The highlight of a visit to Arequipa is the Santa Catalina Monastery, one of the most impressive colonial religious buildings in Peru. The large convent is a ‘city within a city,’ covering over 20,246 square meters (218,000 square feet) and preserving the characteristics of 16th and 18th centuries, with narrow twisting streets, tidy plazas, colorful courtyards, and simple living quarters with Spanish names like Córdova, Sevilla, and Toledo. The delicate pastel colors of the buildings contrast with bright flowers, period furnishings, and religious art making it the picture-perfect place to explore some of the history of Arequipa. Aracari can arrange a visit to Santa Catalina Monastery as a part of a private, tailormade trip Peru. The History of Santa Catalina Monastery Santa Catalina Monastery was built in 1579, but only opened to the public in 1970 after 400 years as a nunnery. Visitors to the cloister can see the spacious patios, the kitchen, and slave quarters of this convent, where entrance requirements were among the strictest in Peru. Prospective nuns had to prove Spanish origin and come up with a dowry of at least 1,000 gold pesos to join the order. About four dozen nuns still live in the northern corner of the complex, which once housed up to 500 women. Contact us for a tailormade trip to Peru including a visit to Santa Catalina Monastery! When the convent opened twenty years ago, its scandals came to light. Among them is the story of Sister Dominga, the 16-year-old who entered the convent when her betrothed left her for a rich widow. The religious life did not agree with this beautiful young woman, so she faked her own death to escape. Moreover, there was little heed paid to the nuns´ vows of poverty and silence behind closed doors in the early days. During its heyday, the sleeping cells were more like luxurious European
The highlight of a visit to Arequipa is the Santa Catalina Monastery, one of the most impressive colonial religious buildings in Peru. The large convent is a ‘city within a city,’ covering over 20,246 square meters (218,000 square feet) and preserving the characteristics of 16th and 18th centuries, with narrow…
The Colca Valley is dotted with charming villages where the locals preserve the ethnic richness of their past more than any other region of Peru. Among the people there is deep rooted tradition and cultural pride that manifests in everything they do from their daily tasks to their unique clothing and hats. One of the best ways to understand the culture and immerse yourself into the everyday life of the people is to partake in community based tourism Colca. Aracari can arrange an experience with a local family in the village of Coporaque as a part of a tailormade trip Peru, so that you can authentically learn about the Colca Valley beyond typical tourist stops. My Experience: Trying My Hand at Farming On a recent trip to the Colca Canyon and Valley, I had the opportunity to participate in the community based tourism project: Pumachiri. My colleague Caroline and I would be spending the morning with a few members of a Collagua family who live in the small town of Coporaque. We arrived at their home and were immediately welcomed with open arms and invited in for a cup of mate de coca, a tea that helps when traveling at altitude. We sat down and chatted with our host, Sebastian, before his wife and a few other members of the family arrived. Dressing Like a Local I was struck by the women's colorful clothing and decorative white hats. They explained to us that there are two pre-Inca ethnic tribes who inhabited the Colca Valley: the Collaguas and the Cabanas. To this day the two groups maintain traditions dating back past colonial times and are easily differentiated by their traditional clothes, particularly their hats. The Cabanas use embroidered felt hats, whereas the Collaguas wear bejeweled white straw hats. As a way to break the ice and the language barrier, the women offered to
The Colca Valley is dotted with charming villages where the locals preserve the ethnic richness of their past more than any other region of Peru. Among the people there is deep rooted tradition and cultural pride that manifests in everything they do from their daily tasks to their unique clothing and hats. One of…
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…
