AREQUIPA AND THE COLCA CANYON

Location and Geography:
The city of Arequipa is also known as "The White City" because the majority of the buildings are made from a white volcanic stone from Misti Volcano. Three volcanoes dominate the city's backdrop: Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu. It is the most important city in southern Peru because of its development and the availability of services. It is the second largest city in population and economic development in the county, after Lima. It is the capital of the Province of Arequipa and the Department of Arequipa. It contains colonial churches and mansions, including the Convent of Santa Catalina, founded in 1570 and now open to the general public after 400 years of secrecy.

Outside of the city the most important attraction is the Colca Canyon and Valley, without doubt of national and international interest. Located approximately 4 hours northwest of the city, it is one of the most beautiful Peruvian landscapes with natural bridges, snowcapped mountains, deep canyons and villages founded in the XVI century.

Altitude:
Arequipa: 2,335m
Colca Canyon: 3,500m

Access Ways:
By land from Lima is 1003 km via the South Pan-American (about 14 hours by car). There are daily flights from Lima (about 1 hour).

History:
The city was founded as Villa de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora del Valle Hermoso de Arequipa (The Town of the Ascension of our Lady of the Beautiful Valley of Arequipa) on August 15, 1540 by Garci Manuel de Carbajal. Its history is deep as a cradle of Peruvian politics and culture. Among the distinct groups which inhabit Arequipa, of note are the Collaguas, a village of excellent weavers who posses large flocks of alpaca.

Culture and Traditions:
Arequipa maintains its long artisan traditions which in the course of the last decades have been adapted to the current demand for daily use items for decoration or souvenirs. In the Arequipa artesian production, it is fitting to note the development of the leather sector, a tradition that started in the Pre-Hispanic period, using llama pelts. During the Colonial Period, new primary materials and techniques were introduced, but without loosing the old. This opened up production of other items for the artisans working in Sillar, such as tobacco pouches, backpacks, and sacks, which help the southern Andean commercial circuit.

During the Republic, the shoe industry was developed, directed not only at the national market but also the international. They also make carpets from alpaca leather with scenes inspired by Andean landscapes. In the last twenty year, the development of the leather sector has been important.


ATTRACTIONS - AREQUIPA

Plaza de Armas of the city of Arequipa:
Surrounded by the Cathedral and diverse decorative doors, the Plaza de Armas is centered around a beautiful bronze fountain of three tiers and toped with the figure of a XVI century soldier. It is popularly called Tuturutu; according to the history of the era he was in charge of advising all new events.

Cathedral of the city of Arequipa:
Considered to be one of the first religious monuments of the XVII century in the city. It is constructed of sillar (a volcanic rock) with brick vaults. It was destroyed in 1844 and rebuilt in 1868 by the Arequipa architect Lucas Poblete.
It was strongly hit by the earthquake in 2001, which seriously affected its towers.

Church and Complex of La Compania:
This area is comprised of a set of diverse buildings which were created by the Jesuits as a religious living area. It is a monument to the religious architecture of the XVII century (1660). The actual construction dates to 1650. It has 66 tapestries from the Cusco School from artists such as Bernardo Bitti and Diego de la Puente.

Church and Complex of San Francisco:
The complex includes the Franciscan church, the convent and a smaller church known as the Third Order. In the church, of note is the baroque pulpit decorated with cutout relief and the silver front of the main alter.

Convent of La Recoleta:
The Franciscan convent was founded in 1648 and recently opened to the public in 1978. It shows different styles, from the romantic to the neo-gothic, owing to the various reconstructions, the last of which was in 1940. There are four cloisters and eleven rooms. There are many linens from the Cusco and Arequipa schools and a valuable library of over 20,000 volumes.

Church and Convent of Santo Domingo:
Architecturally, it is characterized by its bell tower, its courtyard with its cornered pedestal and its flawless arch under the choir. It is also known for its side door, which is one of the oldest in Arequipa. The main cloister was constructed around 1734.

Monastery of Santa Catalina:
Constructed to house the daughters of the most distinguished families, the monastery was inaugurated on October 2, 1580. It was named Santa Catalina de Siena. It remained under absolute closure to the outside world until August 15, 1970. It occupies about 20,000m2 and its layout is similar to the first neighborhoods of Arequipa. Its rooms are architecturally diverse. One of the areas is designated to exhibit linens from the Cusco, Quito and Arequipa schools.

Tristan del Pozo House:
A traditional colonial mansion whose façade shows baroque mestizo style carvings. It has large and characteristic inner patios. It was constructed in 1738 for General Domingo Tristan del Pozo. It is currently owned by Banco Continental.

Archaeological Museum of the San Agustin University:
It exhibits a varied collection of remains from human sacrifices, ceramics from the Nasca, Tiahuanaco, Huari and Inca cultures and silver and gold items from the Inca and Colonial periods.

Archaeological Museum of the Santa Maria Catholic University:
Nasca, Tiahuanaco, Wari, Churajon, Acari, Aruni and Ica cultures.

Andean Sanctuary Museum of the Santa Maria Catholic University:
It houses the Ampato Maiden, an Inca mummy of a 12 to 14 year old which was found on the top of the Ampato Volcano by the mountaineer Miguel Zarate, the archaeologist Jose Chavez and the anthropologist Jojan Reinhard on September 8, 1995. According to the experts, it is probably the remains of a girl who was frozen after she died on the mountain by a hit to the head with a granite club. It appears to be an offering to Apu Ampato and is dated to about 500 years ago.

