Arequipa or Sucre
Mar 21st, 2014, 04:04 PM
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Arequipa or Sucre
Still plodding along on our trip plan. Funny how they slowly take shape eventually after spending thousands of hours on the forums!
It seems that at one time 4 months seemed like a huge amount of time, but now that I am at the reality phase of planning, I realize I will probably have to make some choices. In order to have a little more time in northern Peru, we will have to cut out either Sucre or Arequipa. We would like to spend a week in one of these cities to improve our Spanish, take some hikes and kick back.
In Bolivia we wil spend time in La Paz, Copacabana, Tupiza and the salt flat tour. In Peru we will spend time in Lima, Ollytantambo, Cusco, Chachapoyas area, possibly Huaraz.
Any suggestions on which city might be best?
Thank you...
It seems that at one time 4 months seemed like a huge amount of time, but now that I am at the reality phase of planning, I realize I will probably have to make some choices. In order to have a little more time in northern Peru, we will have to cut out either Sucre or Arequipa. We would like to spend a week in one of these cities to improve our Spanish, take some hikes and kick back.
In Bolivia we wil spend time in La Paz, Copacabana, Tupiza and the salt flat tour. In Peru we will spend time in Lima, Ollytantambo, Cusco, Chachapoyas area, possibly Huaraz.
Any suggestions on which city might be best?
Thank you...
Mar 22nd, 2014, 12:28 AM
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That is a really difficult decision to have to make!! I loved both cities and both have a lot going for them in terms of colonial architecture,hiking and excursions in the surrounding areas etc.
Arequipa is a much busier city than Sucre and gets way more visitors we spent a couple of weeks there in an apartment in Cayma, a district about 15 mins walk from the centre like you, our main reason to be there was to kick back for a while and loved it. You would of course be close to Colca Canyon ( we didn't make it because of the earthquakes at the time).
Arequipa has an abundance of restaurants and bars, some of them are very good.
Sucre is much more laid back and being a university town probably has the better opportunities for Spanish lessons. We originally planned to stay for four night but liked it so much we extended to 10. The tourism infrastructure is nowhere near as developed as Arequipa but there are plenty of opportunities for hiking in the surrounding mountains and valleys. I was a lot cheaper in Sucre and the food scene was good both in terms of restaurants and market stalls. It generally seemed a lot mor "South American " than Arequipa with the population being predominantly the indigenous people and student
We stayed at a great Hostal, La Dolce. Vita, run by a Swiss couple who were very helpful. They seemed to have a lot of other guests staying for a week or two who were there for language courses.
How do the two places fit into your overall route? Arequipa is on the usual trail from Arequipa where as Sucre is. Good starting point for Tupiza.
Arequipa is a much busier city than Sucre and gets way more visitors we spent a couple of weeks there in an apartment in Cayma, a district about 15 mins walk from the centre like you, our main reason to be there was to kick back for a while and loved it. You would of course be close to Colca Canyon ( we didn't make it because of the earthquakes at the time).
Arequipa has an abundance of restaurants and bars, some of them are very good.
Sucre is much more laid back and being a university town probably has the better opportunities for Spanish lessons. We originally planned to stay for four night but liked it so much we extended to 10. The tourism infrastructure is nowhere near as developed as Arequipa but there are plenty of opportunities for hiking in the surrounding mountains and valleys. I was a lot cheaper in Sucre and the food scene was good both in terms of restaurants and market stalls. It generally seemed a lot mor "South American " than Arequipa with the population being predominantly the indigenous people and student
We stayed at a great Hostal, La Dolce. Vita, run by a Swiss couple who were very helpful. They seemed to have a lot of other guests staying for a week or two who were there for language courses.
How do the two places fit into your overall route? Arequipa is on the usual trail from Arequipa where as Sucre is. Good starting point for Tupiza.
Mar 22nd, 2014, 06:45 AM
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Oh, Crellston... I don't think you have made it any easier! They both sound like excellent choices.
Our route depends upon where we go first after 4'days in Lima.
Option 1: Make our way to Chachpoyas and then on to Sacred Valley and Cusco. From there the Gringo Trail to Puno, Copacabana, La Paz, Sucre, Tupiza and on to Argentina.
Option 2: Chachapoyas, Sacred Valley, Arequipa, Puno, Copacabana, La Paz, Tupiza.
Option 3: Sacred Valley and Cusco, Chachapoyas, Rest of Option 1
Option 4: Sacred Valley and Cusco, rest of Option 2.
We will also be spending that first week after Lima with some Spanish study either in Ollytantampo or Chachapoyas.
I am still perusing the transportation options between the north and the rest of Peru. It seems as if it will be time consuming hence my need to cut out one of these great cities.
Thanks for these thoughts and any more you might have on this hard choice.
Our route depends upon where we go first after 4'days in Lima.
Option 1: Make our way to Chachpoyas and then on to Sacred Valley and Cusco. From there the Gringo Trail to Puno, Copacabana, La Paz, Sucre, Tupiza and on to Argentina.
Option 2: Chachapoyas, Sacred Valley, Arequipa, Puno, Copacabana, La Paz, Tupiza.
