Puno – Page 6 – Pirwa Hostels BLOG

Your Must-Do List for Puno Peru

August 8, 2013 Pirwa

Many travelers pass through Puno to visit the islands of Lake Titicaca or to cross into Peru or Bolivia in the most economical way possible. The city, its outskirts, and the lake are worth stopping to explore, however. In honor of all that little Puno has to offer, here are our suggestions for how to spend your time in Puno, ranked in no particular order:

Hike to one of Amantani Island’s two hilltop temples, Pachatata (Father Earth) or Pachamama (Mother Earth). It takes about two hours.
Climb the 600 stairs to Condor Hill lookout (Kuntur Wasi) for the most impressive view overlooking the city and the lake. There are benches to rest along the way, but it’s also accessible by car.

Ride in a traditional totora reed boat. You can arrange a short ride from the Floating Islands of Uros.
Visit the free Yaraví Ship Museum at Puno’s port. It’s housed in the world’s oldest single-propeller iron ship, which was carried on mule-back through the Andes in the 1800s.
Walk along the lakeside walkway, the Malecón Ecoturístico Bahía de los Incas, marked by stunning lake views and pre-Incan sukankas.
Don the traditional dress of Amantani Island and take part in a local dance while staying with a family for the night.
Tour the Sillustani Chullpas, pre-Incan burial towers 45 minutes outside of Puno, overlooking Lake Umayo.

Sample some traditional local meals. Aside from freshly caught trout from Lake Titicaca, there are a number of options to seek out, including a quinoa fish stew known as chupe de quinua, a pig’s head soup called huarjata, a humble tuber and meat soup called chairo, breaded and fried chicharron de alpaca.
See the mummies and gold of the Sillustani Burial Towers exhibit at the Carlos Dreyer Museum in the main square.
Stop at the café and bar at the 17^th century Corregidor’s House in the mainsquare, a popular gathering place for local artists and expats.
If possible, go during the last week of January and first couple of days of February to enjoy one of South America’s most spectacular festivals, the Virgen de la Candelaria Festival.

If you need any assistance with guided excursions, bus transport, or any other aspect of your trip, feel free to contact the experienced specialists of Pirwa Travel, who have been providing travel services throughout Peru for ten years.

It’s no secret that when it comes to where to stay, we think that Pirwa Puno Hostel is the best choice for budget-conscious travelers! We’re located just a couple of blocks from the city’s main square, and a 15 minute walk from the port of Puno.

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This Month: The Feast of San Santiago & Taquile Textile Fair on Lake Titicaca

July 9, 2013 Pirwa

The Island of Taquile in Lake Titicaca has been inhabited for over ten thousand years, first by the Pukara culture before being integrated into the Tiahuanaco Kingdom and the Inca Empire. It has the distinction of being one of the final holdouts resisting the Spanish conquest. Although it was probably known as Intika during the Inca Empire, the island took its current name from Count Rodrigo of Taquila, who received the island after it fell to the Spanish.

After a brief stint as an island prison during the republic, ownership of the island of Taquile was returned to the local communities some decades ago. Today it houses a couple thousand Quechua-speaking residents spread throughout the various villages. Residents still don the Spanish peasant clothing they were forced to adopt after the conquest, combined with Andean ponchos, coca-leaf purses, and belts. The island’s day to day life is run though community collectivism and the economy relies mainly on fishing, terraced agriculture, and tourism.

Most visitors who visit Taquile due so as part of a tour including Amantani Island and the Floating Islands of Uros. The Uros islands are sometimes referred to as Peru’s “Disney experience”, but are considered an obligatory stop regardless because despite their increasingly touristic nature, they’re still a site like no other.

Meanwhile, the lesser-known Taquile is popular for the warmth of its people, its scenic hikes, and the very traditional and communal way of life of its inhabitants. If you visit Taquile without visiting the other islands first, it takes three hours to reach the island (although much less if you opt for a more expensive speedboat option.) One does not see dogs and cats on the island, as these are considered delicacies, and families must receive community permission to have one.

