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Arequipa – Colca

It is also know as "The white city" because the beautiful colonial buildings it has in white ashlars and its architecture.

Arequipa

Location: Coast and sierra (Andes) at the south of Peru.

Area: 24 458 Sq miles.

Capital: Arequipa (7660 feet above sea level)

The lowest altitude: 30 feet above sea level (Punta de Bombón)

The highest altitude: 16,110 feet above sea level (Mirador de Volcanes - Caylloma)

Climate: Annual average temperature is of 68 ºF (the highest altitude of 104 ºF and the lowest one of 39.2 ºF). The rainy season starts on December and it lasts until March.

How to get to Arequipa?

By air: Daily flights from:

  • Lima- Arequipa (50 minutes approx)
  • Cusco- Arequipa (30 minutes approx)
  • Juliaca - Arequipa (30 minutes approx)
  • Tacna - Arequipa (30 minutes approx)

By land: From Lima- Arequipa, 1003 km through the road Panamericana sur (14 hours by car approx). For tourists that go to Cusco by land, the rout is 279 miles, (10 hours by car approx). You can also get by train, because there is a service that unites the cities of Juliaca, Puno and Cusco.

arequipa1_about_perudestinatIt is also know as "The white city" because the beautiful colonial buildings it has in white ashlars and its architecture. Between them the most important are old houses, churches, temples and monasteries. It is important to stress that it has been recognized as a Cultural Heritage of the Humanity. It is surrounded by a beautiful and rural open country. From this city, one can visit the famous Colca Canyon. Located 4 hours at the north of Arequipa, well-known as "The white city", here is located the amazing Colca Valley. The tours can be hired in Arequipa if you don't still have one with another group. The ascendant road covers the lower part of the Chachani Mountain and it covers plains with sprinkled with ichu and yareta (these plants are used as combustible), where alpacas and vizcachas live. The highest point in the road is 14,272 feet above sea level, and then we will descent to the valley, with beautiful landscapes surrounded with platforms and snow-covered mountains. This canyon is the deepest canyon of the entire world with 11,155 feet of depth; it is almost like two times the depth of the Great Canyon in U.S.A. Some areas of The Colca Canyon are inhabited. It has Pre-Colombian platforms that are used to the agriculture and the human life. Where is also possible to watch the Andean Condor form Chivay viewpoint, many of the towns offer accommodation services but one can also camp and make some treks. The area is ideal to do adventure sports.

The area is characterized for the production of beautiful pieces of art like carpets and different kinds of weaving (in blouses and skirts that women wear) of colorful designs, as well as the cut and embossed pieces of tin. It is also distinguished paintings like San Isidro el Labrador, the manufacture of candles (hachones) and the pieces of wood carved.

A tourist can also visit the Natural Reserve of Salinas, Aguada Blanca and the lagoons of Mejía. It is an ideal destination to visit colonial monuments, town that keep its culture alive and you can do a kind of tourism in the nature enjoining the adventure, the nature and the biodiversity. The cuisine in Arequipa, is very good for its variety and its taste. It is advisable to combine your visit to Arequipa with Puno and Cusco.