Lima – Page 13 – Pirwa Hostels BLOG

Celebrating Caral Raymi this October near Lima

October 2, 2012 Pirwa

Have you got a little bit of Indiana Jones in you? Travelers and locals alike will flock to the Sacred City of Caral, three hours outside of Lima, as it celebrates its archeological project’s 18^th anniversary this month. This project, entrusted with the site’s continuing archeological excavation and conservation, traditionally celebrates the anniversary with pre-Columbian offerings, the unveiling of new findings, and festival events replete with music, dance, exuberant costumes, and fairs.

If you can’t make it to Caral for the anniversary festival, don’t worry, you can still see the site at least. Pirwa Travel Service offers guided tours of the sacred city on the weekends that begin and end in Lima.

Mystical Night (Oct 26)

Those who want to take part in the Mystical Night camp in front of the archeological complex, making a pilgrimage to Gozne Hill along an illuminated route. There, only once a year, they perform ceremonies on the hill, play music and dance, and see the ruins lit up in the night. (If you want to take part, check the archeological project’s website or ask us for assistance at pirwatravel@gmail.com or reservaspirwa@gmail.com. You need to arrange this ahead of time because the event is very popular- thousands take part.)

Caral Raymi Festival (Oct 27)

The Caral Raymi Anniversary Festival lasts from about 9:00am to 4:00pm and falls on October 27^th this year. The festivities focus on ancestral Andean music, dance, food and drink. If you go in the afternoon, you can purchase a spot in their traditional lunch prepared with native ingredients by a culinary team guided by the researchers. In the reception center there will be a catu, or Andean market, which functioned through the barter of products and even knowledge.

Take a tour with one of the local guides trained by the team with the aim of improving socio-economic conditions in the surrounding towns. Participate in interactive workshops where you can see the archeologists’ work up close and their latest findings. The day is topped off with a visit to the natural lookout from where you can enjoy panoramic views of the imposing sacred city and the Supe Valley together with the team.

You can get out to Caral by yourself, or with help from the Pirwa Travel Service team. If you would like to take part in one of well-scheduled programs offered by the project itself, you can contact them through their website; they offer one- and two-day programs with transport to and from Lima, all of the activities described, plus some extras such as horseback riding through the Supe Valley and a visit to a contemporaneous site.

Because Caral is 3 hours from Lima, it makes for a little bit of a long day, so it pays to already have a place worked out to spend the night. For budget-friendly dorms and private rooms in Lima’s most popular neighborhood, Miraflores, look to Pirwa Hostels! Pirwa Inclan B&B and Pirwa Prada Backpackers are both located in relaxed Miraflores, close to lively Kennedy Park with its live performers, restaurants and clubs, and the famous costa verde, or “green coast”, the seaside cliffs with its charming parks which acts as a jump-off site for paragliding.

The hostels themselves have common areas where you can relax with other travelers (including TV & Movie lounges, terraces, guest kitchens, and a bar), are secure with 24hr reception and security lockers, and comfortable with soft beds and hot water 24/7.

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A Peru for Every Type of Backpacker, pt 2

September 20, 2012 Pirwa

This is the culmination of our two-part article on the different types of backpackers and what Peru has to offer them. So far, we’ve dealt with the hiking and trekking enthusiasts, the extreme sport junkies, the eco-travelers, and the cultural immersionists. What’s left?…

Time Travelers

From the modern high rises of Miraflores, Lima and the pre-Columbian pyramid shrine in their midst to the traditional villages and towns of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, with vibrantly dressed locals chatting on cellphones and internet cafés housed in adobe structures lining cobblestone streets, Peru is a land of contrasts which in the throes of modernizations still offers up a past rich in mystery and wonder.

