Arequipa

The city of Arequipa is one of the most beautiful in Peru. It is south of Lima and can be reached by plane (1.30hr flight) or by bus (16hr ride). It is surrounded by 3 volcanoes, one of them the imposing Misti which can be seen from the city. It has baroque buildings built of ashlar and white volcanic stone. In the historic center is the Plaza de Armas and the neoclassical Cathedral Basilica from the 17th century. It is located at 2,335 meters above sea level and its climate is sunny.

Among its main attractions, we have the Convent of Santa Catalina, founded in the 16th century, which was a monastery for cloistered nuns. Inside it is like a mini city with streets, squares, gardens, halls and even a cemetery. It is one of the most representative constructions in Arequipa and without a doubt one of the most beautiful. It has an area of ​​20,000 square meters. Founded in 1579, it is located a few meters from the Plaza de Armas and is open to tourists.

As the most representative symbol and guardian of the city of Arequipa we have the Misti. You can visit the Misti with treks of 2 or 3 days reaching the snowy peak or if you prefer you can take a photo from the Yanahuara viewpoint. By the way, in this viewpoint you can try a traditional Arequipa dessert, “Queso Helado”.

Another attraction is the Colca Canyon, famous for being one of the deepest in the world and the habitat of the majestic Andean Condor. You can get there by bus or private car and it is about 3 hours and a half away. Different tourist activities are developed here such as trekking, rafting, mountain biking, condor observation, archaeological zones and hot springs. Be sure to visit the towns of Sibayo, Yanque, Callalli and Corporaque, rich in ancestral customs, magical towns where time seems to have stopped. You can stay in their homes and participate in cultural activities and live the experience of rural tourism to the fullest.

The Sillar Route is a must. You can learn about the carving of volcanic stone in the Añashuayco Quarries. This whitish-colored rock was used by the Incas for sacred buildings and later by the Spanish to build houses and churches. Arequipa is known as the «White City» due to the ashlar of its buildings.

And we cannot miss the exquisite Arequipa gastronomy, where they have a wide variety of dishes such as shrimp chupe, stuffed rocoto, lamb ribs, solterito, pork marinade, among others. Visit the local market, try the wide variety of sweets and dishes that Arequipa can offer your palate.

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