Although most people rush off to the nearby canyons and volcanoes, there’s lots to see in the White City of Arequipa, most of which costs little or nothing. For those of you looking for local culture, great photo ops, and a look into the city’s past, here are our favorite sugestions on how to spend some free time in the city:
For all of its colonial and pre-Columbian charm, many of travelers will attest that the city of Cusco seems to be covered in a fine layer of dust… Add in a trek or two in the mountains or along the Inca trail, and you’ve got a recipe for some pretty dirty clothing and gear. Luckily, laundry services tend to be cheaper in Cusco than in Lima, Aguas Calientes, and other tourist destinations.
The dusty little town of Paucartambo, so famous during its Virgin del Carmen Festival each July, is also home to a unique natural phenomenon which has attracted admiration since the time of the sun-worshipping Incas. It takes place two hours from the town, at Tres Cruces de Oro Lookout (Acjanaco Pass) 12,100 feet over sea level.
The tiny colonial town of Paucartambo, located about four hours from Cusco, doesn’t have much more than three streets to its name, and yet, it is considered one of the folkloric capitals Peru. This is entirely due to the idiosyncratic Virgin del Carmen Festival, when residents abandon the quotidian chores of country life to don papier maché masks and bull fighter’s dress, or other traditional costumes, and dance as their ancestors did, downing as much beer as possible in the process. The festival has become more popular each year, so much so that for a few days each July the town overflows with more than 90,000 visitors, the majority of who camp out on its streets when lodging is no longer available.
Music and art lovers, should make it a point to visit the UNESCO-backed Selvámonos music festival. The setting is ideal, as it will all take place within the Oxapampa-Asháninka-Yanesha Biosphere Reserve near Yanachaga Chemillen National Park. It’s nestled in a green valley of Peru’s high jungle and protects indigenous communities as well as the area’s flora and fauna. And, if you share the organizers’ ecologically conscious ideals, then it’ll be an even more perfect fit for you.