Peru Guide
Arequipa
Arequipa, second city of Peru and a day's journey from Lima, sits poised at the edge of the Andes against an extraordinary backdrop of volcanic peaks. Recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, the white stone architecture of Arequipa – particularly the Monasterio de Santa Catalina, a complex enclosing a complete world within its thick walls – constitutes perhaps the city's main appeal to travellers. If you're coming from the north, it's one of the last places to really merit a stop before continuing on south to the Chilean border.
This wealthy city with a population of almost 800,000, maintains a rather aloof attitude towards the rest of Peru. Most Arequipans feel themselves distinct, if not culturally superior, and resent the idea of the nation revolving around Lima. This self-comfortable image arose in the nineteenth century as the city found itself wealthy largely on the back of the wool trade with England. Located 2335m above sea level, and with El Misti, the dormant, 5821-metre volcano poised dramatically above, the city enjoys a distinctly poetic appearance. The most traditional of Arequipa's restaurants – La Tradición Arequipeña – goes so far as to issue Arequipa passports to its clients, only partly in jest.
Highlights
1 Santa Catalina Just exploring the labyrinthine sunlit streets of this Arequipa nunnery is a calming, even spiritual, experience in its own right.
2 Tradición Arequipeña This massive restaurant, close to downtown Arequipa, bustles with people enjoying delicious cuy or rocoto relleno.
Tour operators
1 
Campamento Base and Colca Trek C Jerusalen 401-b 
054/2062179600170 
colcatrek@gmail.com colcatrek@gmail.com 
www.colcatrek.com.pe An excellent all-round outdoor adventure specialist company run by the well-respected Vlado Soto, specializing in customized tours with a mix of trekking, mountain biking, canoeing and climbing. They operate a well-stocked camping shop and employ excellent guides for the Colca Canyon and more adventurous treks, including Cabanaconde, Tapay and especially Cotahuasi areas. They're also a good source of information on the wider region and will help organize transport.
2 Giardino Agencia de Viajes C Jerusalen 606a 054/221345 info@giardinotours.com www.giardinotours.com A well-organized outfit with excellent two-day tours to Colca Canyon, trekking and climbing trips, plus the usual city and countryside trips as well as a very reliable air and bus ticket buying service.
3 Hilton Travel and Tours C Santa Catalina 217 054/225948227297 Air tickets, city tours and treks to Colca Canyon, plus a 24-hour trip up El Misti and frequent rides to Toro Muerto. Also offer a five-day adventure tour to Cotahuasi Canyon.
4 Illary Tour C Santa Catalina 205 054/220844 illarytour@hotmail.com A friendly and professional outfit with English-speaking guides who take enjoyable trips of two days and more in the Colca Canyon. They provide oxygen, accommodation, transport and even live, private-performance folk music.
5 Invertur C San Juan de Dios 113 054/213585 Though they offer both city and countryside tours, their speciality is an all-inclusive two-day trip to Colca. Good English-speaking guides are available.
6 Naturaleza Activa C Santa Catalina 211 054/695793 naturactiva@yahoo.com This company specializes in trekking and mountain-bike tours and equipment rental.
7 Pablo Tour C Jerusalen 400a 054/203737 pablotour@hotmail.com www.pablotour.com Specialists in adventure tourism, with great links to hostels and local guides in Cabanaconde and the Oasis tambo in the Colca Canyon.
8 Peru Adventure (and Biking) Tours C Jerusalen 410 054/221658 www.peruadventurestours.com A highly professional team, Peru Adventure Tours specialise in offering tours all over Peru, including Colca Canyon and Cotahuasi. They also organise mountain biking tours in the region as well as climbing, trekking and luxury trips.
9 Zarate Adventuras (or Expediciones) C Santa Catalina 204, Oficina 054/202461 www.zarateadventures.com A good expedition outfitter as well as a leading trekking and climbing company with over 28 years' experience, and using only professional and qualified guides such as Carlos Zarate, the internationally renowned founder. Treks include rock climbing and canoeing in the usual places such as Colca, El Misti and Cotahuasi, but they also offer more adventurous routes such as from Colca to the Valley of the Volcanoes and another to the Mismi Nevado, official source of the Amazon which overlooks the Colca Canyon from the north.
Read more ▼
- Practical Information ▼
- Sight(s) ▼