The world-famous mysterious Nazca Lines and the remarkable thousand year old mummies of Chauchillas
Kuelap, a fortress in northern Peru of the Chachapoyas, the most formidable foes of the Inca.
The Inca Fortress of Saqsayuhuamán on the outskirts of Cusco and the Lost City of Machu Picchu, the worldwide icon of the Inca Empire
the pre-Inca city of Caral north of Lima, the oldest city in the Americas, which as a flourishing urban center as far back as 2600BC

Culinary Crusaders

Whether or not you’re a foodie, chances are some fresh ceviche in Lima and roast guinea pig (cuy) in Cusco are on your travel to-do list, the former for the delicate flavors and the latter for the bragging rights. The culinary crusaders among you, hoever, probably have a list that’s more dishes than tourist attractions. What shouldn’t you miss?…

Marinated, grilled, and skewered beef hearts (anticuchos) in Ica, proud guardian of Afro-Peruvian cuisine
Pollo a la Brasa. Why eat roaster chicken in Peru when you’ve had it before? Because here, it tastes like nowhere else
Stir-fried tenderloin and fries known as lomo saltado
Seco de Cabrito, or stewed goat in the north
In the Andes, Olluquito con Charqui, is a firm potato-like tuber stewed with charqui (dried alpaca)
Even if you’re not ready to go as far as some toasted ants, the jungle region has some great dishes to offer, such as Juanes, bundles of chicken and rice cooked in banana leaves, and Inchicapi peanut stew.

Mystic Travelers

A new breed of traveler seeks not only cultural insight but mystical and personal insight as well. The survival of pre-Columbian beliefs in Peru, often in syncretic form, makes Andean or Amazonian Peru an attractive destination for such travelers. What kind of options does Peru offer the mystical backpacker?:

Ceremonies at the pre-Columbian sacred sites still believed to contain special energy by New Age practitioners
Spiritual cleansings with rubdowns with sacred plants and even with a guinea pig by Andean Curanderos, Healers
Hallucinogenic Ayahuasca ceremonies overseen by Amazonian shamans, which are thought to remove the curtain separating the natural and supernatural world, allow one to commune with universal spirits, and to heal problems with one’s own soul and psyche.
Very rarely, a traveler gets to visit the town of Queros, which thanks to a willful isolation is considered the town wherein Inca culture has continued unbroken.

Probably your interests fit into more than one category, and the gung-ho backpackers are likely a little bit of each…that just means you’ll have to plan a longer trip! The Pirwa Team includes not only Pirwa Travel Service, which can exist with transport, entrances, and guided excursions, but also Pirwa Hostels, which has 13 different locations throughout Peru and Bolivia. This means that no matter what your interests, and where you end up, you can probably find us nearby!

Stop by the social butterfly Pirwa Colonial Backpackers or the cozy and cheerful Pirwa San Blas Familiar in Cusco, enjoy breakfast on the sunny rooftop terrace at Pirwa Park Hostel Arequipa, or even cross the border and head out on the town with Pirwa La Paz‘s fun-loving team. A a country as varied as Peru, and such diverse groups of backpackers, require a home-grown chain that can offer all that the modern backpacker needs in terms of facilities, budget options, entertainment, and comfort. Check out all of our locations here …see you on the road!

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A Peru for Every Type of Backpacker

September 17, 2012 Pirwa

To truly experience a country as culturally diverse, geologically varied, and historically rich as Peru, one would need much more time than the average backpacker. Regardless, those of us guided by wanderlust seek some insight, a window into the host country. We’ve compiled a two-part list of the attractions that Peru has to offer every type of traveler… What type of backpacker are you?

Conquering Geological Wonders

Peru’s distinct environmental regions provide excellent trekking options for both experienced hikers and casual trekkers alike. There are plenty of trails to choose from, including multi-day slogs and one-day walks. Some of the most popular treks include:

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and the alternative Lares Trek, actually favored by locals thanks to its superior sweeping views
Descend into the depths of the world’s deepest canyons, Cotahuasi Canyon and Colca Canyon, home of the endangered and massive Andean Condors
The Cordillera Huayhuash Blanca treks- considered among the best in the world

Thrill Seekers

From catching air to catching waves, there’s plenty in Peru to keep the most demanding thrill-seeker occupied.

