The famous Mirador de Yanahuara

Yanahuara has quaint narrow streets and stale, houses with gardens and a church in the year 1750 located in the main square with its Baroque facade. But the highlights are the famous arches of ashlar Yanahuara Lookout where you can see the whole city, in these arches are engraved texts on chairs the whole philosophy of life and inspiration of the settler Arequipa.

Yanahuara Square has a veranda with a picturesque view of Arequipa and its three volcanoes, the most famous Misti, and Pichu Chachani Picchu.

El Mirador de Yanahuara, located on the side of the square. Has an extraordinary view of the city. The Yanahuara was built in the nineteenth century and is composed of a series of arches of ashlar in which are recorded the words of famous Arequipa and where you can see the whole city and the majestic Misti volcano, even better appreciated if the sky is clear.

Currently Arequipa's regional government began work on restoration and expansion of the traditional viewpoint Yanahuara, with the aim of offering tourists comfortable accommodations and adequate service during your visit to this attractive Arequipa. Boost tourism and commercial activities of this sector, tourists and not limit the time spent in the gazebo.

Office will have an orientation of the various attractions, a rest area where they feel comfortable and relax, finally there will be many leisure environments.

How to get there?

Yanahuara, one of the traditional districts of Arequipa, is located ten minutes away from the White City, located 1.003 kilometers south of Lima.

It should be noted that on average has about 330 sunny days per year in the hours of 8 am to 5 pm, with strong solar radiation and dangerous between 11 am and 3 p.m. hours, so that preventive measures should be taken to protect the skin.

Pampas Galeras, the largest vicuña reserve of America

The Pampas Galeras National Reserve, also known as Barbara D'Achille Reserve, was established 1967, is a famous recovery of the vicuña. Located in the province of Lucanas, Department of Ayacucho, is 6 500 ha, but its area of influence extends over 60 000 hectares and includes a large group of peasant communities Reserve itself comprises land owned by the rural community Lucanas.

At an altitude of 4200 meters above sea level. This nature reserve is home to hundreds of vicuña and guanaco, beautiful animals that are seen on the plains of the Andes even in the wild. Currently Pampas Galeras Reserve is home to over 70% of the vicuña population in the world, therefore, a visit to Pampas Galeras guarantees any visitor lover of nature and animals unique experience in the Andean highlands. This program also includes a visit to the Museum of Pampas Galeras site which shows a number of interesting species dissected.

Pampa Galeras is the main center for the conservation of the vicuna in Peru. This graceful wild camel is adapted to the intense cold of the highlands and is a symbol of our animal wealth ... their fleece produces the finest wool in the world.

In 1965 he begins a program of protection of the vicuña in Pampa Galeras, with park rangers and continuous patrol. After 15 years of effective protection, the vicuña population recovered to reach the figure of 52 000 copies in the Reserve Area. In 1980 there were 75 000 vicuñas throughout Peru.

This was possible thanks to a combination of several factors: the control of hunting in areas of vicuña, the prohibition of international trade in vicuña wool, thanks to an agreement signed in 1969 by the Andean countries (renewed in 1979), and technical and financial assistance to promote such actions.

The vicuña is beautiful, measures up to 1.60 m, weighs between 30 and 50 kilos, and runs up to 45 km per hour, to escape from predators are fox and puma.

In Pampa Galeras has recovered an ancient practice called "chaccu" where corners and the vicuña shearing without sacrificing ... This benefits the poor Andean communities that ensure their care.

In this book live endangered species like the Andean deer, the condor and the Andean suri or ostrich, which does not fly and form flocks with vicuna. Peru has the largest population of vicuña in the world. Their care allows new jobs and welfare.

Colan, calm beaches, sunshine and beauty

It is a beautiful resort located 72 km from the city of Piura in the province of Paita. Home to the church "San Lucas", the first founded by the Spanish in South America. This resort has excellent hotels and restaurants to serve tourists comfortably.

The beaches are calm and emerald color, the sun rises in full-time day ago interminables.La northern food is characterized by exquisite, where he tasted his dishes are ceviche of grouper, a chavelo dry, or a crab batter.

