Covering 20 blocks, Belen Market is the largest in the Peruvian Amazon, and showcases virtually all of the goods that come into and out of the rainforest. It’s been described as a “time warp”, but it’s also a privileged view into a world you’ve never known before. Its exotic meats and produce are the source for almost all of the food served in area restaurants, lodges and cruise ships- but it sells much more than that.

Some 100,000 tourists are expected to visit Arequipa during its month-long celebration of the city’s 474^th anniversary. As part of the events this year, 2 thousand locals will dance the Carnaval de Arequipa in an attempt to make it into the Guinness World Records Book. Festidanza, which attracts artists from diverse countries as far as the African continent, will last 5 days

The pinnacle event, the famed Friendship Parade (Corso de la Amistad) will have its route reduced to about 3 kilometers this year to prevent it from lasting more than eight hours. That’s still a lot of folk dancing! The parade also includes live marching bands and parade floats. About 5,000 local artists participate each Aug 15^th.

Events have already begun, and tomorrow Miss Arequipa will be crowned. Here are our choices from the vast program, which has already begun and which we’ve cut off at August 20^th although the events continue for a week more.