Arequipa (pronounced Ar-a-keep-a) is the biggest urban area between Lima, the capital of Peru, and Santiago, the Chilean capital. It is city of the highlands – 7,627 feet in altititude – and is surrounded by undulating Andes mountains. Since its peaks are moderate by Peruvian standards, many travelers find it a good place to start a Peru sojourn before proceeding to higher locales. The temperatures range from lows of 40 degrees Fahrenheit at night during July to 75 degrees during the peak of a January day. During the wet season – from January to March the rains sweep through infrequently in the afternoons.
The alluring colonial architecture in the center quickly gives way to wonders of nature: the Chachani and Misti volcanos, nature reserves where vicunas run wild, and spectacular highlands.
It takes less than an hour to fly from Cusco, the gateway to ancient Inca monuments at Machu Picchu. Arequipa's location makes it a natural hub for exploring the natural wonders of the region, including the Colca Canyon, Peru answer to the Grand Canyon and El Misti, the active volcano towering over the horizon of the city.
The city and the surrounding area offer a long list of tempting attractions. Among them:
Travel writer Gary Lee did an excellent feature article on Arequipa in the December 22, 2002 issue of the Washington Post. Read his general overview of Arequipa here.
The alluring colonial architecture in the center quickly gives way to wonders of nature: the Chachani and Misti volcanos, nature reserves where vicunas run wild, and spectacular highlands.
It takes less than an hour to fly from Cusco, the gateway to ancient Inca monuments at Machu Picchu. Arequipa's location makes it a natural hub for exploring the natural wonders of the region, including the Colca Canyon, Peru answer to the Grand Canyon and El Misti, the active volcano towering over the horizon of the city.
The city and the surrounding area offer a long list of tempting attractions. Among them:
- A breathtaking array of ivory-colored colonial buildings concentrated around the Plaza de Armas, the city's central square. Made of sillar, or compressed ash, from the surrounding volcanoes, these buildings constitute one of the most dazzling displays of architecture in South America.
- Local boutique shops specializing in blankets, sweaters and other goods made from locally raised alpaca. Alpaca clothing, prized the world over, sells for less than half price in the U.S. or western Europe. See more about alpaca here. Shops also offer a wide range of finely hand-crafted leather goods, paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and other intricately-designed pottery.
- A wide range of alluring restaurants, featuring tasty Peruvian specialities: chupe de camarones, soup made from river shrimp; chicharrones, a tasty deep fried pork dish; ceviche, a dish made of fresh fish marinated in lemon juice and so much more. See more on the local cuisine here.
- The monastery of Santa Catalina, a sprawling convent built by Spanish missionaries in the 16th century and still used as a home for nuns.
- Juanita, a hauntingly well preserved 500 year-old mummy displayed in the museum of the Catholic University of Santa Maria. See more on Juanita here.
Travel writer Gary Lee did an excellent feature article on Arequipa in the December 22, 2002 issue of the Washington Post. Read his general overview of Arequipa here.
