js_composer domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/joextravel/public_html/wpt.joextravel.com/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6260polylang domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/joextravel/public_html/wpt.joextravel.com/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6260It is Peru’s second most important city ,after Lima and the second most popular among tourists, after Cuzco.
The city is part of the so called «Southern Peru Tourist Corridor», together with Nazca, Puno and Cusco.
In contrast to these other cities, Arequipa is an example of the Spanish and mestizo culture developed in Peru. There are no Inca artifacts or ruins in the city.
In the winter it is warmer than in the summer. It is nicknamed the ‘white city’ (la ciudad blanca, in Spanish), because many of the buildings in the area are built of sillar, a white stone. This rock was quarried from the many volcanoes that surround the city, including the towering El Misti.
Another theory which is commonly believed by the local population, is that the name ‘white city’ came about because it was built by spanish immigrants from the Basque Country who had pale skin and blonde hair. New Urban and archeological discoveries have shown that the frontage of houses were painted in different colours. Remaining examples can be found in the ‘Casa Tristan del Pozo’, the town centre. Ask for local help to identify Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu, the three volcanoes surrounding the city.
Arequipa embodies a rich mix of the indigenous and Spanish colonial cultures. With 468 years of history since its founding, examples of Spanish colonial architecture can be found throughout the center of the city and several surrounding districts.
UNESCO has declared it a Human Heritage site. Catholic churches are scattered throughout the center of the city. Some ancient houses have been refurbished by the local authorities and serve as living museums. An example of this are the so-called «Tambos» located at Puente Bolognesi street.
]]>During the walk we will see ideal landscapes to take pictures, once we arrive at the Lagoon we will get a short introduction about the story of the lagoon. After that we have free time to experience and explore the landscape surrounded by the mountains. After explorig, we will hike back down to our car, which will take us about 40 minutes. We will get back in the car and driver for about an hour to Soraypampa, the same place we had breakfast, we will have lunch. After lunch we will drive back to Cusco, we will be back in Cusco at about 6/7 pm.
]]>La Paz’s guardian is Illimani, a majestic mountain whose height is 6439 m and is a part of the Andean Cordillera mountain range. The streets of La Paz are known for their steepness. This city has as one of its highlights the proud Chola Paceña, representing the unique beauty of the Andean women.
The City tour will be for about 3 ½ hours. It will start in the Moonvalley,which is located in the south of the city. Once we arrived in the moon valley, we will go for a 30 minute walk, afterwards we will go to Miraflores where we visit the archaeological Plaza and the Hernnado Siles Stadium. Continuing with this city tour we visit the Killi Killi lookout where we see the majestic Illimani mountain and the urban landscape of the city.
Afterwards we will visit the Old Town of the city admiring the Plaza «Pedro Domingo Murillo» where we find the seat of government, the Metropolitan Cathedral and Legislative Palace. Our last stops will be a visit of the museums in Jaen Street and the Witches’ Market and finally the handicrafts market where we will finish the City Tour.
]]>Creole Music has suffered from influences of the international music. Hip Hop, Reggaeton, Salsa, Rock, Pop, Cumbia, and Chicha have all weakened the Creole of Peru, but at the same time it’s still very much alive. For a taste of Peruvian Creole music, interested parties should head down to the III Encuentro de Centros Musicales (3rd Meeting of Musical Centres), where a number of musicians will demonstrate their skills in the Creole musical tradition. The event begins at 7.00pm and it’s free for anyone to attend.
An interesting fact is that, of course, October 31 is also Halloween. Nowadays those two fiestas co-exist in Peru and both are celebrated together. One of the most popular Halloween costumes is seen in Cusco’s main square, the Plaza de Armas: the festive costume of the Negroide, the Afro-Peruvian celebrated in Creole Music.
On the 31st of October in many cafes, bars and restaurants all over Peru you will only hear Musica Criolla. Orquests of creole music, with their guitars and the wooden box drums called the (creole) “cajon”, work extra hours on this day. The most well-known representatives of the Peruvian creole music are Bartola, Eva Ayllon and Chabuca Granda.
Apart from in bars and restaurants you will hear Creole Music on TV and radio stations all day long. Creole Music is very important in the life of Peruvians. It stands for tradition, nostalgia and love. It is the music of their parents and grandparents. In many institutions, such as schools and companies special activities will take place during this day. Children dress up like the Afro-Peruvians of the coast. They are the symbols of the coastal creole style that has become typical for Peru.
Here is a beautiful example of Creole songs:
]]>When the Spanish came to Cuzco they came on that long highway from the north and entered Cuzco through Carmenca. Important Spaniards, such as the chronicler Juan de Betanzos, settled here. Even though the infrastructure of the neighborhood, its plaza, streets, and homes are being updated, in many parts of the neighborhood you can still see the colonial big-houses.
The Spanish built an archway as an entrance to the walled city of Cuzco that they built on top of the Inca one. In its day, it was a point of control for all people entering the city. Today the colonial arch still exists and brings an unusual charm to the neighborhood.
The zone of Santa Ana continues to maintain its traditional patronal feast since it is one of the most ancient neighborhoods of Cuzco and its saint has many devotees throughout the city of Cuzco. The feast and devotion to Saint Anne brings many people to the city from throughout the city of Cuzco, although they are most concentrated in the quarter of Chinchaysuyo.
On its festive days both tourists and local people fill the neighborhood with joy and emotion. The carguyoq (those responsible for sponsoring the feast) and their supporters present dances, allegories (floats) and fireworks.
