Relax In Nature At This Beautiful Upstate New York House

Have you been itching to get away from the bustling city and get in tune with nature? Are you ready to just slow down a little bit and take a deep breath of fresh air? If you answered yes, then I have the perfect place for you! About two hours away from NYC, rests the beautiful The River House. The River House is a 3 bedroom, 31/2 bath stone house located on the opposite bank of the Willowemoc River, accessible only by crossing a private bridge. 

The River House is an amazing weekend getaway as it contains the perfect mix of exploration and relaxation. Imagine taking a hike starting from the backyard and coming back home to cozy up by the fireplace. 

The River House was clean, cozy, and felt like a home away from home. Plus, they provide everything that you need for a short stay from towels, toiletries, and continental breakfast!

What To Do:

No matter what season you visit, there is always something to do around Livingston Manor. 

All Year Round Activities 

Yoga:

The River House has a go-to yoga instructor, Justine Sutherland. She gives 90 minutes classes at her barn/studio located on Somewhere in Time Farm or can arrange to come on-site. $20 per person, ($135 minimum). 

The Livingston Manor area also has some cool covered bridges in the area. I visited during late Winter but I can imagine they would be stunning during the Fall and Summer months! This is a great spot for photogenic moments. 

• The Willowemoc Covered Bridge/Bendo Covered Bridge, 68 Conklin Hill Road, Livingston Manor spans the Willowemoc

• The Vantran Covered Bridge/Motts Flats Bridge, Covered Bridge Road, Livingston Manor - spans the Willowemoc

• Beaverkill Covered Bridge/Conklin Covered Bridge, 3 Ragin Road, Roscoe

Spring/ Summer Activities: 

Hike: 

Several different trails start right from the back yard of The River House!

• The Loop: one-mile trail. 

• The River Walk Trail: two-mile walk to Beaver Lake Farm and then another 2 miles on the return.  

• The Old Orchard Trail: three-mile hike each way.

• The Mongaup State Park is also nearby and there are several trails to go on: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24484.html

• Somewhere in Time Farm is an active produce farm that provides herbs and vegetables to many local restaurants and sells its produce at the Catskill Food Hub. In the warmer months, they have a farm stand in front of Main Street Farm in Livingston Manor. The farm is quite impressive and worth a look.

Winter Activity: 

• Snowshoeing is a cool activity to try if you visit during the winter months. It’s something different than anything you will do in the city. Plus it’s a great workout! 

• Frick Pond is a great place to go snowshoeing and is also nearby: 

Places to eat and drink:

I’m not a chef by any means but I wanted to cook at The River House because the kitchen was exceptional! You can pick up organically grown groceries and prepare a nice dinner with access to a fully stocked kitchen with top-of-the-line products! 

Some local restaurants are: 

TIP: most places close early and do not deliver so check online or call ahead to book a table!

• Northern Farmhouse Pasta - Italian food

• Casa di Longobardi - Southern Italian food

• The Kaatskeller - brick oven pizza

• Yiasou - Greek food

• Piccolo Paese - Italian food

• The Arnold - continental food with an Eastern European twist

Some Local Breweries/Distilleries:

• Catskill Brewery 672 Old Route 17, Livingston Manor 

•  Upward Brewery is located on 171 Main Street in Livingson Manor

• Do Good Distillery/Prohibition Distillery, located at 145 Rockland Road

• Roscoe Beer Company, 145 Rockland Road

Thank you for reading!!

XOXO,

Krity 

Photography by Ashley Gallerani
The stay at The River House was complimentary but my opinions are my own.

Iceland Diaries

Iceland had been on my bucket list of places to visit for years! I heard so many amazing things from friends, family, and blogs and the photos were always so unreal. I had to see it for myself. So in September, I bit the bullet and bought tickets to finally go to Iceland with my girlfriends. Best decision ever!

I spent 5 days and 4 nights in Iceland this December and brought in the New year in Reykjavik. Honestly, I wish I could’ve spent a full week there because there is so much to see! If you have the time, I recommend driving the whole Ring Road and spending at least a week there.

My few days in Iceland were jammed pack and so fun! See below on the areas I went to (Golden Circle and South Iceland) and tips I have.