Here you can see old wooden houses and some lodges and hotels on the seafront, where you can appreciate a beautiful landscape, especially at sunset. The heat not only climate but the people who live in Colan, will make you feel at home and need a place to vacation with your family as well as sports like windsurfing because of the good environment, as the waves provide the athlete.

If you enjoy recreational activities at sea, you can opt for snorkeling, scuba diving and jet skiing. Also if you have not ever practiced this sport, you can easily do since there are specialized sites that have all the requirements to start a new water sport.

The beach sand is thin, has calm waters and its temperature is always warm, plus the landscape of their homes prepared for the vast majority of wood on stone terraces overlooking the sea, can connect directly with nature and to feel found in one of the most exclusive beaches in the Caribbean.

It is very important to keep in mind that in some areas of the sea there are banks of rays, so the locals should enter the water dragging their feet.

You can also visit the Bocana, a place where it joins the Chira River to the Pacific Ocean, where you'll find thousands of crabs that are a red carpet that appears and disappears into the sea current.

How to get there?

To access this beach you must first take a bus to Piura, Paita, fares s / 2.50. Travel time 1 hour and Paita to Colán a combination s /. 2.00 a ticket and 15 minutes away.

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The Catacombs of San Francisco, a journey from the depths of the earth

The crypt of San Francisco, which have become famous with the name of catacombs similarity to the Roman, are a series of underground vaults (below the chapels of the church), they were used until the early nineteenth century. Served as the burial of members of fraternities and sororities.

The San Francisco architectural complex was built in parts, between 1537 and 1673, is divided into three parts: The temple, the Convent and Catacombs, also has a beautiful fountain in its courtyard.

In 1947 were opened galleries and passages that were boarded up, to carry out excavation work, cleaning and light fixtures, three years later in 1950 the catacombs were open to the public.

In his extensive travel or vaulted ceilings can be seen planes linked by passages and arches. Built with brick and masonry on the floor of them are rectangular graves where the coffins were placed one upon another, separated by land and lime, lime accelerates the decomposition process, preventing epidemics early and odors. Inside the catacombs are buried 25 000 people.

Throughout the tour of the catacombs is repeated much the view of skulls, femurs, tibia and fibula, so are the toughest parts of the body. There are also pits or ossuaries that are designed to absorb the seismic waves and the depth is ten meters.


The total area of these crypts have not yet been calculated and it is believed there may be a connection between its galleries, the Government Palace and the nearby Homeless.

There is a crypt which is known by the name of the venerable crypt, where the remains of Fray Juan Gómez who immortalized in his famous Ricardo Palma Tradiciones Peruanas, Fray Andrés Corso one of the founders of the Convent of the Barefoot and Fray Jose Mojica, a famous Mexican artist film and opera singer, who died in Lima on September 20, 1974.

How to get there?

The Catacombs of San Francisco is located in the Plaza San Francisco (corner shreds, Wide and Lampa) - Lima, Peru

Visiting hours:

Monday to Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 05:30 p.m.
Admission is S /. 5.00 soles to the general public
Students S /. 2.50 new soles and Children S /. 1.00 nuevo sol.


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Exploring Palpa Lines

In the province of Palpa, are the mysterious lines Palpa. Forgotten and neglected are as impressive as her sisters "Nazca Lines" and contain the same mysteries about his creation, and function. These lines are in various areas of Palpa and in Sacramento, and Llipata Pinchango also arranged in rough areas, such as plateaus and hills.

According to recent archaeological studies, the first designs in the desert were made in the valleys of Palpa and Rio Grande. Archaeologists believe that 3000 years ago, ancient people of Peru used the flat surfaces of the desert and the foothills of the same, to draw geometric figures and representations of human beings. Experts Nazca and Palpa Lines believe that these strange figures were drawn to such an extent to worship ancient gods of heaven, who apparently thought controlled the forces of nature such as earthquakes, drought and flood periods.