Paragliding of the cliffs of Miraflores and over the Pacific Ocean
Rafting the rapids around Cusco, in the Canyons of Arequipa, and into the Amazon
Sandbuggy riding and Sandboarding down White Hill and the sand dunes surrounding Huacachina Oasis
Surfing some of the best waves in the world along the Peruvian Coast north of Lima
Scaling the rocks and ice of the Cordillera Blanca Range

Eco-Travelers

With a landscape boasting incredible range from the desert coast to snow-capped Andean peaks and down into the lush Amazon Basin, Peru has a number of astounding national parks, sanctuaries, and reserves which would delight any nature-lover and inspire everyone else to becoming nature-lovers:

Manú National Park in the Amazon Rainforest, one of the world’s most biologically diverse zones
Paracas National Reserve, off the Peruvian coast south of Lima, with its bustling penguin and sea lion colonies
Tingo Maria National Park in the Amazon with its cave-dwelling oil birds

Culturally Curious

To foreigners, it will appear that Peru’s year has as many festival days as non-festival days.

Candelaria in Puno, where you can experience the greatest number of folkloric dances, music, and costumes
Some popular celebrations such as Inti Raymi in Cusco on June 24^th and Fiestas Patrias Independence Days in July, have festivities which last all month
Holy Week, or SemanaSanta, popularly and distinctly celebrated in Ayacucho
Festival of San Juan celebrated on Amazon riversides.

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Preventing & Dealing with Altitude Sickness

May 15, 2012 Pirwa

You’re finally realizing that dream to make it to Peru or Bolivia! But altitude sickness (soroche) can put a damper on all those sightseeing plans and tours that you’ve been planning… Its troublesome symptoms can vary in strength, and include fatigue, nausea, headaches, dizziness and shortness of breath. It can even lead to vomiting and other symptoms, and can become so severe that you’d need to be taken to a clinic and hooked up to an oxygen tank and IV- definitely something to be avoided! Ideally, your trip will allow you sufficient time for acclimatization, allowing your body to adjust to the lower amount of oxygen at higher altitudes, but sometimes this just isn’t possible with limited vacation days and so much to see.

Pre-Trip Tips

Itinerary Planning: Gradually Increase Your Altitude

If you’re planning on visitingvarious cities, you can try to structure your itinerary in order to gradually increase your altitude level. Rather than going from sea level to Cusco (flying in from Lima) or Puno, you can put in an intermediary city like Arequipa in order to acclimatize as you go

Many times visitors to Cusco take advantage of a Sacred Valley Tour to spend some time at a lower altitude than Cusco.
Planning on tackling some of the famous peaks surrounding La Paz? You must spend a few days in the city of La Paz itself (the world’s highest capital), because your chances of altitude sickness are high!

Medicate: Pre-Trip Pill Popping

Acetazolamide, sold under the name Diamox and available as a generic drug, can help prevent altitude sickness. It is taken prophylactically, starting a few days before going to higher altitudes. If you’re going from sea level to over 3,000 meters (9800 feet) or ascending more than 600 meters (2000ft per day). If you have a history of suffering from acute altitude sickness, this may be the choice for you. You take a half tablet starting one day in advance and continuing until the third day of your trip. Once started you need to take Diamox three days, even if you start to feel ok

Preparations: The Day Before

Avoid alcoholic beverages and hard-to-digest foods the day before you travel, and make sure to get a full night’s sleep! You also don’t want to have sleeping pills or tranquilizers in your system when you begin your trip.

During your Trip

Take It Easy

On your first day or two, stay hydrated (avoiding alcohol), and don’t plan too much for Day 01- you want a leisurely pace and time to rest if need be. You can plan a day of rest, or if you don’t want to lose a day stick to a restful morning and then a half-day tour or some independent exploring in the afternoon.

