils. You may be asked to provide your own sleeping bag- make sure that it’s certified for about -20 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s easiest to just rent a cheap one in Cusco (around US$12) than to lug one around from your home country. You are allowed a total of 16 pounds of personal gear to give to the porters to carry for you, including the (approximately 4lb) sleeping bag. What you wish to carry is a small backpack with the things that you will want throughout the day:

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Mountain Climbing in Bolivia: Tackling the Icy Peaks of the Cordillera Real

February 26, 2015 Pirwa

Bolivia is a popular mountaineering destination thanks to its relatively cheap prices and its diverse options which can accommodate a range of skill levels. The country boasts over a thousand summits surpassing 5000 meters, where intrepid travelers can watch endangered Andean condors soar around icy peaks. May and June are the best months to climb, although the official climbing season continues through September.

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Sandboarding Thrills by Huacachina Oasis near Ica, Peru

February 25, 2015 Pirwa

The cities of Ica and Nazca are found south of Lima, along Peru’s desert coast. Not far outside of Ica, one finds Huacachina Lagoon, surrounded by some of the largest sand dunes in the world. (You can take a taxi there from Ica for about S/5 Peruvian soles).

Its massive sand dunes are attractive to travelers who careen along them in 4-wheel-drive sand buggies or try sandboarding, which is thought to date back to the ancient Egyptians. Sandboarding is similar to snowboarding or surfing, except that it takes place on sand dunes rather than snow-covered mountains or waves. (The main differences in equipment are that sandboards are generally harder than snowboards, waxed to increase speed on the sand, and may or may not have straps for your feet.) It’s a fun sport that can be practiced year-round. Rather than a lift, sandboarders get to the top of the sand dunes by walking or riding a dune buggy.

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