Colca Canyon Tour
Watch condors soar over one of the world's deepest canyons.
Overview
Why visit Arequipa
Arequipa was founded in 1540 in a valley ringed by volcanoes — snowcapped Misti looms over the skyline. Its buildings are carved from white sillar volcanic stone, giving the 'White City' its nickname and the centre its UNESCO listing.
The city's heart is Santa Catalina Monastery, a walled 16th-century convent of painted lanes, cloisters and plazas — a city within a city that hid nuns for centuries. The Plaza de Armas, cathedral and Juanita the Ice Maiden mummy at the Santuarios Andinos museum fill the historic core.
Arequipa is also Peru's spicy kitchen: rocoto relleno, chupe de camarones and adobo come with cold chicha or a pisco sour. Beyond the city, Colca Canyon — twice as deep as the Grand Canyon — hosts Andean condors rising on the morning thermals.
Things to do
Top things to book in Arequipa
Popular tours and tickets. Compare prices and book ahead to skip the lines.
Santa Catalina Monastery
Explore the walled convent city with a guide.
City & Volcano Viewpoints
Plaza, cathedral and the Yanahuara arches.
Arequipeña Food Tour
Rocoto relleno, adobo and queso helado tastings.
Plan your trip
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Fun facts
Things you didn't know about Arequipa
- 01
The White City
Buildings are carved from white volcanic sillar stone that glows at sunset.
- 02
A City Inside A City
Santa Catalina Monastery walled off a 20,000-square-metre labyrinth of lanes, plazas and cloisters.
- 03
Under Three Volcanoes
Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu ring the skyline — Misti is considered active.
- 04
A Canyon Deeper Than The Grand
Colca Canyon drops over 3,000 metres — twice as deep as the Grand Canyon.
- 05
Condors On The Wind
The condors of Colca Canyon, with 3-metre wingspans, ride the morning thermals.
- 06
The Ice Maiden
Juanita, a 500-year-old Inca sacrifice mummy found near-perfect on a volcano, rests in the museum.
- 07
Peru'S Spicy Kitchen
Arequipeño food is Peru's most regional cuisine — rocoto relleno peppers are the signature dish.
- 08
An Earthquake City
Arequipa has rebuilt itself repeatedly after earthquakes — 2001's badly damaged the cathedral.
- 09
A President'S City
Arequipa has produced several Peruvian presidents and calls itself Peru's 'second capital'.
- 10
Sillar Quarries
The white stone is still cut by hand in the Añashuayco quarries you can visit.
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FAQ
Quick answers about Arequipa
Where is Arequipa located?
Arequipa is in Peru, in South America.
What is the population of Arequipa?
The greater Arequipa area is home to about 1,100,000 people.
What is Arequipa famous for?
Peru's 'White City' glows with buildings of volcanic stone beneath three volcanoes, hiding the walled city-within-a-city of Santa Catalina Monastery and serving the country's spiciest food.
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