Best Colonial Towns in Latin America

Arequipa, located south of Peru near the border with Bolivia, is along Trujillo Peru and Chiclayo Peru, one of the most popular holiday destinations in Peru.


If you are traveling to Arequipa for the first time, the city is within driving distance of the Colca Valley, where you can enjoy water rafting and explore the Colca Canyon, which is twice the size of the Arizona Grand Canyon in the United States Of America.

Things to do in Arequipa: Outdoor Activities

If you are an outdoor enthusiast, the National Reserve of Salinas and Aguada Blanca is one of the best places near Arequipa where you can explore Peru’s natural scenery and enjoy fun outdoor activities.

Hiking & Climbing

If you love hiking, the Salinas Reserve is home to the active volcano El Misti, which stands at over 2000 meters.

The El Misti (located 8 miles north east of Arequipa) features slopes that are quite steep so if you area an inexperienced hiker, you may want to hike along the base of the volcano. Otherwise, you can hike up the El Misti slopes to get marvelous views of the area around.

If you are an experienced climber, the El Misti's summit can be climbed in a day, although most people do camp along the way and make it a two day affair.

Animal Spotting

If you love flora and bird spotting, Salinas Reserve is home to the Salinas Lake, which features a variety of vegetation and wildlife such as Llamas, Flamingos and more.

The Salinas Reserve is also home to the beautiful plains of Pampa Canahuas where you can observe the Vicugna (type of camelid similar to llama).

Water Rafting

If you are traveling to Arequipa between spring and Christmas time, you can enjoy a river rafting trip in the Colca Valley, along the Colca River.

One of the best ways to do a water rafting trip, it’s with an organized tour, as it’ll include the rafting gear, itinerary and transportation.

However, if you have your own kayaks and prefer to venture out in the Colca Valley for a water rafting trip, the town of Huambo is where you need to head.

The drive from Arequipa to Huambo is a few hours (4 to 5 hours), and once you get to the town, you can hire out donkeys to travel the remainder of the trip, which would take a 5 hour hike to the Colca Valley

Also, if you are expert rafter, the Colca Canyon sections have rapid grades between 3 and 5 suitable for experienced rafters..

Colca Valley Trekking Tour

If you are traveling to Arequipa with the intention of exploring the majestic Colca Canyon, I would suggest an booking an organized trekking tour. In Arequipa, you can book a Colca Canyon trek with one of the many tour companies there.

A typical Colca Valley trekking tour can last between two and five days and can include a trek to the Colca Canyon, as well as a trek of the entire Colca Valley.

Beach Activities

If you are looking to enjoy some time at the beach, the beach town of Mollendo is only a couple of hours drive along the Carretera Interoceanica (highway 30).

Also, while in Mollendo you can visit the National Sanctuary of Mejía Lagoons, which is just a short drive from Mollendo beach town.

The Mejia Sanctuary is home to over 100 different species of birds that include local and migratory birds.

Things to do in Arequipa: Places of Interest

Monastery of Saint Catalina

If you are into architecture, the Monastery of Saint Catalina, located in the Historic Center district on Zela Street, is a great example of early 16th century colonial architecture.

You can tour the monastery for around $10 and see the many alleys and rooms such as a restored period kitchen.

Monastery of La Recoleta

The Monastery of La Recoleta, adjacent the Ministry of Education, is another monastery open for public viewing.

Along with the Monastery of Santa Catalina, La Recoleta offers you a glimpse into the missionary activities of nuns and monks during colonial times.

You can walk inside the rooms and explore the items there. In particular, the famed La Recoleta library is an attraction of its own as it features thousands of old books.

Arequipa Cathedral & Plaza De Armas

Visits to both Arequipa Cathedral & Plaza De Armas are two of the most popular things to do in Arequipa.

Plaza De Armas (Main Square) is actually surrounded by the cathedral of Arequipa and three beautiful granite portals.

The Main Square feature lovely tropical trees as well as a beautiful bronze fountain crowned by the statue of a soldier.

The Cathedral is free to explore, and once inside you can see an amazingly imposing altar with a beautifully carved pulpit as well as a Belgian organ.

Complex of San Francisco

The Complex of San Francisco, located nearby the Santa Catalina Monastery, features a small park, a 16th century church, a convent and the Cimientos de Fierro building, which houses a museum and a small market.