Arriving in Iceland

Driving/ Renting vs. Tours

We opted to rent a car and drive ourselves which I think was the best decision at the end. I will say, it was NOT easy. We went in December and the weather was not great. Lots of snow, heavy winds, icy roads, and rain. The driving conditions were rough and at times we only drove 20 mph. Another thing to remember is that you will be driving a lot! I mean 5-10 hours a day depending what you want to accomplish. It is not an easy task but the scenery you see will make up for it. On the plus side, there are lot of signs and directions from Google maps are very easy to follow. The roads are also maintained very well- not as many pot holes as I was expecting. Renting a car cost us about $500 a day with insurance and gas (filled up two full tanks of gas). Overall, a car was the cheaper and more efficient thing to do. It was also nice to be able to create our own route and get out as we pleased. This allowed us to feed wild horses in the middle of the fields (I honestly don’t even know where we were ahah).

Tip: get insurance! Our car got damaged by a person’s door flying into our rear-view mirror due to the heavy winds. Do not risk it!

Tip: get gas when you see a gas station! You may not see another gas station for another 90 miles. Remember gas is also quite expensive in Iceland.

Tours are a great way to go if you have a really large party and do not want to take the chances of driving. However, they also take a lot more planning. The tours in Iceland are fairly reasonable ($50-$150). I recommend doing the tour in the day as you will see so much more. When it gets dark, you cannot see the beautiful mountains that you may see just driving on the highways.

Tip: Most tours leave from the city center so I highly recommend staying in Reykjavik.

Tip: Book at least a month in advance!

Day Trip 1: Southern Iceland

Stop 1: Vik

Stop 2: Reynisfjara Beach - black sand beaches

Stop 3: Dyrhólaey- my personal favorite

Stop 4: Solheimajokull- Glacier

Stop 5: Skógafoss- Waterfall

Stop 6: Seljalandsfoss- Waterfall (did not picture)

Iceland may look small on a map but there is so much to see and covering all that ground takes a long time. I knew I had to see southern Iceland before going while doing my research. It was STUNNING!! I highly recommend discovering this part of Iceland! I saw parts of nature that I didn’t even know existed (mind was blown)! The stops listed above is a great way to see parts of south Iceland if you are driving.

We started out driving out to the furthest point and working our way back to Reykjavik. A bonus of driving to the furthest point first is seeing signs for other points on this itinerary along the way and getting a sneak peak of what you will be seeing.

Vik

This is a charming little town in the southern part of Iceland. Being right by the coast, you see nothing but dark blue water for miles on end. It is also quite windy here so make sure you don’t get blown away. 

Reynisfjara Beach

Before visiting Iceland, I didn’t even know that black sand beaches existed. I’m used to the typical brown or white sand beaches. Well the sand along the southern coast of Iceland really is black! The beaches are beautiful and so unique! My favorite part of Reynisfjara Beach was the beautiful mountain with the rectangular jagged edge cliffs. It was so interesting to see a different kind of rock formation.

Tip: wear waterproof layers here

Tip: do not get too close to the water because the waves can get pretty crazy in a matter of seconds. There have been a few deaths here so be careful. Do not face away from the water when taking pictures-that’s how people have gotten swept away.

See my Iceland Google maps with all the location pins HERE

Dyrhólaey

This was my favorite stop of the first day trip! The view was so incredibly beautiful! My favorite part about this viewing point was that you can see the ocean, mountains, valleys, and little lakes at the top.

You do have to drive up a pretty steep curvy hill to get to see this view. It was a bit scary to get up and down the hill but it was worth it!

See my Iceland Google maps with all the location pins HERE

Solheimajokull

Talk about seeing all kinds of natural forms right? In one day (following this itinerary) we saw a beach, mountains, glaciers, and a waterfall! Iceland probably has all 7 world wonders right in the southern part of Iceland! 

I honestly did not know what to expect when arriving at this location. As we walked along the trial, I began to see small forms of bright teal ice. All of a sudden around a corner, the massive glacier stunned us! It was amazing!! 

Tip: if you are interested, you can go glacier climbing! If I had more time, I would’ve totally tried this! 

Skógafoss

One of the famous waterfalls in Iceland is not to be missed! This waterfall is quite grand. Iceland is known for all of their amazing waterfalls so make sure to check out at least one or two. You will also see a ton of mini waterfalls along the drive to Vik. 

Tip: wear waterproof clothing. Chances of getting wet are quite high. 

