Arequipa (Peru)
The city of Arequipa is located in the southern part of Peru at an altitude of 2335 m above sea level between the volcanoes Misti Chachani and Ampato. It is the second largest city in Peru and its major economic center. Arequipa was founded in 1540.
The city is filled with the spirit of the colonial era. The houses here are built of white stone with carved facades. The central square of the city of Armas is considered the most beautiful in Peru. The main attraction of Arequipa is the convent of Santa Catalina. which was built in 1580. It was only opened to the public in 1970. Now the interior of the monastery is decorated with paintings and furniture of the colonial style. This is a real separate city. Inside the walls of the monastery there are flower gardens with beautiful fountains, there are even small streets connecting the buildings of the complex. From other interesting places in the city, you can visit the Cathedral, the Jesuit Church of La Campania, the former mint of Casa de la Moneda and the Casa Moral mansion. Colca Canyon is located 180 km from Arequipa.. This is the deepest canyon in the world, its depth from the bottom to the mountain peaks reaches 3400 m. From the observation deck of the Cruz del Condor canyon, you can see the giant Andean condors soaring in the air, which are considered a landmark of this region. Also worth seeing is the nearby Cotahuasi Canyon and the Pata Pamba Pass. From Arequipa, the snow-capped peak of the Misti Volcano is visible. This active volcano has a height of 5822 m. Climbing Misti is very popular. Hikes here are organized in Arequipa in travel agencies. They continue for two days. Before climbing the volcano, tourists are advised to spend a day or two in the mountainous areas, in the cities of Cuscoor Puno, or go here after visiting the Colca Canyon.
Iquitos (Peru)
According to justinshoes, Iquitos is the capital of the Amazonian jungle of Peru. You can only get here by boat. The city itself is interesting only for the weekly Belen market, which sells a variety of handicrafts from local tribes.
Tourists come to Iquitos to explore the tropical rainforests, which offer excellent hiking opportunities. Multi-day jungle hikes or boat trips along the region’s rivers depart daily from the city. During the trip, you will be able to see the diverse flora and fauna of the selva, in addition, several boarding houses are open right in the jungle, where tourists can relax.
Puno (Peru)
Puno is the main port city located on the southwestern shore of Lake Titicaca. It was founded in 1668 and lies at an altitude of 3800 m. Puno is considered the folklore capital of Peru. This is a very rich city, because it is surrounded by silver mines.
Lake Titicaca is the world’s largest alpine navigable body of water. It is located on the territory of two countries – Peru and Bolivia. The lake is located in a tectonic basin and is known for its wildlife. Here is the national reserve of the same namehome to birds such as flamingos, Andean goose, gulls and grebes. All dwellings in the surrounding villages are built from reeds growing along the shores of the lake. According to Andean legends, it is believed that the lake was the place where the first civilization was born, and in the 20th century, a city dating back to the 9th-10th centuries AD was discovered at its bottom. e.
The whole floating islands built from reeds by the people of the Uros tribe are very interesting on the lake. There are about 20 of them, up to 10 families live on each. There are also natural islands in the center of Titicaca. Taquile Island will be of interest to those who want to get acquainted with the culture and customs of the local people. The width of the island is only 1 km, and the length is 6-7 km. Its inhabitants wear bright national costumes. There are no hotels here and transport, only numerous ruins of ancient settlements. It is worth visiting the Textile Museum on the island, because the people inhabiting the island, even men, knit traditional clothes. Also of interest is the island of Amantani with the peaks of Pacha Tata and Pacha Mama, from where a breathtaking view of the lake opens.
20 km south of Puno lies the ancient port city Tiahuanaco, which rises 30 m above the lake. Here it is worth seeing the Akapana pyramid 15 m high, the Kalasasaya stone and the Gate of the Sun, built from huge stone blocks.
Trujillo (Peru)
Trujillo is located in northern Peru on the Pacific coast. It was founded in 1535. In the city, along tree-lined avenues, mansions built in the Spanish style and decorated with beautiful balconies stand. Of the sights of Trujillo, the Central Square, the Town Hall, the Bishop’s Palace and the Cathedral stand out. The city is famous for its sandy beaches, where a calm atmosphere reigns. Here, in the local port of Malabrigo, surfers from all over the world gather every year in March, because it is believed that the longest waves in the world are observed on the Peruvian coast.
Not far from Trujillo lie the ruins of the capital of the ancient empire Chimu Chan-Chan.. His buildings include places of worship, powerful walls and houses. Chan Chan is considered a unique place due to the fact that it was built only with the help of clay and stones. The most impressive buildings are the temple-fortress of Tshudi, the temple of Huaca Esmeralda, the temple of the Rainbow and numerous pyramids. The Museum of the same name is open in Chan Chan, which presents a collection of ceramics and an exposition telling about the history of these places.