Andinos Sanctuary Museum

The Andinos Sanctuary Museum (Museo Santuarios Andinos), adjacent the Plaza De Armas (Main Square), is another popular cultural attraction in the city.

The museum features Inca mummified human remains found in Peru’s volcanoes such as the ones found in El Misti volcano.

Things to do in Arequipa: Shopping

Just as popular Panama Hats are in Cuenca Ecuador, Alpaca and Vicuña woolen and leather goods are the most popular items to shop for during a vacation to Arequipa Peru.

Shopping is, indeed, one of the top things to do in Arequipa and the Historic Center district is where you can find many of the high scale boutiques such as Patio del Ekeko‎, which one of the best places where you can find high quality Alpaca goods.

If you are looking to enjoy a nit of retail shopping, along Ejercito Avenue you can find Saga Falabella Shopping Mall, Real Plaza Arequipa and Cayma Shopping Center. All three offering plenty of department stores and food courts.

For local produce shopping, on San Camillo Street you can find Central Market (Mercado Central), where you can purchase fruits, vegetables and that kind of thing.

Another popular market, it’s Antiquilla Market located on Antiquilla Street.

Things to do in Arequipa: Nightlife & Entertainment

Since Arequipa is a University town, the nightlife in the city has a lively atmosphere
with plenty of nightclubs and live music venues.

The Historic Center district, and the area around Plaza De Armas, it’s where you can find the bulk of bars, restaurants and discos.

The Main Theater (Teatro Minicipal), adjacent Topy Top, is one of the most popular places to hang out for a pleasant night of entertainment.

The theater features nightly entertainment where you can catch local folkloric groups performing traditional Peruvian dancing.

Things to do in Arequipa: Events & Festivals

Arequipa International Guitar Festival

The Arequipa International Guitar Festival, held in August, is a popular event that brings together the best guitarist in Peru.

Great Parade of Arequipa

The Great Parade of Arequipa, held in August, is one of the most important and most popular events in Arequipa.

During this time, the city features hundreds of floats and many beautiful parades, which are reminiscent of the carnival in Sao Paulo Brazil.

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The city of Cuenca Ecuador is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its historical value.

Museums in Cuenca Ecuador

The city features museums and churches from the colonial era, along with cobbled streets with modern and colonial houses with illustrious balconies which are reminiscent of the Peruvian cities of Trujillo and Chiclayo. Apart from colonial period houses, not far from Cuenca Ecuador you can find the significant Inca ruins near the town of Ingapirca

Things to do in Cuenca Ecuador: Outdoor Activities

Hiking & Fishing

One of the top things to do in Cuenca Ecuador it’s to explore the beautiful natural scenery while enjoying fun outdoor activities. One of the most popular places where you can explore the outdoors is at Cajas National Park (Nacional de Recreación Las Cajas), which is located 60 miles west of Cuenca Ecuador.

Things people do in Ecuador while on vacation

Apart from the many natural hiking trails, Cajas National Park covers a wide area that includes the lakes of Taitachuga and Osohuaycu where you can enjoy some fishing and water activities.

If you are an experienced climber, Cajas National Park also features a few peaks such as the Chimborazo with an elevation of over 20,000 feet. The village of Jima is another place near Cuenca Ecuador where you can enjoy hiking up the beautiful hills.

The village of Jima is located 80 miles south of Cuenca's city center. Take highway 35 (La Panamericana) towards Tocadel and take the diversion to San Jose de Raranga. The village is a few miles south of San Jose de Raranga.

The area around the town of Gualaceo is another place where you can enjoy outdoor pursuits. Here, you can find many mountains trails ideal for hiking and mountain biking.

Burro Ride

Taking a Burro (donkey) ride is another exciting thing to do, especially if you’ve never been on one before. The towns of Gualaceo and Jima are great places where you can hire a burro and trot around taking in the beautiful sights.

Things to do in Cuenca Ecuador: Places of Interest

Spanish Churches

If you are a history buff or simply want to marvel at some fine architecture, Cuenca’s city center is home to a few churches from the Spanish colonial period such as:

* Iglesia del Sagrario (Old Church of Cuenca) built in the 16th century.

* Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción (New Church) built in the 19th century.

Monastery and Museum of La Concepcion (Monasterio and Museo de La Concepción)

La Concepcion Monastery and Museum houses an exhibition that showcases 17th century tombs as well as other religious artifacts such as paintings and crosses.