See my Iceland Google maps with all the location pins HERE

Day Trip 2: The Golden Circle

Stop 1: Kerid Crater

Stop 2: Gullfoss Falls- Waterfall

Stop 3: Haukadalur- Geysir

Stop 4: Bruarfoss- Waterfall (did not picture)

Stop 5: Thingvellir National Park

Kerid Crater

We were so lucky with the weather on day 2! We stopped at the Keri’s Crater around 11am and got so unbelievably lucky to be woken up to the most gorgeous sunrise. It was nothing but cotton candy pink and purple skies for miles on end. This crater is a very interesting landmark. It was my first time seeing anything like this too.

See my Iceland Google maps with all the location pins HERE

Gullfoss Falls

Another famous waterfall in Iceland and this one I not to be missed! This waterfall was definitely the biggest one that we saw! You can go on a trail to the bottom as well but in December it was too icy and closed off.

This spot has a really nice cafe so it is a good stop to plan around lunch.

Haukadalur- Geysir

This was another natural landmark that I was seeing for the first time. The eruptions were so big which I was surprised by. The first time the geysir erupted, I actually got scared. The eruptions happen quite frequently so the chances of you seeing one is highly likely.

Note that the water smells like rotten eggs but it was still really cool to see this landmark!

Thingvellir National Park

We were so blessed to see an incredible sunset at the Natural Park. The colors of the sky were so beautiful next to the outlines of the mountains and trees. You can end up spending hours at this park going on different trails. We opted to go for a little bit and just take in the scenery instead. In December, the trails were pretty icy so be mindful of this.

Day Trip 3: Locations close to Keflavik Airport

Stop 1: Hafnarberg - Sea-cliffs

Stop 2: Valahnúkamöl- Sea cliffs

Stop 3: Blue Lagoon

For the last leg of the trip, we decided to stay by the airport since the blue lagoon is right by it. Iceland is filled with so many amazing natural areas that we found a few stops to checkout before heading back to the US. Right along the water, there were beautiful cliffs surrounded by gushing waves. The water along the coast were wild! There is a very high chance you will get wet. Still worth checking out the views though. This part of Iceland was also very quite and didn’t have any tourists.

See my Iceland Google maps with all the location pins HERE

The Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon was one thing that I just had to do when visiting Iceland! It looked exactly like it did in all the pictures I saw online too! The water was incredibly blue, it felt nice and warm, and the views from the lagoon were stunning! However, it was really cold getting in and out of the lagoon (I ran as fast as I could getting in and out). We got the basic package which included a drink and mud masks. I recommend this package because it gave the full blue lagoon experience without breaking the bank. You won’t want to spend more than 2 hours at the lagoon because your head/ top half will get cold and you’ll begin to prune. Another thing to remember is to heavily condition your hair before entering the lagoon- leave the conditioner in your hair too! Even though I conditioned my hair, it was still very dry/ straw like after the lagoon. It took about two washes to get it feeling back to normal.

Ending note- you have to visit the lagoon as it is definitely an experience you will never forget!

Things I Did Not Know But Wish I Had:

The water in Iceland does not smell the best. It smells like rotten eggs (not exaggerating). We stayed in an Air BnB and it was pretty gross. The water was perfectly clean, just did not smell the best. However, when we stayed at a hotel, it did not smell as bad. Not sure why, but just be prepared.

There are a lot of roundabouts! I guess it keeps drivers in check from not going too fast. Started to get a bit annoying but keep your eyes peeled. They also have a yellow light which comes on before the green light to get you prepared to go.

During the winter, there are only about 4-5 hours of daylight. This meant we had to get a very early start to each day! Photos were great to take during the daylight but as it got darker, photos were harder to take. I didn’t realize how dark it was going to be- even during the daylight hours, because it was cloudy, things seemed quite dark!

Food is quite expensive but relative to New York prices. Be prepared to spend an average of $15 for lunch and $25 for dinner.

Be prepared to experience all different kinds of weather and for the weather to change in a matter of minutes. The weather would change of heavy winds to rain to sleet in span of 5 minutes. Crazy!

Also, be prepared to get soaked! If it calls for rain and you are visiting waterfalls, wear all of your waterproof gear. My waterproof parka got soaked through (don’t know how) but be ready to get wet. It was worth it though.