Were discovered in 1997 by a group of Peruvian and foreign archaeologists led by Markus Reindel and Johny Isla, who by different methods could find that were older than the famous Nazca lines, which were developed by the Paracas culture several hundred years before . They found thousands geoglyphs, 650 archaeological sites and adobe buildings.

Palpa Lines are huge geometric, zoomorphic and fitomorfos. A particular feature is the large number of anthropomorphic figures, which are almost absent in the desert of Nazca and usually appear oriented towards the valley to be seen by the inhabitants of the settlements. The main figures represent the sundial measuring five hundred feet, the whale of thirty-five feet, the fox, a pelican, and even a royal family (consisting of three human figures representing a man, woman and child).

Another interesting fact is that in the case of the traps, they are oriented to the rivers in the area. These representations would be also linked to ritual aspects on the site, such as musical instruments and ceramics.

Research has helped unravel the mysteries of the great lines on the desert palpeño, and the main conclusion is that the valley was a sacred landscape to the worship of water and fertility, which were key to the inhabitants could survive in the desert. He was also one of the first states archaic pre-Hispanic Peru.

Moreover, that drew thousands palpeños figures on its rugged plain, compared to the Nazca Lines are approximately forty. Among other differences, have much more diversity of shapes. And so were contested all previous theories (the solar calendar and that it was an alien landing site.)

The discovery of Palpa Lines is significant because it allows further knowledge of the cultures that developed in this southern boy, and also allows a rich source of information for archaeological studies.

But unlike what happens with the Nazca Lines (within 50 miles) in Palpa, the geoglyphs can be seen from the surrounding heights, but those who want to see them in their full magnitude also exist in both aircraft overflights and helicopter.

How to get there?

Palpa Lines are located south of Lima, and east of the department of Ica, at km 395 of the South Pan-American Highway 1 h 15 min. car, in the province of Palpa.

It fly want Palpa Lines can be contacted Ica tourism services and even companies that fly over the lines, which are companies that offer travel by plane, by an average of $ 50.00 per person. You can purchase these services from any agency or even from the same hotels.

Huncaya Beauty, a land of extraordinary landscapes and friendly people

Huancaya, is located in the heart of Nor Yauyos-Car, famous for its turquoise lakes linked by waterfalls and flanked by chasms where you can still see ancient platforms.

Derives from the Quechua word Huancaya Wancaya, which means place of pedredones. Huancaya also states that means: HUANCA = stone, large stone or piece of hill, and AYA = dead, which would mean stone dead, killed by the stone or stone simply disintegrated. The truth is that this village is formed on the remains of disintegrated rock which can be seen in every corner of the old houses and their buildings we see today.

Travel to Huancayo, is passing on the road watching the scenery is something that makes a destination in itself. The mountain range offers its accidents, yellowish in the dry season, very green in the rainy months. The guns are unique flaqueados terracing. Gaps in full abundance of birds, wetlands, forests, vast plains, herds of camels are perhaps the most magnetic elements in the reserve. Do not forget that it is a conservation area for its landscape value. On the way to Huancaya, we passed the Piquecocha beautiful lake, where we see pairs of geese, herons and grebes. Depending on the time of day, the sun is changing the color of this large body of water, sometimes in tones of steel, others of intense turquoise.

Huancaya is probably the most visited by travelers to Lima, coming here in increasing numbers. This is the town where he may have as much food and lodging services, basic always, always sufficient.

A 28 km Huancaya is Vilca the annex, a town that is great for its spectacular scenery. Beside the road you will find campsites. Reaching Vilca you will see the waterfall and the bridge centenary Pucacha colonial. A 20 minute walk from the town center is Papacocha Lake surrounded by eucalyptus forests at 3800 meters. Impressive sight.

What to do?

You can horseback ride along the river, and to discover new routes for mountain bikes, practicing 'rafting' and all activities that can inspire us in the midst of this great nature. You can visit the waterfalls of Carhuayno, where you can go fishing.

