Peru’s second-largest city is situated 7,740 feet above sea level in the Andes, at the most southern point of the country. Arequipa is called the ‘White City’ because of its numerous palaces, temples, churches and convents all built from white volcanic rock. This laid-back destination offers visitors an appealing landscape featuring eye-catching volcanoes, several hot springs and the close-by, stunning Colca Canyon.
Arequipa features plentiful colonial Spanish buildings made of a lustrous white volcanic stone that gave the city its nickname the ‘White City’. In the year 2000, Arequipa’s beautiful historic center was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the marvelous convent of Catalina is one of the city’s major attractions. To bring Inca tradition to life, check out the Santuarios de la Altura Museum displaying an Inca child sacrifice, the ice mummy known as ‘Juanita’.
Lying at the foot of El Mist, a snow-covered presently non-active volcano, Arequipa features more than 60 further mini-volcanoes rising out of an amazing lunar landscape in the Valley of Volcanoes. A trip to the Colca Canyon takes you to some fantastic scenery where you can view giant condors with a wingspan of more than 10 feet gliding past.
Highlights
Santa Catalina Convent: Arequipa’s most important monument is almost a small town, covering over 12 square miles. Established in 1579, it was used to seclude 450 nuns for life.
Arequipa Cathedral: this imposing landmark was built in 1656 and is believed to contain the largest organ in South America]].
Claustros de la Compania: constructed in 1660, this cloister is the only building that is conserved exactly as it was during times of colonization.
Plaza de Armas: this graceful, grand square offers visitors elegant colonnades and verdant gardens, and serves as the center of city life and evening happenings.
Colca Canyon: the world’s second deepest canyon (over 13,000 feet) is surrounded by hot springs, villages, churches and Inca ruins, not to mention the presence of eye-catching condors.
Sumbay: situated behind the Misti volcano, 55 miles from Arequipa, the significant caves exhibit 8,000-year-old rupestrian paintings.
Chachani: this huge, extinct volcano is 19,872 feet high and a famous site for mountain climbers.