Things to do in Cuenca Ecuador: Half Day trips

Town of Ingapirca

A trip to the town of Ingapirca is easily one of the highlights of a trip to Cuenca Ecuador. In the outskirts of the town you can find the magnificent archeological site that is the Ingapirca Ruins. At the Ingapirca ruins you can see an amazing Inca wall and a circular temple which were constructed without the use of mortar.

If you travel to the ruins on Friday, you can also catch a small market that sells Inca artifacts imitations. Ingapirca is located 20 miles north of Cuenca Ecuador. Take highway 35 (north) towards Uculoma (around 40 minutes drive).

Town of Gualaceo

The town of Gualaceo, located 15 miles east of Cuenca’s city center, is a beautiful charming town worth adding to the itinerary. You can take a stroll along Gualaceo’s riverfront and soak in the breathtaking scenery and charming landmarks.

Town of Azogues

The town of Azogues is another charming town worth adding to the itinerary of places to visit in Cuenca Ecuador.

Azogues ( just on the outskirts of Cuenca) features a couple of museums as well as the Cojitambo Archeological site where you can see stone terraces from the Inca period.

Things to do in Cuenca Ecuador: Shopping

Just like the rest of Ecuador Cuenca is a shopper’s paradise when it comes to handmade arts and crafts. Rather than shopping malls, you’ll find a range of charming stores selling items such as the popular Panama hat.

However, for the best shopping experience, head to the town of Gualaceo. On Sundays, this charming town becomes alive with a traditional market filled with local vendors selling all kinds of handmade goods such as bags and beautifully crafted jewelry.

Things to do in Cuenca Ecuador: Nightlife & Entertainment

The nightlife in Cuenca Ecuador is on the quiet side and it consists mainly of small bars and salsa venues such as Table Salsa & Son and La Mesa Salsoteca (both along Gran Colombia) where you can enjoy a bit of salsa.

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‘El Sagrario’ district, along Gran Colombia Street, is where you will find many of these charming bars.

Things to do in Cuenca Ecuador: Events & Festivals

Azogues Carnival

The Azogues Carnival, held in Azogues, is one of the most popular events in Ecuador and features beautiful parades with flamboyant floats reminiscent of the carnival in Sao Paulo Brazil.

Azogues is located 12 miles northeast of Cuenca (around 30 minutes drive along highway 35, which is also known as La Panamericana.

Cuenca Corpus Christi Fest

Cuenca Corpus Christi Fest, held in June, is one of the most important and popular events in Cuenca and runs for seven days. The event features pilgrim processions, live entertainment and amazing firework displays.

Cuenca Independence Day

Cuenca Independence Day, held in November, is a four day event that commemorates the city’s independence. At the event you can enjoy traditional Ecuadorian music and dances as well as sample fine dishes.

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Popular National Parks in Costa Rica

The capital city of Costa Rica, San Jose is a charming city home to beautiful neighborhoods (barrios), lovely parks, museums and friendly locals.

If you are traveling to San Jose Costa Rica for the first time, the city has a strong cultural Spanish heritage that can be appreciated in the many religious celebrations all year around.

Apart from many things to do in San Jose Costa Rica, the city offers many outdoor and beach opportunities for an exotic honeymoon to Costa Rica.

For instance, you can hike at the Carara National Park and enjoy a fun time at the beach in Playa Hermosa, which is located nearby Jaco.

Things to do in San Jose Costa Rica: Fun Outdoors Activities

Butterfly Spotting

If you love butterflies, the city center of San Jose Costa Rica is home to the charming Spirogyra Butterfly Garden, which is home to hundreds of Costa Rican butterflies.

Apart from marveling at the butterflies, the garden itself provides a place where you can unwind after a busy day touring the city.

National Parks

If you are a nature lover or simply want to experience Costa Rica’s amazing forest beauty, the city of San Jose is within driving distance of couple of Costa Rica’s National Parks.

Carara National Park, located west of the city facing the Gulf of Nicoya, is one of the most popular National Parks for travelers based in San Jose Costa Rica. At the park, you can enjoy hiking and bird watching.

Braulio Carrillo National Park, located north of the city, is a just a short 30 minute drive along the highway towards Limon.

