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.
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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.
Arequipa is also the gateway to the
Colca
Canyon.
Arequipa AccommodationThe 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…Visit Arequipa as part of our
Best of Peru itinerary. 17 days from £2,056 excluding international flights!
Find out more...
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Contact us by email or contact us by telephone on 0207 622 5114 and ask to speak to a consultant about hotels in Peru. |