On the other hand Huancaya has a Museum where we can see pottery, gourds, brooches, pins and tissues as well as mummies and funerary bundles of the ancient inhabitants of Huancaya of spectacular conservation. All these archaeological evidence were found in the cemetery Quimllo, located 1.5 km from the town center. The ancient people had a close relationship with the Paracas culture.

How to get there?

Huancaya district is located in the Nor Yauyos Cochas and is 290 km (Via central road) or 320 km (Via cañete) southeast of Lima (8 hours in a private vehicle)). The reservation covers parts of the provinces of Yauyos (Lima Region) and Jauja (Junín Region).

There are two routes from Lima

On the main road, the travel distance is 290 km to Huancayo, of which 218 km are asphalted road and 72 km of dirt road. Oroya is passed and then continue by road to Huancayo to Pachacallo where paved stretch ends, then continue along a dirt road to cars and then Vilca and threaded a pass to almost 4500 meters.

In the American South, the travel distance is 320 km to Huancayo, 187 km are paved and 133 are affirmed. The first section is Lima - Cañete. Then take the turning Lunahuana. Passed by Imperial and other annexes Lunahuana. The second section is a gravel road that goes through towns like Pacaran, Zuñiga, Catahuasi, Magdalena, Llapay, and Vitis, and finally to Huancaya


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Quistococha a resort, full of charms and legends

It is a national tourist park, located near Lake Quistococha with 369 hectares. The lake with a mile. square and 8 m. deep water is calm and is surrounded by typical vegetation. It has a white sandy beach where visitors can swim and rent pedal boats or to navigate the lake.

It has a zoo with about 70 species of Amazonian animals, among which are a pink dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), the jaguar or jaguar, harpy eagle, primates, etc. The lake is 56 hectares and has an artificial beach, cabanas and restaurants. Is a major recreation centers in city of Iquitos.

Holds 369 hectares of natural forest, including timber forest nursery, ornamentals, native fruit and medicinal plants. It also has a mini zoo, playground, sports fields and hiking trails.

The Legend of Quistococha

The story goes that a native of the area as night fishing effort to catch a nice halibut did that after being placed in his canoe, let him attend a wonderful miracle, something wonderful in the eyes of anyone at the center of your boat emerged the image of a person dressed in white robes, incredible picture, but after staring at felt amazed to know that it was Christ.

At that time the song of millions of birds that area became a beautiful melody giving it a musical context to the miraculous appearance of Christ awakening the native aboriginal community, and all were able to observe the appearance of our Savior. In that event originates Cristococha name, "Christ the Water", today called Quistococha, located 11 km from the center of the city of Iquitos and is one of the places where the tourist enjoys the ride through the jungle.

Getting to Quistococha in COMBI:

To reach Quistococha, there are vans with missing source / exit at the intersection of Bermudez and Moore, 1 block from the Plaza July 28. Any motorcycle taxi can take you to this fate from anywhere in the city for 1.50 soles.

The fare Iquitos - Quistococha in combi (passenger van) is between 1.5 and 3 soles.

Getting to Quistococha in MICRO BUS:

To arrive by bus or as they call in Iquitos: Minibus, you should take line 49 on Calle Arica. Calle Arica is one of the main streets of the city. Born on the side of the main square of Iquitos (next to the Mother Church). Its continuation is called Fitzcarraldo. Any motorcycle taxi can bring you up to this street from any part of the city of 1.5 or 2.0 soles.

The price for the trip Iquitos - Quistococha costs 1.0 soles. When you return, you can take the bus on the outskirts of campus. It is best to ask the price before embarking.

Getting to Quistococha by motorcycle taxi:

Quistococha is located 11 kilometers from the Plaza de Armas, which is approximately 20 minutes travel by motorcycle taxi, at km 6.3 of road Iquitos - Nauta. The price can vary between 5 and 8 soles, depending on your negotiating skills.

ENTRY PRICE QUISTOCOCHA
The ticket price for adults is 3.00 nuevos soles and children 1, 00 soles.

Time of entry to QUISTOCOCHA
From Monday to Sunday, 7:30 to 17:30.


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