Arequipa

The department of Arequipa located in the southeast of Peru is rich in both culture and geography. Its' capital city also named Arequipa, has an altitude of 2 345m. The city was founded in 1540, the chronicles of Cieza de Leon states that Arequipa was the most "healthy and enjoyable village of Peru". Arequipa's territory includes coastal zones and mountain ranges and it has climates that vary accordingly. The City of Arequipa, also known as the "White City " due to the color of its buildings constructed with sillar (white stone of volcanic origin), is a colorful place that combines the beauty of its green countryside with the imposing presence of volcanoes and snowcapped mountains. The city is surrounded by three volcanoes, El Misti (5 822 m) El Chachani (6 075 m.) and El Pichu Pichu (5 664 m). After Lima, Arequipa is considered the most important city in Peru.

Distance:

Lima 1,009 kilometers
Cusco 830 kilometers
Puno 294 kilometers

Access routes:

Land: Lima - Arequipa (1003 km) approximately 14 hours approx by car.

Air: Daily flights from the cities of Lima (50 min approx) and Cusco (30 min approx)
Rail: Train service linking Arequipa to the cities of Mollendo, Juliaca, Puno and Cusco.

Festivities:

Celebration of the Virgin of Chapi (May) A celebration with processions of pilgrims making offerings and fireworks in the evening.
Festival of the Corpus Christi (June) Mass is celebrated in the Cathedral with the procession of Corpus Christi through the City.
Jubilee month of Arequipa (August) The Arequipa International Fair located in the highest point called Cerro Juli. Artistic and recreational activities take place like the International Competition of the Ascent to Misti, craft exhibitions, etc. The main day (15 of August) the Friendship events take place, among other important activities.
Celebration of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception (December) a series of cultural activities are celebrated that include a dance competition of the famous dance "Witite".

Places of Interest:

The Colca Canyon is located 164 kilometers from Arequipa. This Valley has great diversity of flora and fauna; in addition to being home for llamas, alpacas and condors. The Colca Canyon is famous for its condors, an excellent place to see them in their natural habitat. In its area are 16 towns with descendants from ethnic groups of the Collahuas and Cabanas, heirs of a rich cultural tradition. The Valley of the Colca comprises of the South American tectonic plate.
The Thermal Baths of Yura, located 30 kilometers from Arequipa are fed by waters coming from the interior of Chachani volcano and are renowned for their therapeutic properties.

The Monastery of Santa Catalina, an impressive religious monument founded in 1579, is considered to be one of the great examples of colonial architecture in the world. Until 1970, this small city of 20,426 square meters was a prisoner of time, hidden from the world. After 400 years it was restored and opened to the public. In its interior are 3 sections, with almost a hundred cells, forming 6 streets, and a corridor and the main plaza.
The Cathedral, built totally in sillar, is the main church of the city. Located beside the Plaza de Armas, its facade consists of 70 columns, 3 large doors and 2 great lateral arcs. Rich in sculptures and paintings from word renowned artists of the time, its greater altar is made of Carrara marble from Italy and its timber pulpit is a beautiful sculpture carved in France by the artist Rigot and its organ was made in Belgium. It houses a museum of religious art. The Churches: La Compania, La Merced and San Francisco were founded by the Jesuits in the XVII century. They are characterized by their baroque architecture, for example the convents and monasteries of Santa Catalina, La Recoleta and Santo Domingo.