Looking for a place to settle for a month as a digital nomad: Arequipa, Cuenca, or Huaraz?
Hello everyone!
I am between jobs and want to spend this July abroad, prepping for my next job in a beautiful place where I can explore nature, rock climb, and meet some cool people. I've done quite a bit of travel in Latin America (including the Cusco/sacred valley area) and I'm looking at Peru and Ecuador once again due to a combination of affordability and good weather during July. I also really value a quieter city with less nightlife and a chiller vibe. I want to rise with the sun, get my work done, and spend time in nature.
I'm torn between settling in Arequipa, Cuenca, and Huaraz.
Here's my understanding and thought process right now.
Huaraz: the smallest city, with easily the most outdoor activities and phenomenal multi day trips. It seems like the Boulder/Denver of Peru. It seems like it might have the most of that "chill" vibe but I saw somewhere the city itself is not much to look at and I might burn myself out if I'm in the area for a while. The big unknown I have here is if the surrounding area is worth checking out such that I won't feel trapped if I'm there for a while.
Cuenca: this seems like my top pick atm. In the middle in terms of size. Could take an excursion to Baños, it is much more lush than Huaraz. The city itself seems beautiful too. I've seen some scary stuff about a crime spike in Ecuador but despite Cuenca's geographical proximity to its epicenter it seems to be pretty safe still.
Arequipa: I'll be honest, I haven't looked much into it but reddit post after reddit post says it has a lot of what I am looking for and everyone seems to love it. I'm wondering if its worth considering more heavily.
Any advice or extra information on these three towns would be very helpful!