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Arequipa

Peru

South America Travel Guide

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Sunset at Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa

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Overview

Other Peruvians joke that you need a different passport to enter Peru’s second-largest city. One-tenth the size of Lima, Arequipa is its pugnacious equal in terms of cuisine, historical significance and confident self-awareness.

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Peru: Roots of the Rainforest in 12 Days

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  1. 1Watching the vibrant flutter of colorful macaws as they feast on the Amazon’s macaw clay lick
  2. 2Seeing the Amazon rainforest — and hearing the life within — on a guided nocturnal tour
  3. 3Uncovering the secrets of the Lost City of the Incas on a visit to Machu Picchu
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