Arequipa in southern Peru, six hundred miles from Lima, is known as 'The White City’. It is the nation’s second largest city and is stunning at almost 2,380m above sea level. It has many fine colonial-era Spanish buildings built of sillar, a pearly white volcanic rock used extensively in the city and from which it gets its nickname. The historic centre of Arequipa was named a UNESCO world heritage site in 2000, in recognition of its character and historic integrity.
Suggested Peru itinerary
A few days spent in Arequipa is time well spent. The Santa Catalina Convent is possibly Arequipa’s most interesting site. Here you can explore the convent, a city within a city, with its colourful buildings and cobbled streets and although some nuns still live here, you can wander around quite freely and imagine what life might have been like here.
The famous ‘Juanita’ mummy is also on display here, though not guaranteed as she is often ‘on tour’.
Also do not miss out of some of Arequipa’s finest delicacies in the traditional restaurants known as ‘picanterias’. A good way of passing the time in Arequipa is to seek out a hotel with a roof-top terrace.
At an altitude of 2,380 m above sea level, Arequipa lies in the highlands at the foot of the snow-capped Volcano El Misti. El Misti sits beside an even bigger volcano, ‘Chanchani’, (‘The Beloved’) and also the peak Picchu Picchu meaning, ‘Top Top’ in Quechua. El Misti is currently inactive, but erupted strongly between 1438 and 1471. Several smaller eruptions have occurred since then, most recently in 1784. Arequipa has over 80 volcanoes which can be found in the Valley of Volcanoes. If you are feeling energetic you could climb El Misti, but you will need to allow a good few days and time to acclimatise first.
Arequipa is also the gateway to the Colca Canyon.
The newest offering from Casa Andina’s Private Collection in Arequipa is the former Mint House, one of the most beautiful traditional houses in the White City and a national historical monument, which has been transformed into the one of the best hotels in Arequipa. More…
Hotel Libertador in Arequipa’s white city is the perfect choice to make the most of your stay. It is the only five star hotel in the city and has 80 large rooms and 8 elegant suites. More…
La Hosteria Hotel is a beautiful colonial house with just 11 rooms located right in the heart of the city of Arequipa, across from the Santa Catalina convent. More…
Fast Facts:
Flights:
Arequipa is 1 hr from Lima or 20 mins from Juliaca/Puno or 30 mins from Cusco.