Each July 25^th through August 2^nd, Taquile honors its patron saint, the Apostle James (San Santiago). The night before the ascent of the saint on August 2^nd is marked by dances, serenades and fireworks, although if you visit anytime during this period you are likely to be treated to a festive atmosphere with abundant chicha (fermented corn beer) and a backdrop of Sikuris and others playing panpipes, Andean flutes, and drums while other perform the Candelaria, Cinta K´ana, Taquilean Carnaval, and other traditional dances.

The Taquile art fair takes place around the same time, from July 25^th through August 5^th.

Handwoven Taquilean textiles are considered some of the best handicrafts in Peru, UNESCO even declared the textile art of Taquile Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005. While yarnmaking and weaving are considered female tasks, knitting is exclusively done by males. Alongside soapmaking, these are some of the traditional tasks you’ll be able to observe during your visit. During the art fair, you will find the families of the Artisan Association displaying their wares in the main square.

The festival ends with the offering to the Pachamama (the Andean version of the mother earth).

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Best Time to Travel- When to Visit Peru

May 29, 2013 Pirwa

Best Time to See: The Andes

The vast Andean mountain range includes fertile valleys marked by patchwork subsistence farming, traditional adobe cities with cobblestone streets and colorfully dressed locals, and the Incan ruins of fortresses, temples, and terracing. The glacial peaks provide a scenic challenge to the most intrepid travelers, and the jungle brow (high-altitude jungle) and cloud forests help make the Andes the region housing the most microclimates in Peru. Travelers visit to explore the former imperial capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco, discover for themselves the iconic Machu Picchu Archeological Complex, and practice extreme sports along the mountainsides and river rapids.

The weather is extraordinarly varied, meaning that cold mornings and frigid nights can combine with sunny, very hot afternoons. During the rainy season, it can rain everyday of your stay, but generally in short bursts. Bring layers that will allow you to adjust to the temperature shifts, and don’t forget the sunblock even during the rainy season- the sun scorches at higher altitudes.

Dry Season: May to October

Inti Raymi Festival & Cusco’s Anniversary (June)
Clearer Trails
Better Views- especially Machu Picchu
Hillsides Bloom (September)
Higher demand & more crowding
Higher prices

Wet Season: November to April

Uncomfortable for hiking (muddy paths, potential landslides)
Clouded views
Unexpected dangers & delays (flooded roads, derailed train tracks)
Fewer people
Great bargains
New Years in Cusco
Fiestas Patrias Independence Days throughout Peru (April)

What to do: explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas, raft the Apurimac River rapids, hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, watch a traditional weaving demonstration, visit Sacsayhuaman Fortress, tour the former imperial capital of the Incas

Best Time to See: Desert Coast

Peru’s arid Pacific coast is home to the ancient cities of Chan Chan and Sipán, the Paracas Reserve, and the Nazca Lines. While Nazca, Ica, and Paracas are hot and sunny throughout the year, epitomizing general conceptions of desert climes, you’ll notice some anomalies: Lima is very humid due to coastal fog and breezes from the Pacific, which regulate the city’s temperature so that it’s never too hot or too cold. Meanwhile, the cooling effects of the Humboldt current means you can see penguins off of the coast of Paracas, in the Ballestas Islands.

At least in Lima, one can categorize two seasons, summer and winter, with May and November acting as transitional months with dramatic temperature fluctuations:

Summer: December to April

Temperatures average 78.8 F in Lima
Clear skies most days
“Cielo de Brujas” famously colorful sunsets
Crowded beaches
Ica & Nazca dry and sunny throughout year

Winter: June to October

Averaging 59°C in Lima
Mainly gray skies in Lima
Omnipresent coastal fog known as Garúain Lima
Sandstorms in Paracas
Ica & Nazca dry and sunny throughout year
Beaches along the north still sunny
Low Tourist Season- Less Crowding
Low Tourist Season- More Bargains
Better waves for surfing
Bullfighting season in Lima
Lord of Miracles Festival in Lima (Oct/Nov)
St Rose of Lima Festival in Lima