Cold Spring

Are you dying to just getaway? Truly relax? While not having to do to much planning? Or spend too much money? Well that's exactly how I was feeling when I decided to take a quick escape to Cold Springs. Living in New York City is amazing but can get quite overwhelming at times. The last time I went on vacation was over six months ago and a truly relaxing weekend away was exactly what the doctor recommended. Just 48 hours in Cold Springs at the Hudson House Inn had me feeling like I had gone on a full week long vacation. I soaked up so much fresh air and let all my muscles finally relax. It was definitely one of the best quick getaways I have ever taken!!

Cold Spring is located in upstate New York, just a quick hour and half train ride away from the city. After work, I hopped on the train at Grand Central and was off to start the weekend. The train ride was so smooth and had the best views. The sun was setting and looked so gorgeous reflected on the Hudson River. 

Where to Stay:

When I got off the train, I felt like I had entered a whole new state. There was not a soul in site and so quite compared to the city. It honestly felt a little weird, but in the best way. It was a short five minute walk to Main Street where the cute hotel on the corner was waiting for me. Hudson House Inn can not be missed in the city of Cold Spring! The minute I walked into the hotel, I felt that warm gushy feeling like I was home. Imagine this- on a cold night, you open the wooden door to walk into a cozy room. The space is lit with a warm light with the addition of candles that fill the area with a relaxing aroma. You're greeted with a big smile waiting for you to check in.

Walking into the room was such a pleasant surprise. It looked exactly like my old bedroom from my hometown of Michigan. It was simple chic with a country style vibe. The pale yellow walls made me feel so calm. Hudson House Inn was built in 1832 and sits beautifully a hundred feet away from the Hudson River. It is truly a part of the interesting history of the Hudson River. While staying at the Hudson House Inn, you'll get gorgeous views of West Point and Storm King Mountain. 

Where to Eat:

Breakfast 

Hudson House Inn is one of the highly rated restaurants in Cold Spring so having a meal here is a must! If you are staying at the hotel, a complimentary breakfast is included. It isn't one of those boring breakfasts you get at other hotels either. Breakfast both days was absolutely amazing!! Hudson House Inn has a great breakfast menu to choose from which includes waffles with fresh strawberries, spinach omelet with homestyle potatoes (which were my favorite), blueberry pancakes, and the big one (eggs, sausage, potatoes, and bread). The bloody Mary and mimosas were the perfect finishing touches to go along with the yummy breakfast. It was the perfect way to start out the day before going for a hike. 

Dinner

If you're looking for a great meal (one of those where you go "omg, this is so good" with every bite), have dinner at the Hudson House Inn!! In between every bite, I was complimenting how good the food was. 

Dinner started off with fresh bread with a tomato and bean topping. The menu is filled with so many delicious options. I wanted to try everything! For appetizers, I tried the homemade Maryland crabcakes made with fresh jumbo lump crabmeat with a side of dijon sauce. The outside was nice and crispy and the inside was filled with fresh crabmeat flavor! I also tried the arugula salad with tossed radicchio, caramelized pecans, cranberries, balsamic vinaigrette, topped with blue cheese. It was the perfect salad- light and flavorful. For the main dishes I went all out. I got the Surf and Turf- a plump broiled lobster tail on an eight ounce dry aged sirloin served with roasted peppercorn brandy sauce, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and carrots. Yummmm! I also got the Hudson House Ribeye marinated in fresh rosemary and extra virgin olive oil topped with caramelized onions and blue cheese. This was one of the best ribeyes I have ever had! The meat was tender, juicy, and perfectly cooked! Hungry yet?

Drinks

Make sure you also try some of the amazing crafted cocktails at the Hudson House Inn or even wine from their large selection. You can curl up on the comfy leather couches by the fire and read some of their amazing coffee table books over drinks.

Things To Do:

While you are in Cold Spring, New York there are a few things you must do!

1. Walk along the Hudson River and gaze out into the mountains. Just listen to the water crash and take a deep breath. I promise it is so relaxing! After all, this is what you came here to do. Read the history of West Point and make sure to take some great pictures!

2. Take a walk through the quaint little town of Cold Spring. Coming up from NYC, I was in the mindset to walk around for several hours but It won’t take you that long. Make sure to check out the cute antiques shops. They have some really amazing hidden gems. There is everything from furniture, clothing, jewelry, dolls, toy cars, and records just to mention a few items. Along the way, step into one of the restaurants and grab a cup of coffee or even an ice cream cone. 

