Arequipa, located in southern Peru, known as the White City for its beautiful white walls of sillar, a volcanic stone, lies at the feet of the mighty volcanoes of Mount Chachani, Mount Misti, and the snow covered peak of Mount Pichu Pichu. The downtown of the Arequipa city, placed on the World Cultural Heritage list by UNESCO, features Mixed Baroque churches and mansions from the Colonial Period like the Monastery of Santa Catalina, a Spanish city in miniature with stone streets, beautiful patios, and plazas. The Goyeneche Palace, Casa del Moral, and the district of Yanahuara, a point of confluence for visitors seeking a view point of the urban geography of the city. Sabandia, Tiabaya, and Tingo, located among the large fields, are must see places and the irresistible Arequipa cuisine is the perfect complement to the visit.
Near there only 3 hours and 45 minutes from the Arequipa city is the Colca River valley and canyon, one of the most extraordinary destinations in the country. Throughout the region, you can see colorful pre-Incan agricultural terraces still used today for growing quinoa, corn, barley, and wheat. During the pre-Hispanic era, the department was inhabited by the Collaguas and the Cabanas; today, the inhabitants have learned to conserve their Colonial churches in Yanque, Lari, and Madrigal, and they continue to wear their traditional clothing.
The Colca valley is perfect to practice many types of adventure sports such as mountain biking, trekking, and white water rafting. In addition, at the Cross of the Condor, you can view the majestic flight of the condors. Other places of interest in the region are the Toro Muerto petroglyphs, the Andagua Valley of the Volcanoes, and the Cotahuasi Canyon. |