About Arequipa

The area was inhabited since 7600 B.C. by primitive men, and in the nearest antiquity it was inhabited by the tribe pre-Inca the Collaguas, and then conquered by the Inca Mayta Capac who ordered to found the first city, giving it the name towards 1300 B.C.

Garcí Manuel de Carbajal, Spaniard conqueror, was the founder of the Spanish city of Arequipa in August 15th, 1540 with the name of "Villa Hermosa de Arequipa". During the colonial time it was favored to be an intermediate point of the caravans that transported the immense shipments of silver of the rich mines of Potosi (Bolivia) towards Quilca, port in which was sent aboard for Callao and Spain.

Arequipa is the capital of the department of Arequipa, furrowed by the river Chili and it is located in the slopes of the Misti Volcano, 5,822 meters above sea level (19,101 feet), and very near to the volcanoes Chachani 6,075 meters above sea level (19,931 feet), and the Pichupichu 5,425 meters above sea level (17,798 feet).

Also known as the "Ciudad Blanca" (White City) for the numerous and magnificent constructions of temples, convents, big houses and palaces in white ashlar sculpted as filigree. It also possesses an excellent climate with almost 300 days of sun a year, with transparent blue sky.

Arequipa also offers an exquisite cuisine, beautiful landscapes of countryside, majestic volcanoes, the Colca Valley, challenges and adventures in Colca Canyon, natural reservations, and the heat of friendly people willing to make the tourist enjoy their visit to Arequipa.

Arequipa is the second larger city of the country and the most important of the south of Peru, constitutes the main pole of economic development due to their multiple resources and to their irrigation projects that favor mainly to the agriculture and the cattle raising; industry of milk products and leathers. It has a modern hotel infrastructure.