What to do: Hike one of the world’s deepest canyons, fly over the Nazca Lines, Sandboard giant sand dunes near Huacachina Oasis, surf in Mancora, watch the penguins and sea lions of the Ballestas Islands, tackle the glacial peaks of Chachani, bike down Misti Volcano

Best Time to See: The Amazon

The Amazon Rainforest houses an astounding diversity of exotic plants and animals, as well as tribes indigenous to the area, who still uphold their timeless traditions in the face of an ever-encroaching modernity. Although much of this treasure is forbidden to access in order to protect its pristine nature and delicate ecosystems, there is a border area where tourism and scientific study are permitted. (Between the two zones, there’s a buffer zone to protect the refuge area.) Along the rivers and the jungle paths of the outer zone, one can find commune with capybara, sloths, monkeys, and more.

In the rainforest, high heat, frequent rains and 85% humidity come with the terrain. Although a wet season and dry season is frequently referenced, there isn’t much actual variation in rainfall throughout the year. The river water levels, however, can vary up to 40 feet throughout the year, mainly due to runoff from snow melting along the eastern slopes of the Andes.

December Thru May: High Water Season

Cooler temperatures (averaging 86 F)
Trails & paths flooded
More mosquitoes
More exuberant, blooming vegetation
Carnaval (Feb/May)

June Thru November: Low Water Season

Higher temperatures (averaging 98 F)
More trails & paths accessible
Fewer mosquitos
Better fishing
Migratory birds in flight
Less exubuerant vegetation
Riverways not navigable
More animals gather riverside (less dispersal due to loss of terrestrial water pools)
San Juan Festival (end of June)

What to do: visit an indigenous tribal community to learn about their way of life, swim with pink dolphins, visit a macaw clay lick, fish for piranha, visit monkey island, go on night canoe trip to see glowing cayman eyes, watch the sun set over the Amazon River, visit traditional river house

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10 Years of Pirwa

April 20, 2013 Pirwa

A decade ago, Pirwa Hostels was founded with the dream of creating a welcoming haven where travelers could relax and interact, one providing an experience rather than merely a bed and shower. It all began with only Pirwa Colonial Backpackers hostel in Cusco, but despite these modest beginnings, the Pirwa Family has grown incredibly. As we approach our 10 year anniversary this June, we wanted to look back at some of the milestones along the way.

We’ve grown a lot in the last ten years, improving facilities and services based on your feedback along the way. Today, Pirwa Hostels boasts backpackers’ hostels or Bed & Breakfasts throughout Peru and Bolivia: two in Lima, four in Cusco, two in Machu Picchu, and one each in Nazca, Puno, Arequipa, and La Paz. The Pirwa family has also grown into a one-stop shop offering transport and excursions through our own travel agency, Pirwa Travel Service, whose friendly s staff helps travelers with all aspects of their trip.

There’s also been quite a bit of formal recognition over the years, none prouder than when the agency became an officially recognized Inca Trail operator. Other notable events were Pirwa Colonial winning Hostelworld’s #1 Hostel in Peru award in 2009, and Pirwa Machu Picchu B&B winning Hostelbooker’s Cleanest Hostel award in 2011.

It hasn’t been all work, however. Last year was a blast: We added new activities we hadn’t done before, such as free weekly walking tours of Cusco that always ended with free drinks, and the New Years Party at Pirwa Colonial was the biggest we ever had! Currently, we’re happily planning all of the events for our anniversary week this June- details will be forthcoming soon!

So far this year, we renovated several hostels, so that even after all these years and the memories they hold, they feel new again, and more adapted to the needs of our friends and guests from around the world.

Through hard work, trial and error, and lots of listening, Pirwa Hostels’ founders created something different, and you’ll see them at various events still putting their all into making sure that guests enjoy their stay and have an unforgettable. Were it not for the support of our backpacking and traveling friends, we could never have experienced all of these things. So from all of us to all of you, thank you for the memories. The next decade will be even better- we hope that you’ll experience it with us as part of the Pirwa Family!

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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!