3. Hike! One of the reasons I came up to Cold Spring was to hike. I had heard amazing things about the many trails and the pictures looked beautiful. It was so worth it! I took a 4 hour hike on the Breakneck Trail. The name reflects the mountain pretty well. One step the wrong way and there was a good possibility of actually breaking my neck. However, don’t let that scare you! The hike was absolutely amazing! The hardest part was getting up the mountain and climbing over large rocks. There are different points along the trail so you can choose how far you want to go. The walk down is nice and easy so go for it!

Additional Things To Do:

Take the Metro North (or a cab/ Uber) up to the next city of Beacon, New York. The Dia Beacon Museum is a must see while upstate. It a HUGE modern art museum in a revamped old warehouse. The art here is really interesting and quite different than many other modern art museums I have been to. There are several floors so be ready to walk around. 

3 Beekman St, Beacon, NY 12508
(845) 440-0100

$15   General
$12   Students and seniors
Free for Dia members and children under 12

January–March
Friday–Monday 11 am–4 pm
April–October
Thursday–Monday 11 am–6 pm
November–December
Thursday–Monday 11 am–4 pm

Thank you for reading!!

XOXO,

Krity

*This was a sponsored post for Hudson House Inn. However, all opinions are my own.*

Peru: How to Travel, What to Pack, Where to Stay, & What to do

Over the last few weeks, I have been sharing my trip to Peru city by city. Here is a full recap on Peru!

Our Route:

Lima -> Cusco then directly to Ollantaytambo -> Machu Picchu -> Ollayntaytambo then directly to Cusco -> Puno -> Arequipa -> Lima

Lima- 348 feet

Ollantaytambo- 9,160 feet

Machu Picchu- 7,972 feet

Cusco- 11,152 feet

Puno- 12,500 feet

Arequipa- 7,710 feet

1. I flew into Lima International airport

Sleep: Stay in Miraflores area. We stayed at Pucllana Lodge. It was a good hotel, not the best one we stayed at but good enough to sleep and shower. Breakfast was included and WiFi service was good. 

Eat: Tanta by Larcomar, coffee at News Cafe Coffee Shop located on the main street Avenue Larco, and drink at Nuevo Mundo Draft Bar. This bar is known for their locally crafted Peruvian brews.

Pack: A light jacket, jeans and comfortable clothes, walking shoes/ sneakers, sunglasses, sun block, and a camera.

Things to do: Walk down to the main triangle and go to alley named Calle Manuel Bonilla. It's filled with great restaurants and bars! Go to Larcomar which is a big shopping/ dining outdoor area right by the beach. Walk along the beach and go visit Park of Love. 

TIP: Schedule a taxi for pickup at the airport with your hotel. It will be cheaper and easier. 

TIP: You can see the best parts of Lima in 1-2 days. You don't need to spend more time then that.

TIP: Apply sunscreen even if it cloudy! I got burned my last day in Peru. 

Read more about Lima HERE

2. Flew from LIM to Cusco. Then took a taxi straight to Ollantaytambo

Sleep: Sleep at Hotel Samanapaq. The hotel was beautiful and the service was outstanding! The breakfast buffet is included and the WiFi worked great! The views from the hotel of the old Incan ruins were great. Our stay here was incredibly relaxing!

Eat: At the local Plaza de Armas. There are a lot of restaurants here but it is hard to find traditional Peruvian food. 

Pack: Hiking boots, comfortable clothes, sunblock, sunglasses, camera, and medication. 

Things to do: Go to the Las as Salineras in Maras, walk down old Incan streets/ alleys in Ollantaytambo,  and visit the Incan ruins.

TIP: Work your way up to high altitude to prevent getting altitude sickness and get medication to help you adjust in advance. I was prescribed Acetazolamide by my doctor and it really helped me! I didn't have any trouble adjusting to the high altitude. Since my friend and I were jumping to such a high altitude, from Lima to Cusco, we decided to travel straight to Ollantaytambo. 

TIP: Take the Peru Rail to Machu Picchu station in Aguas Calientes. Make sure you buy the ticket before hand online. You need to pick up tickets before entering the train. Only 1 carry on size luggage allowed per passenger. No big luggages!! However, they will store luggage for you free of charge. 

TIP: Drink cocoa tea!

Read more about Ollantaytambo HERE

3. Took the Peru Rail from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu/ Aguas Calientes 

Sleep: There are a lot of hotels in Machu Picchu. It is a very touristy place. We stayed at Gringo Bills. Hotel was pretty good and WiFi was okay. 

