Arequipa & Colca Canyon

Altitude: 2,325 m. / 7,628 ft.
Best time to visit: March – December

Arequipa most known like "the white city" for its spectacular white stone that use to build the majority of the houses, The city of Arequipa is located in a fertile valley at the feet of Mt. Chachani and Mt. Misti volcanoes. Arequipa’s city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers beautiful colonial architecture; an attractive colonial style Plaza de Armas; wonderful churches and monasteries; shops and exquisite restaurants offering the best of local cuisine –one of Peru’s finest. The surrounding countryside is among the most rugged and diverse terrains in Peru, with snow-capped peaks, active volcanoes, hot springs, high altitude deserts, wildlife sanctuaries, petroglyph sand two of the world’s deepest canyons –the Colca and the Cotahuasi. Hiking, trekking, rafting, horseback riding, or just relaxing in the canyon’s several hot springs are among the top reasons to travel to Arequipa & Colca Canyon.

Arequipa is blessed with a mild climate and plenty of sunshine year-round. The plazas are lined with palm trees, the architecture is fabulously elegant, and the city’s cuisine is lauded as the best in Peru. Picanterias, traditional dining establishments, are located on just about every street corner as well as in the suburbs, and these serve up well-sized portions of Arequipa´s most celebrated dishes such as ‘Rocoto Relleno’, chupe de camarones, and papa a la ocopa.