Selva Alegre Area:
Considered "the garden of the city" because of its large parks and immense trees which compliment the modern houses of the area. Of note is the Mill of Santa Catalina, restored and located in the boardwalk of the neighborhood.

Yanahuara Lookout Point:
2 km from the center of the city of Arequipa (8 minutes by car). It was constructed in the XIX century and is formed by a series of stone arcs, in which the words of famous Arequipenos are recorded. The site has a great view of the city and the Misti Volcano.

Town of Sabandia:
8 km south of the city of Arequipa (20 minutes by car). Wide walkways and three volcanoes, Misti, Chanchani and Pichu Pichu, make up countryside surrounding this traditional village.

Mill of Sabandia:
Located in the village of Sabandia. Constructed in 1785, it represents the typical architecture of the region with its dominant volcanic stones. It characteristics are solid buttresses and rustic balconies. Likewise, one can see the technique used for processing wheat using the mill stones.

Fundador Mansion:
Located 9 km from the city of Arequipa. Constructed of volcanic stone on the edge of a cliff, it is one of the most important and traditional mansions in the area. According to tradition, Garci Manuel de Carbaja, founder of Arequipa, had it constructed for his son. Later, in 1785, Juan Crisostomo de Goyeneche and Aguerreverre was its owner and remodeled some of the stately features that are admired today.

District of Cayma:
3 km south of the city of Arequipa. The area of Cayma is known as the "Balcony of Arequipa". Because of its unique location, it affords a view of the whole city. Its central plaza houses the Church of San Miguel Arcangel. It was constructed in 1730 and is considered an architectural jewel for its mestizo facade.

Misti Volcano:
20 km northeast of the city of Arequipa you come to the foot of the volcano. Misti, at 5825m, dominates the view from the city. From the top of its peak, it is possible to see the whole city of Arequipa, the Chili River Valley and the volcanos Chachani and Pichu Pichu.

Yura Thermal Baths:
27 km north of the city of Arequipa. These hot springs located at the base of Chachani Volcano at 2575m. Known for the therapeutic properties of its water whose temperatures fluctuate between 23° and 28°C.

Sumbay Caves - Cave Art:
Found 97 km north of the city of Arequipa by the Caylloma highway within the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve. It houses more than 500 cave paintings. They were probably done by the first inhabitants of the area. They are probably 6,000 to 8,000 years old.

Chachani Mountain:
55 km north of the city of Arequipa, you arrive at base camp, from which it is about 6 hours of walking to the top. Considered one of the most difficult mountains to climb in Peru, the mountain tops out at 6075m. It is an inactive volcano, but lava is still visible in the small ravines. An ascent takes two days and one night.

Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve:
35 km northeast of the city of Arequipa. It is almost 367,000 ha, including territory in the provinces of Arequipa and Caylloma and General Sanchez Cerro (Moquegua region). It was created to conserve the important flora and fauna, protect the natural environment which is being destroyed and deteriorating. The Reserve also protects vicunas through a repopulation program. Located between 2800m and 6050m, it includes the volcanoes Misti (5825m), Chachani (6075m) and Pichu Pichu (5664m). Some of the typical fauna of the reserve include the viscocha, the fox, the condor and the Andean flamingo.


OTHER ATTRACTIONS:

Colca Valley:
151 km north of the city of Arequipa, in the extreme northwest of the Arequipa Region. The highest point is the Ampato Volcano (6288m) and the lowest is the confluence of the Colca and Anadamayo Rivers (970m). The Colca Valley is 100 km long. There are 16 villages, descendents of the people who built the collaguas and cabanas, heirs of a rich cultural tradition. The villages of Chivay and Cabanaconde are the most visited by tourists. In the latter, it is possible to see condors in flight at the Cruz del Condor. The Colca Valley is home to Sabancaya, an active volcano. The valley has a large diversity of flora and fauna. Some of the typical fauna include the condor, the kestrel, the peregrine falcon and the mountain partridge.

Colca Canyon:
42 km west of Chivay, it is one of the deepest canyons in the world, plunging 3400m from its highpoint in the area of Canco. The Chila Range is to its right. On the other side, there are Hualca Hualca, Sabancaya and Ampato. In the distance, you can see Ubinas and the beautiful Coropuna.

Imata Stone Forest:
150 km northeast of the city of Arequipa on the highway to Puno. There is a grouping of stone structures that looks like a mysterious stone forest. Erosion has given these rocks a peculiar shape. The site is easy to access as it is located close to the Arequipa-Juliaca highway.

Ampato Volcano:
173 km north of the city of Arequipa. At 6288m, it is temporarily inactive and is always snow-covered above 5000m. On its flanks, the vegetation is scarce and is limited to ichu grass and hawthorn. On the peak, from which you can see the depression of the Colca Canyon, they found the "Ampato Maiden", a funeral wrapping of an Inca girl.

Toro Muerto Petroglyphs:
164 km northeast of the city of Arequipa, leaving the Colca Valley at the Sihuas Pampa. The site includes a conglomerate of engravings dispersed over an area of 5 km2. The majority of its drawings are of human beings, animals and plants. There are also geometric designs. They appear to be created with pointed rocks. They were created up until 1100 AD.

Weather:
Mild and relatively dry. The temperature varies between 21°C and 10°. There are moderate rains from January to March. In August, the weather is cold at night and dawn, but during the mornings and afternoons the bright sun warms up the area. There is sunshine almost every day of the year.

When to Travel:
August is considered a good time to visit, as the 15th is the anniversary of the city.
Different activities such as fairs, running of the bulls and fireworks are organized.