Braulio Park is a popular place for wildlife spotting, and especially hiking, as the park is home to a few inactive volcanoes with crater lakes such as Barva Volcano.

San Jose Costa Rica Urban Parks

National Park

The National Park (Parque Nacional), located nearby the Railroad Museum, is a wonderful place where you can enjoy a peaceful stroll and picnicking.

Morazan Park

The Morazan Park (Parque Morazan), located nearby Espana Park, is another beautiful park in San Jose Costa Rica where you can stroll around. The park also features lovely statues and a music pavilion which is home to a band stand on Sundays.

Espana Park

Espana Park (Parque Espana), located nearby Morazan Park, is a lovely park that features beautiful tropical trees and a statue of Juan Vazquez. Apart from being a beautiful park to walk around, on Sundays you can see local art on display by local artists.

Central Park

Central Park (Parque Nacional), located between the National Palace and the National Library, is another charming park where you can enjoy a nice afternoon stroll. The park also features a cathedral and theater on either side of the park.

Things to do in San Jose Costa Rica: Places of Interest

Culture Square

Culture Square (Plaza de la Cultura), opposite the National Theater, is one of the most popular plazas in the city where locals, tourists and buskers (street performers) congregate.

Visiting Plaza de la Cultura is, undoubtedly, one of the most popular things to do in San Jose Costa Rica. The plaza is the heart of the city and an ideal place to relax and while enjoying some people-watching.

Simon Bolivar Zoo

The Simon Bolivar Zoo (Zoologico Simon Bolivar) is a small zoo located nearby Clarion Amon Plaza. The zoo features jaguars, monkeys, crocodiles and other wildlife.

National Center of Art and Culture

The National Center of Art and Culture (Centro de Arte y Cultura), located adjacent Espana Park, offers great exhibits on Costa Rica artists, as well as an interactive show on Costa Rica modern art.

Railroad Museum

The Railroad Museum, located in the Amon District near National Park (Parque Nacional), is an interesting museum which is actually housed in a 20th century train station.

At the museum, you can see exhibits and photographs of Costa Rica old railway system.

National Palace

The National Palace (Palacio Nacional), located opposite the National Park, is where you can find Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly, and visitors are welcome to tour-watch a live congress.

Jade Museum

The Jade Museum, located at the National Insurance Institute and adjacent Espana Park, features a wide collection on pre-Columbian art, as well as an impressive collection of beautiful rare Jade.

National Museum

The National Museum (Museo Nacional), located opposite Palacio Nacional, is another must-add attraction if you are interested on Costa Rica history and art. The museum features a couple of rooms where you can see Indian artifacts and paintings from colonial times.

Things to do in San Jose Costa Rica: Shopping

One of the best places in San Jose Costa Rica to enjoy shopping is at one of the Markets (Mercados). The markets provide an ideal place for shopping for local produce as well as local handmade goods such as leather and jewelry items.

Around the Central Avenue (Central Avenida) area you can find a few markets which are located near each other. They include: Mercado Paso de la Vaca, Mercado Bourbon and Mercado Central.

Culture Square (Plaza de la Cultura) is also home to a few vendors that sell local handmade crafts such as figurines.

For retail shopping, Mall San Pedro and El Pueblo shopping center offer over four hundred department stores between them as well as food courts.

Mall San Pedro is located near a cinema complex called Cines CCM San Pedro, while El Pueblo shopping center is located nearby Bank COFISA.

Things to do in San Jose Costa Rica: Nightlife & Entertainment

Exploring the city’s night scene is one of the most popular fun things to do in San Jose Costa Rica.

The nightlife in San Jose Costa Rica comes alive at the weekend when the locals gear themselves for a fun night out.

The hot-spot for finding nightlife is a place called ‘El Pueblo’, which features many nightclubs and bars, where patrons can hop from bar to bar.

'El Pueblo' features all kinds of venues ranging from karaoke bars, lounge bars and nightclubs where you can enjoy Latin music.

Things to do in San Jose Costa Rica: Events & Festivals

San Jose Carnival

The San Jose Carnival, held after Boxing Day in December, is a popular pre-new year event that features flamboyant floats and beautiful parades reminiscing of Sao Paulo Brazil carnival.

Independence Day

Costa Rica's Independence Day is held on September the 15th and during this day the country comes to almost a complete stand-still to commemorate their Independence with marching bands and light parades.

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