The history rich Colca Valley is scattered with ancient ruins. One of these sites, Uyo Uyo, is an especially great place to explore the ancient cultures of the region and Peru. Reachable either on foot or horseback, a visit to Uyo Uyo ruins is the ideal way to acclimatize to the high altitude of the region, while absorbing some of its cultural significance. Uyo Uyo Ruins Sitting on the right bank above the Colca River is the archaeological site of Uyo Uyo. A pre-Inca village attributed to the Collagua culture of the region that was later occupied by the Incas, the town is thought to be the original capital of the Colca Valley. The building and structures of the site are a fascinating testament to the strong construction techniques and advanced architectural and agricultural strategies of the Collagua and Inca people. Visitors can explore the ruins, admiring some of the original houses, meeting places, and center of worship, that date back to the year 1200. Highlights of the Journey to Uyo Uyo Ruins A highlight of visiting Uyo Uyo is the journey to get there. Along the way, you can visit other interesting sites such as Sifon Bridge, Yanque, Cervantes Bridge, and local terraced farms. From Sifon Bridge, spot the Colca's, or ancient food storage units, that give the valley and canyon its name. In the small town of Yanque, admire the colonial church, and learn about Spanish influence on indigenous Andean culture and religion. At Cervantes Bridge, see how the architecturally pleasing stone bridge compliments the natural landscapes and nearby natural hot springs. And as you pass through local terraced farms, note the production of crops like potatoes, corn, string beans, and Andean super foods like quinoa and kiwicha. Contact us to arrange a luxury, tailormade trip to Colca! How to Get to Uyo Uyo Ruins: The Many Routes The route to Uyo
The history rich Colca Valley is scattered with ancient ruins. One of these sites, Uyo Uyo, is an especially great place to explore the ancient cultures of the region and Peru. Reachable either on foot or horseback, a visit to Uyo Uyo ruins is the ideal way to acclimatize to the high altitude of…
Described by former U.S. President Bill Clinton as “Woodstock of the mind,” the international Hay Festival is an illuminative gathering of thinkers from around the world. For the first time in 2015, and bi- annually moving forward, a Hay Festival sister celebration took place in Arequipa, Peru congregating some of the intellectual minds of South America. The most recent Hay Festival Arequipa was in November of 2017, and the next is due to take place in 2019. If you are interested in traveling to Peru for one of its many festivals, contact us. Hay Festival Arequipa The Hay Festival of Literature & Arts began as an annual literary festival held in the town of Hay-on-Wye in Wales. The modern iteration includes a number of performances and film previews, and a children’s festival that runs alongside the main event. Since its inception in 1988, it has expanded internationally, including festivals in Bangladesh, Kenya, Spain and now Peru. The Hay Festival Arequipa program features a number of South American authors, musical guests, and art exhibitions. We caught up with Cristina Fuentes de la Roche, Director of Hay Festival Americas, ahead of the 2015 edition, to learn more about the event. ARACARI: First, tell us a little about your background. What does your role as director entail? How did you get involved with the Hay Festival? CRISTINA FUENTES DE LA ROCHE: I am licensed in Business Sciences with Master’s degrees in Cultural Management and Literature. I have spent many years working in the cultural management sector, and have been working for the Hay Festival as a creator and director of the festivals in the Americas since 2004. We started with the Hay Festival in Cartagena de Indias [in Colombia] in 2006, followed by Mexico in 2010, and now we are starting in Arequipa, Peru. I am also the co-director of the
Described by former U.S. President Bill Clinton as “Woodstock of the mind,” the international Hay Festival is an illuminative gathering of thinkers from around the world. For the first time in 2015, and bi- annually moving forward, a Hay Festival sister celebration took place in Arequipa, Peru congregating some of the intellectual minds of South America….
Among the highlights of visiting the Colca Canyon in southern Peru are majestic condors, adventure activities like trekking, pre-Inca archaeology and terracing, and Colca Canyon churches from the colonial era. For the cultural connoisseur the quaint villages and period buildings are destinations in their own right, and for the outdoor enthusiast they make for delightful stops to the starting point of hikes or horseback rides. Whichever kind of traveler you are, Aracari can arrange the perfect tailormade trip to Peru for you to visit the Colca Canyon churches. Colca Canyon Churches A result of the Spanish conquest, and the resettlement of the indigenous people in the 16th century there are 15 churches in small towns along the Colca River. The valley's village churches attest to the wealth of the Caylloma silver and gold mines that were established during the Colonial period, and many of them are architectural gems filled with valuable art. The prevailing Catholic faith keeps pre-Colombian elements alive with each bearing both its ornate Hispanic inheritance and the architectural sobriety of volcanic stone. From East to West, they are located in Callalli, Sibayo, Canocota, Tuti, Chivay, Corporaque, Yanque, Ichupampa, Achoma, Lari, Maca, Madrigal, Pinchollo, Tapay, and Cabanaconde. The churches were all built in the same style, what has become known as Andean baroque. Mixing colonial and indigenous elements, they include large sillar (volcanic stone) buildings, the floor shaped in the form of a cross, with the front entrance between two square bell towers complete with small pillars, a bell, and a cupola. Inside, the syncretism, or mix between Inca and Catholic beliefs manifests further in the colorful murals detailed with animals native to the area, mountains and agricultural staples like corn appearing in many of the paintings. Visiting the Colca Canyon Churches With churches on both sides of the river, a visit to some (or all if you're feeling ambitious) is seamless on a
Among the highlights of visiting the Colca Canyon in southern Peru are majestic condors, adventure activities like trekking, pre-Inca archaeology and terracing, and Colca Canyon churches from the colonial era. For the cultural connoisseur the quaint villages and period buildings are destinations in their own right, and for the outdoor enthusiast they make for delightful…
