Step through the gate of Santa Catalina Monastery and the street noise fades behind thick walls of sillar. Narrow lanes painted in strong colors lead past empty cells and quiet cloisters, and the loudest thing around is often your own footsteps. Above the rooftops, the cone of Misti stands alone against a wide, clear sky.
Beyond the white stone center, the Yanahuara lookout frames the volcano through carved arches, and picanterías on the edge of town fill long tables at lunch. Days here are dry and sunny most of the year, with brief summer rains and cold nights in winter. A Local Friend can lead you to a favorite corner of their own and tell you the story behind it.
