Arequipa & Colca Canyon
Travel Information of the White City and the Canyon of Colca

 It is known as the White City because of the white porous volcanic rock (sillar) that was used to build most of the its buildings. By air, this lovely city is 75 minutes south from Lima. Dominated by the snow-capped El Misti volcano, it is built of white stone called sillar.  The city is surrounded by mountains and snow capped volcanoes such as the Misti (5820 m.), Chachani (6096 m.) and Macho Picchu. Arequipa City lies at 2400 meters above sea level but it has a very pleasant climate, its days are mostly warm and sunny, and its nights are cool. The pretty Plaza de Armas forms the city core, bordered on one side by a Jesuit church founded in 1689. There are many fine restored mansions and churches such as San Agustin with its churrigueresque facade, but the primary religious monument is the Santa Catalina Monastery, a flowering complex of buildings that once sheltered a community of 400 nuns.

Its main attractions include:

     The Colca Canyon, is considered as the world's deepest canyon a half-day drive from Arequipa, via the Augada Blanca National Reserve. The Colca Canyon is even deeper than the Colorado canyon as a matter of fact it is twice as deep.  Located about 170 Kms. away from the city this canyon cuts through a region occupied by people whose lives have changed little since Inca times. On route you will be able to appreciate small interesting towns with friendly people dressed very colorfully; there are also lots of South American Cameloids including llamas, alpacas and even vicuñas on the highlands. This decedents of the Incas live in tiny villages with exquisitely decorated, although decrepit, old churches. These people farm very much as there ancestor and still use terraces to do there farming a main characteristic of the Colca Canyon. Around there you will probably see some condors flying around the mountains. Besides, you will be able to see stone carvings, cave paintings and thermal baths. Aguada Blanca National Reserve, which protects vicunas natural relatives of the llama.

The Convent of Santa Catalina (Saint Catherine of Siena), is one of the most interesting samples of colonial religious architecture in Peru. The whole complex is a real town inside Arequipa City. Its construction began by 1579 and took many decades to finish it. It housed about 450 nuns who were secluded for their lifetime. The convent was opened as a museum in 1970. The City Tour in Arequipa always include a visit to this convent, the Cathedral and a ride around the picturesque landscape near the downtown area.
      Other attractions near the city include Yanahuara, a famous district having a nice colonial church and a lookout with arches carved in volcanic rock.
      Cayma is a couple of miles away from the city and has another nice church and an beautiful view of the city as well.

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