We woke up and went to the town square to see traditional dancing. There were rows of tour buses and women selling items around the square. After a few minutes we returned to our hotel for breakfast and to prepare for the three-hour car ride back to Arequipa.
The drive back was a lot of fun. The driver (no guide) stopped periodically—the first was at the Mirador de Los Andes, 4,910 meters above sea level and the highest point of our drive. The piles of stones represent volcanos, mountains along the range, other scenic landmarks.
We also stopped several times to see llamas, alpacas and vinuñas. On our approach to Arequipa again we passed the cement factory and a convoy of trucks.
For the most part we fly non-stop; this was one of the exceptions. When we arrived in Lima, we had to exit the airport and go through security to catch the second flight. Luckily, we had time to grab a quick lunch and ate a delicious vegetarian sandwich near the gate. The drive to the hotel was an experience—the four lanes of traffic moved like a school of fish with no more than six inches between vehicles. After checking in, we ate dinner at a local vegan restaurant, Muya. There was only one waitress (who also had to prepare all of the food). Good thing we got our food before three more couples arrived!