Option 3: Sacred Valley and Cusco, Chachapoyas, Rest of Option 1
Option 4: Sacred Valley and Cusco, rest of Option 2.
We will also be spending that first week after Lima with some Spanish study either in Ollytantampo or Chachapoyas.
I am still perusing the transportation options between the north and the rest of Peru. It seems as if it will be time consuming hence my need to cut out one of these great cities.
Thanks for these thoughts and any more you might have on this hard choice.
Mar 22nd, 2014, 09:45 AM
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Sorry Cindyjo. As soon as I pressed submit I realised that I probably wasn't making it any easier!
We came down from the Ecuador border to Chachapoyas which made it more straightforward. Whichever way you decide you go I think including Chachapoyas means backtracking through Lima. You could cut down the time by flying to and from Trujillo or Chiclayo is closer but I think Trujillo may have more flight options. Chachpoyas is around 10 hours by bus from Trujillo.
Assuming that you are happy with the backtracking, I think I would go for option 1 which is pretty much the route we took (albeit with a big diversion into Madidi!) . We flew from La Paz to Sucre which saved a long bus journey and flights are pretty cheap in Bolivia.
Incidentally, I think you may find it easier to get Spanish lessons in Ollantaytambo than Chachapoyas
Hope this hasn't complicated things still further! More info on my blog. Anyways, must go and pack as we are off to Spain early tomorrow!
We came down from the Ecuador border to Chachapoyas which made it more straightforward. Whichever way you decide you go I think including Chachapoyas means backtracking through Lima. You could cut down the time by flying to and from Trujillo or Chiclayo is closer but I think Trujillo may have more flight options. Chachpoyas is around 10 hours by bus from Trujillo.
Assuming that you are happy with the backtracking, I think I would go for option 1 which is pretty much the route we took (albeit with a big diversion into Madidi!) . We flew from La Paz to Sucre which saved a long bus journey and flights are pretty cheap in Bolivia.
Incidentally, I think you may find it easier to get Spanish lessons in Ollantaytambo than Chachapoyas
Hope this hasn't complicated things still further! More info on my blog. Anyways, must go and pack as we are off to Spain early tomorrow!
Mar 22nd, 2014, 11:04 AM
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Thank you crellston, off to Spain! Wow, one of our favorite places!
Our major decision this year was the SA trip or 4 months in Spain and Portugal. We chose the SA trip to do now while we are still in trekking health but it was a hard decision.
If you don't mind my asking, where are you going?
Bon voyage!
Our major decision this year was the SA trip or 4 months in Spain and Portugal. We chose the SA trip to do now while we are still in trekking health but it was a hard decision.
If you don't mind my asking, where are you going?
Bon voyage!
Mar 25th, 2014, 07:36 AM
#6
cindyjo, if fly to Chiclayo from Lima, that cuts about 10-12 hours from the travel time. It's still an overnight bus to Chachapoyas, though.
The recommended bus line from Chiclayo is Movil Tours.
I believe Avianca (TACA) still flies to Chiclayo.
Another option is to fly to Tarapoto but I don't think the bus transfer is quite as good.
If you fly in to Trujillo, the buses between Trujillo and Chiclayo are about 3-4 hours one way.
Be sure to note the closed museum days for the sites around Trujillo and Chiclayo.
A great splurge for a few days near Chiclayo is the Chaparri reserve. You can also find day tours from Chiclayo.
The recommended bus line from Chiclayo is Movil Tours.
I believe Avianca (TACA) still flies to Chiclayo.
Another option is to fly to Tarapoto but I don't think the bus transfer is quite as good.
If you fly in to Trujillo, the buses between Trujillo and Chiclayo are about 3-4 hours one way.
Be sure to note the closed museum days for the sites around Trujillo and Chiclayo.
A great splurge for a few days near Chiclayo is the Chaparri reserve. You can also find day tours from Chiclayo.
Mar 27th, 2014, 09:32 AM
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Hi Cindyjo, we are currently in a place called Villanueva del Trabuco which is in Andalucia in the hills about an hour north of Málaga. We are staying in a house owned by one o my wife's relatives. We spent six months here around a year ago and loved it. Having said that, it doesn't compare with South America I think you made the right decision!
Currently our time is spent trying Hk improve our Spanish and deciding whether to employ that in a trip to Central America and Columbia or to head east to South East Asia at the end of the year.
Currently our time is spent trying Hk improve our Spanish and deciding whether to employ that in a trip to Central America and Columbia or to head east to South East Asia at the end of the year.
Mar 27th, 2014, 09:34 AM
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Hi Cindyjo, we are currently in a place called Villanueva del Trabuco which is in Andalucia in the hills about an hour north of Málaga. We are staying in a house owned by one o my wife's relatives. We spent six months here around a year ago and loved it. Having said that, it doesn't compare with South America I think you made the right decision!
Currently our time is spent trying Hk improve our Spanish and deciding whether to employ that in a trip to Central America and Columbia or to head east to South East Asia at the end of the year.
Currently our time is spent trying Hk improve our Spanish and deciding whether to employ that in a trip to Central America and Columbia or to head east to South East Asia at the end of the year.
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