Santa Ana is about 20 minutes walking distance from plaza de armas it is a steep walk with stairs up a hill until you reach the church. But the view on top is absolutey amazing and breathtaking. Many hotels such as the Hilton and a lot of hostels are located here due to the amazing view. It is nice to take a walk in the neighborhood you will find many little stores here and it is just a little adoreable spot, which holds a lot of history within. I just sat down for a while and watched the people and enjoyed the view. In the area between the arch and the plaza of Santa Ana you see a diversity of businesses such as travel agencies, restaurants, grocery stores, hostels, and many others.
]]>The number 7 is sacred to many of the larger ancient cultures that existed and in many cases a number that has caused a kind of veneration; the Pythagoreans believe in 7 celestial bodies that emit a controlled vibration that governs and governs the world. These originated 7 days a week. This number is also related to the rainbow, one of the most important natural events for the Inca civilization worldview, and that “casually” are the colors of the flag of the City of Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas.
But there are many numbers 7 since the beginning of history; are 7 capital sins, 7 church sacraments, 7 musical notes, 7 the wonders of the ancient world, 7 the wonders of the modern world; one of them is Machu Picchu and is located in Cusco, a city that has 7 streets whose names begin with the number 7.
In the city of Cusco there are seven streets with names that start with the number 7; some believe that the number has a cabalistic character that came with the colony; however, other studies show that the use of this number began before the time of the Incas. The ancient Peruvians and many other cultures of the world were convinced that the stars had a decisive influence on the life and conduct of human beings. The book “Touristic Routes of Cusco” by Armando Valenzuela Lovón, indicates that: “7 is a metaphysical and inexplicable number in the Andean culture, as in many other important cultures of the world.“
The seven streets starting with a seven and their meaning:
It is a quiet passage located between Almudena and the parish of Santiago. It is said that in this street lived Don Mascareñas, a Spaniard with six children, who helped him in the task of melting pieces of bronze that were placed in the doors of the churches and where they are conserved until the present time. The weather has caused this street to deteriorate; although it still retains the essence of its history.
This street is the continuation of Ruinas Street; it is known that before the destruction of the San Agustín Temple; behind it was a residence that had 4 large windows and 3 small ones; although the buildings of the present day do not match the number of windows of the name of the street.
Its name is given by 7 stone beams that form scantlings aligned on the old bed of the Saphy river; at present it passes below the Av. El Sol in Cusco. At the present time of the 7 spars that existed in this place, one can only appreciate the one that remains on Saphy Street; the others were lost with the advance of the new city.
It is the street where people of old fell in love; they say that the lovers were tempted by the devil and that many women returned from this street with their “Sunday 7” (pregnant); these stories gave rise to the name. At present, the immense amount of people who visit the Historic Center of Cusco, has made the street lose the charm for couples who want a romantic moment.
As most things have to go in balance; we have the street called Siete Angelitos, is to the right of the street Carmen Alto. On the roof of an old house you can see the figures of 7 little angels who were painted by the order Blas de Bobadilla, who was the former owner of this house; but there are also other figures worthy of being seen, nevertheless these 7 angels would steal your attention.
It is one of the most beautiful streets of Cusco and its name, since the time of the Incas, refers to these small animals; is located in the Plazoleta Nazarenas. The Inca stone walls carry 7 pairs of snakes carved in high relief. At present you can find the snakes, which cause you to look at them closely and a lot of patience.
The name refers to people passing by this steep street with cattle and beasts of burden. Nowadays, the growth and modernity of the city have made it called Calle Palacios, since it was remodeled to improve the transit through the place. Even now from time to time, you can see some people in typical costumes walking with some flames and little lambs, in search of their attention.
]]>The rebellious Manco Inca had retreated to this fortress after his defeat at Sacsaywamán. In 1536, Hernando Pizarro, Francisco’s younger half-brother, led a force of 70 cavalrymen to Ollantaytambo, supported by large numbers of indigenous and Spanish foot soldiers, in an attempt to capture Manco Inca. The conquistadors, fought with arrows, spears and boulders from atop of the steep terracing, so the Spanish were unable to climb the fortress. In a brilliant move, Manco Inca flooded the area below the fortress with the help of previously prepared channels. With Spaniards’ horses bogged down in the water, Pizarro ordered a hasty retreat, chased down by thousands of Manco Inca’s victorious soldiers. Yet the Inca victory would be short lived. Spanish forces soon returned with a quadrupled cavalry force and Manco fled to his jungle stronghold in Vilcabamba.
Ollantaytambo was a highly effective fortress, it also served as a temple. A finely worked ceremonial center is at the top of the terracing. Some extremely well-built walls were under construction at the time of the conquest and have never been completed. The stone was quarried from the mountainside 6km away, high above the opposite bank of the Río Urubamba. Transporting the huge stone blocks to the site was a stupendous feat. The Incas’ crafty technique to move massive blocks across the river meant carting the blocks to the riverside then diverting the entire river channel around them.
The 6km hike to the Inca quarry on the opposite side of the river is a good walk from Ollantaytambo. The trail starts from the Inca bridge by the entrance to the village. It takes a few hours to reach the site, passing several abandoned blocks known as piedras cansadas – tired stones. Looking back towards Ollantaytambo, you can see the enigmatic optical illusion of a pyramid in the fields and walls in front of the fortress. A few scholars believe this marks the legendary place where the original Incas first emerged from the earth.
If you are interested in the Inca culture and history Ollantaytambo is definitely a place you should visit during your stay in Peru. This place holds a lot of history and stories about the Inca times. The climb up is demanding but do able for all ages, just take it one step at a time and include little breaks on the terraces and you will be fine.
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