Arequipa is famous for its statuesque white buildings in the colonial area of the city that give it the moniker 'The White City of Arequipa'. While most visitors concentrate their time there, few realise that you can see where these big, white stones come from by visiting La Ruta del Sillar, or The Sillar Route, on the outskirts of the city. This quarry visit can easily be included on a full day tour of Arequipa. Aracari arranges private, tailormade tours of Arequipa as part of any tailormade trip Peru. The White City of Arequipa Sillar is the whitish-pink volcanic rock that is common in the Arequipa region. Dating back to Colonial days, the rock was used to build casonas, churches and public buildings - like the churches and principal square in Arequipa's centre. Admiring all the historic buildings is part of the charm of visiting Arequipa. The Sillar Route La Ruta del Sillar (The Sillar Route) is a project started by the Centro de Investigación de Educación y Desarrollo (CIED) to increase tourism in the area and spread knowledge about the history of sillar in Arequipa, a UNESCO World Heritage City, giving the opportunity for visitors to the region to see Sillar produced at its source. The route is composed of canteras, or quarries, located in between the three districts of Cerro Colorado, Uchumayo and Yura. The most important quebrada, or ravine, is called Añashuayco, the beginning of the touristic route, housing 7 of the 17 active quarries located in Arequipa. Check out our Highlights of Southern Peru itinerary to inspire a trip to Arequipa! Getting to the Sillar Route Reaching the Sillar Route quarry takes approximately 30-40 minutes one-way driving from Arequipa. On arrival, you can see where the quarry workers have replicated the facade of the Church of the Company of Jesus,
Arequipa is famous for its statuesque white buildings in the colonial area of the city that give it the moniker ‘The White City of Arequipa‘. While most visitors concentrate their time there, few realise that you can see where these big, white stones come from by visiting La Ruta del Sillar, or The…
A highlight of southern Peru, the Colca Canyon creates a spectacularly dramatic landscape with bountiful adventure activities as well as opportunities for relaxation in nature. In the midst of colonial villages, the second deepest canyon in the world, and thousands of Inca terraces, are some beautiful luxury hotels to make your stay in this region comfortable and memorable. Below, Aracari has hand selected our top picks for the best luxury hotels Colca that can be arranged as a part of a private, tailormade trip to Peru. The Best Luxury Hotels Colca: Aracari's Top Picks Colca Lodge Right on the banks of the Colca River is Colca Lodge, a hotel with spectacular canyon views and natural hot springs. One of the best luxury hotels in Colca, Colca Lodge's setting is intimately natural and is the ideal base for exploring the wonders and landscapes of the region. The property draws on rustic, traditional-style architecture and natural materials, using stone, adobe, thatch and wood panels. The 45 rooms are cozy, and feel well integrated into the natural environment that surrounds them and Aracari can make sure you stay in the hotel's recently built rooms for a more comfortable experience. The highlight of the grounds are the four private, thermal baths of varying temperatures that are the perfect place to end a day of exploring the mountainous surroundings. Belmond Las Casitas The most luxurious option in the Colca region, Belmond Las Casitas is a lush haven of 20 private, separate bungalows, or 'casitas' spread across a 59 acre property. The property is decorated with traditional touches, and equipped with every modern luxury including Wi-Fi and iPod docks in every room. The casitas are strategically built within the property to maintain privacy, and maximize the garden or valley views (which in our opinion aren't dramatically different). They have heated floors, a spacious sitting area, comfortable double or twin beds, and
A highlight of southern Peru, the Colca Canyon creates a spectacularly dramatic landscape with bountiful adventure activities as well as opportunities for relaxation in nature. In the midst of colonial villages, the second deepest canyon in the world, and thousands of Inca terraces, are some beautiful luxury hotels to make your…
Surrounded by five volcanoes, ‘The White City’ of Arequipa is famous for being Peru's second largest city and for its construction using chalk-white volcanic stone known as sillar. This stone is characteristic of not only the charming colonial architecture, and interesting sites that have awarded Arequipa the title of UNESCO World Heritage city, but also in the structures of the best luxury hotels Arequipa. A stay at any of our hand selected luxury hotels in Arequipa will be a memorable way to spend a few days on a private, tailormade trip to Peru with Aracari. Best Luxury Hotels Arequipa: Aracari's Top Picks Libertador Arequipa Hotel Fully equipped with a large swimming pool, an al fresco dining area, and a beautiful lobby made from sillar, Libertador Arequipa Hotel is one of the finest accommodations that the city has to offer. The hotel is housed in a colonial style mansion built in the 1940’s, and maintains its charm with 88 spacious rooms and suites decorated with touches from the era. Located about 5 minutes by taxi from the main square, or a 10-15 minute walk, and surrounded by lush green parks, Libertador gives guests privacy and quiet tranquility while still being in close proximity to the key city sites. Casa Andina Premium Arequipa One of the city's most traditional buildings and a national historic monument built in 1794, the Casa Andina Premium Arequipa is a stately hotel housed in the former Mint (Casa de la Moneda). Its location is ideal, only three blocks from the main square and just behind the famous Santa Catalina Convent. The front half of the hotel is gorgeous, completely built from sillar, and features high ceilings and elegant decor: there are a total of five suites in this part of the property, our favorite rooms at Casa Andina Premium Arequipa. The 5
Surrounded by five volcanoes, ‘The White City’ of Arequipa is famous for being Peru’s second largest city and for its construction using chalk-white volcanic stone known as sillar. This stone is characteristic of not only the charming colonial architecture, and interesting sites that have awarded Arequipa the title of UNESCO World Heritage city,…