Eat: I definitely recommend trying the alpaca burger at Treehouse. Also go have a 3-course meal at El Indio Feliz. Both restaurants were AMAZING!!

Pack: Bug repellent (there are a LOT of mosquitos here), hiking boots, camera, lots of water, cocoa tea, granola bar, suncreen, sunglasses, tickets printed, passport, and wear layers. It is chilly in the morning but warms up by midday. 

Things to do: Climb Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu!!!

TIP: Buy your tickets to Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu a couple months in advance to secure a spot.

TIP: Buy your bus ticket to take you up to Machu Picchu a day in advance to save a lot of time and hassle!! If you don't, you will have to wait in an incredibly long line the next day for buses. Place to buy tickets is right by the water by the bus station. It is a little wooden booth. Cost about $25 roundtrip.

TIP: Drink cocoa tea!

Read more about Machu Picchu HERE

4. Took the Peru Rail Back to Ollantaytambo then a taxi to Cusco

Sleep: We stayed at a hotel in Cusco called Rumi Punku. It was located just 5 minute walk from the Plaza de Armas. This hotel was gorgeous!! Breakfast was included!

Eat: We had dinner at Morena Peruvian Kitchen. OMG!! One of the most delicious meals I have ever had! Also try burgers at Papacho's right by the Plaza de Armas.

Pack: Walking shoes, comfortable clothes, camera, sunblock, sunglasses. If you are planning on climbing Rainbow Mountain: warm clothes, layers because it is very cold, hat, gloves, hiking boots, and medication. Cusco's elevation is very high!

Things to do: Visit the Plaza de Armas and walk around the city. Take a tour to Pisac Market to go shopping. Stop along the way to see alpacas and learn how Peruvian blankets/ yarns are made. Climb Rainbow Mountain!!

TIP: I recommend going around the Sacred Valley with a taxi driver so you can make as many stops as you would like and not be on a time schedule. 

TIP: Carry bottles of water with you because the restaurants in Cusco are on the pricier side. Or buy it from the side street where the waters only cost $1.

TIP: Drink cocoa tea! Elevation is very high here in Cusco!

TIP: When traveling from Ollantaytambo to Cusco, it is much easier to share a taxi and the cost is much lower. Sharing a taxi cost about $7 each.

TIP: Don't miss the sunset and the view of the valleys from Plaza De Armas at night! 

Read more about Cusco & Rainbow Mountain HERE

5. Took an overnight bus (Transzela) from Cusco to Puno. Then took a boat in Puno to island Isla Suasi

Sleep: On the bus. It was nice to save money on the hotel. If you are a light sleeper, I don't recommend this. It only costs $16. In Puno we stayed at the most beautiful hotel ever Isla Suasi!!! They stay at this hotel has been one of the best in my entire life! Highly recommend it. 

Eat: At the Hotel Isla Suasi. They serve a great buffet breakfast. Then for lunch and dinner, you get 3-course meals! All of it is included in the stay at the hotel. 

Pack: Warmer clothes because it is cold in Puno, heavy jacket and lots of layers!

Things to do: Take a tour of the floating islands! Our hotel provided a tour which was included in the package. 

TIP: Dress warm because the temperatures in Puno are much colder! It was about 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the middle of October.

TIP: Take sunscreen if you have sensitive skin. The sun on the island is very powerful! It gets really warm during the day.

TIP: Take your passport so you can get it stamped at Taquille Island for 1 sol! 

TIP: If you are prone to sea sickness, take motion sickness medication. The waves got pretty choppy a few times.

Read more about Puno HERE

6. Took an overnight bus from Puno to Arequipa

Sleep: We stayed at an amazing hotel right by the Plaza de Armas called La Plaza Arequipa Hotel Boutique. I highly recommend staying right in the center because you get a great view at night time.

Eat: There are tons of great little restaurants off of the little streets by Plaza de Armas.

Pack: Light clothes/ spring clothing and Light jacket for the night.

Things to do: Walk around the city and Plaza de Armas. I heard the Colca canyons were amazing but we didn't have enough time to visit

TIP: Arequipa was the warmest city we visited so take lighter weight clothes!

7. Flew from Arequipa to back Lima

8. Flew from Lima to NYC

Photography by Ashley Gallerani

XOXO!