Coca Tea

The local remedy is drinking a tea of steeped coca leaves- you’ll find it available in most hotels and hostels and in the little stores and markets in either loose leaves or tea bags. Limit yourself to no more than five cups per day, as it’s also a stimulant. (A lot of people ask whether they can fly back home with coca leaves- the official answer is no if they’re loose leaves, but yes if they’re packages in tea bags.

Carb Loading & Going Bananas

Bananas are a great choice as an energy snack, as they’ll help replace the potassium that high altitudes can leached from the body. Also, you’ll want to forget any restrictive diet you might be on and treat yourself to carbohydrate-heavy foods!

Local Pharmacy Solutions

Other options are the sorojchi pills which you’ll find easily in the local pharmacies, but be aware that they’re mostly just aspirin and caffeine, so if headaches are your problem, you might be better off with just Ibuprofen or Paracetamol. Many local pharmacies and tourist supply stores (there are lots) also provide mini-oxygen bottles

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Mystical Tourism: Trying Ayahuasca in Peru

March 28, 2012 Pirwa

Ayahuasca is Quechua for spirit vine, or vine of souls; it is a brew which shamans of the Amazon Basin have been preparing for hundreds of years

It is employed throughout the Amazon and Andes for divinatory purposes, as a religious sacrament, and for healing. Popular in Peru’s indigenous communities and among many mestizos, it’s seen throughout the country as an herbal medicine rather than an illicit hallucinogenic drug, and a valued part of Peruvian spiritual and economic life, with government tourist agencies even sponsoring ayahuasca festivals.

Popular Ayahuasca destinations include the Amazonian urban center of Iquitos and the outlying Shipibo town of San Francisco, although you can also experience it in the Andean region, such as in Cusco’s Sacred Valley. You can even take part in ayahuasca healing retreats during which you will take part in multiple ceremonies.

Apprentices spend years under the tutelage of elder shaman getting to know the individual plants used to prepare ayahuasca, learning about their individual healing properties and the spirits associated with each. According the shaman, these spirits teach them icaros, or spirit songs, which they then sing or whistle during ceremonies in order to call forth the plants’ unique assistance.

Preparations vary, but of the basic leaves, seeds, and bark combination which are boiled together to prepare the brew, it is the caapi vine which must be present. The vine is considered to be the gatekeeper and guide to otherworldly realms. Traditional additions of barks and plants are often added on top of the main ingredients for their spiritual properties, from Ayahuma bark which is used to retrieve parts of the soul lost to trauma, Capirona bark for cleansing, Remo Caspi bark to heal dark energy, and much more. Each of the many possible ingredients has a recognizable spirit; the Ayahuma bark, for instance, appears as a headless giant.

CAUTION: If you’re interested in trying Ayahuasca, you must take responsibility yourself for researching possible severe adverse reactions with various prescription medications, as most shamans are unfamiliar with Western pharmaceuticals.

Ceremonies take place as night falls, generally after a brief midday fast. The freshly prepared ayahuasca will be blessed with mapacho, a tobacco whose smoke is believed to ward off negative spirits, as the shamans pay homage to the ayahuasca’s spirits, entreating their assistance. The shamans will serve you the amount which they feel you are in need of. The taste is not pleasant, and vomiting is a normal occurrence, viewed as a purging of dark energy.

Once all have drunk, the lights are put out and the shaman begin to sing their spirit songs to the rhythm of their chakapas, leaf rattles and in somewhere around 20 minutes, the visions will begin to appear. Ideally, during this time practitioners seek a window into themselves, wrestling with their fears and releasing negative spirits. Many feel they are traveling among realities. Sting famously says that during his Ayahuasca ceremony, he chased a bee through a Joshua tree for hours. You can expect the average ceremony lasts about four to five hours.

In each of Pirwa Hostels’ thirteen locations throughout Peru and Bolivia, you’ll find the help desks of our own travel agency and tour operator, Pirwa Travel. If you are interested in trying ayahuasca, you can ask them to help arrange this for you. Don’t worry if you haven’t the time to make it to the jungle, as there are also options throughout the Andean region for mystical tourists looking for a unique experience!

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