Arequipa Peru Sightseeing and Adventure
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on October 1, 2020 by James Bustamante
Arequipa, Peru is one of the major cities in Peru, according to “Arequipenos” it is the only major city in the country.
This Andean location is situated way down south from Lima, it is relatively near to Cusco as well so it fits perfectly into a Machu Picchu tour package.
Let’s take a look at the “white city” of Peru.
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Arequipa Peru Information
Arequipa, Peru is well known for its glistening white buildings made from “sillar”.
This is a white, volcanic rock which gives the city its nickname “La Ciudad Blanca” or “The White City”.
You can actually see this as you walk throughout Arequipa in the form of homes, businesses, churches, schools, etc.
How to Get to Arequipa
The city of Arequipa in Peru is the capital and largest city of the Arequipa Region and the seat of the Constitutional Court of Peru.
It is the third most populous metropolitan area of Peru and is the second most populous city with 861,145 inhabitants. The people tend to have a very welcoming attitude towards visitors.
Similar to Cusco, it is also quite high in elevation at 7,660 feet above sea level (2,300 meters).
This makes it slightly lower in elevation than the Sacred Valley near Cusco.
Arequipa, Peru was founded on August 15, 1540 by Garcí Manuel de Carbajal and was chosen for its proximity to the coast, enabling settlers to trade the products of Cusco and the mines of Potosi (Bolivia) with Lima.
Its historic heritage, natural scenery and cultural sites, make the city a national and international tourist destination.
The city is surrounded by 3 of the most amazing and scenic volcanoes, the Misti, still active at 5822m, the higher and extinct Chachani 6075m and Pichu Pichu 5571m.
The Incas highly respected these volcanoes since the melt water from their snow-capped peaks form the headwaters of the mighty Amazon River, thousands of kilometers away.
How to Get to Arequipa, Peru
Arequipa is a very accessible city, you can actually reach it in a variety of ways. If you have the time and want to save a few bucks, there are double decker buses that travel from Lima to Arequipa in about 14 hours.
The bus ride takes you through the South of Peru, you pass Chincha, Ica, Paracas, Pisco and even Nazca among other destinations.
The other route is by plane. The flight will take around an hour and a half and you’ll arrive directly into the city. Take this route if you are short on time.
Santa Catalina Convent
There are many sights to take in while in Historic Arequipa. Arequipa’s Plaza de Armas is one of the most beautiful in Peru. On the north side of the Plaza is the impressive, twin-towered Cathedral, founded in 1612 and largely rebuilt in the 19th Century.
Inside you can find a Belgian organ and elaborately-carved wooden pulpit.
The Plaza is surrounded on its other 3 sides by colonial buildings with many cafes and restaurants. Behind the Cathedral is a pretty back street with many handicraft shops.
Afterwards, you can visit the Santa Catalina Convent. This astonishing site was opened to the public in 1970 after almost 400 years.
The convent was beautifully refurbished with furniture and paintings from the period. The convent is a miniature walled colonial town in the middle of the city.
There are flower filled gardens, patios, granite fountains as well as arches and narrow streets. The tile-roofed buildings are painted in traditional white, brown and blue.
If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous you can take a shot at the Misti.
This two or three day climb to the top of this active volcano (5830m) can be hard work due to the thin air but any relatively fit, acclimatized trekker should be able to do it without too many problems.
This climb is actually one of the easiest ascents of any mountain of this size in the world. However, it should not be attempted without a guide and the proper equipment.
And who could forget one of Arequipa’s most important attractions; most people who visit Arequipa take a tour out to Colca Canyon, one of the world’s deepest canyons formed by an enormous seismic fault between the Coropuna (6425m) and Ampato (6325m) volcanoes.
Trekking in this area can be quite demanding so it’s safer to organize with a guide and specialist trekking company.
Arequipa Ruta del Sillar Tour
There is actually a “Ruta del Sillar” or a tour of volcanic clay in Arequipa. It basically runs through the areas where this clay is collected.
Some notable locations include the “quebrada de Culebrillas”. An impressive area formed due to natural erosion from the wind and water.
The Local Cuisine
If you’ve ever been to Peru before you’ll understand how important food is to the local culture. Peru won best culinary destination in the world travel awards a whopping 9 times in a row.
Most people get the idea once they visit Lima and see all the beautifully delicious food it has to offer. You could say Arequipa is Lima’s only rival when it comes to most delicious local cuisine.
Sure, there are many destinations in Peru with amazing dishes but Arequipa certainly has an edge with it’s spicy dishes.
Even the Andean cuisine is very different from what you would find near Cusco or Machu Picchu. Here are some notable dishes from Arequipa would be:
Traditional Dishes From Arequipa, Peru
Solterito – A salad based with Andean cheeses, onions and beans.
Chupe de Camarones – A chowder made with Andean River Prawns.
Rocoto Relleno – A spicy Rocoto Pepper stuffed with meat and baked on a bet of potato and Andean cheese.
Whether you’re looking for a more traditional experience or an incredible adventure, Arequipa is the perfect place to go.
It can be a place on it’s own to visit or as part of a Machu Picchu Hiking Package.
Check out our Peru Travel packages including Arequipa and many other destinations in Peru.
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact our 24 hour travel advisers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arequipa, Peru
Why is Arequipa in Peru known as the “white city”?
It is known as the “white city” because several buildings are made with white volcanic ash.
How do I travel to Arequipa from Lima?
There are various ways to travel to Arequipa. You can take a bus or go by plane.
Is Arequipa a safe place for travelers to visit?
Yes Arequipa is one of Peru’s safest cities.
Is Arequipa an expensive place to visit?
It’s about as expensive as traveling to Lima or Cusco. You can get away with spending very little or splurging if you feel like it.
Can I get to the Colca Canyon from Arequipa?
Yes. Most tours start in the center of Arequipa and make their way to the small town of Chivay. The following morning we head to the Colca Canyon.
Will I get elevation sickness in Arequipa?
Arequipa is located at around 8,000 feet above sea level. If you’ve never been in high elevation then there is a chance you will. If you have already spent time in Cusco or Lake Titicaca then probably not.
