Arequipa and
The Colca Valley & Canyon

Arequipa, Peru’s second largest city and a bustling commercial town, is located in a valley at 2.360m above sea level, at the foothills of the active Misti, one of the three volcanoes which surround the city. Founded by the Spaniards as early as 1540, the city is built with white volcanic stone, has beautiful colonial achitecture and a dry and temperate climate year round.
See Map


Misti Volcano

Practical Information

Arequipa and The Colca Valley are two destinations that are generally visited together. It is however possible to visit Arequipa and not visit the Colca. Time constraints or difficulty with altitude could be two reasons not to visit the Colca, but we encourage you to do so. Please go to the Colca page for more information. Arequipa is the perfect first stop in a Peru trip, as it provides gradual acclimatisation to altitude. You can fly from Lima: 1 hour flight. You can drive from Lima via Nazca. This is also a popular approach.

Santa Catalina Convent
Santa Catalina Convent in Arequipa

Time in Arequipa is generally spent visiting Santa Catalina Convent, its lovely Main Square, the Jesuit Church of La Compania and the Museum displaying Inca mummies. One day is generally enough to visit the City. From Arequipa you can continue your trip through Southern Peru, there are flights here to Cuzco and Juliaca. Alternatively, you can drive to the Colca and on to Puno, in the Lake Titicaca Area.
There are many hotels in Arequipa, please click here for our recommended list.

Set itinerary 4 includes a visit to Arequipa and the Colca!

Casa del Moral
Church of La compania

Santa Catalina Convent
Santa Catalina Convent

Relevant press articles:

Only fools and llamas
Southern Conquest
In the Shadow of the Condor
Hats Off to the Happier Virgins



Santa Catalina Convent

Highlights of Arequipa and the Colca Valley:

Santa Catalina Convent, Church of La Compaņia, Condors, Vicuņas, Inca Terraces, Indigenous populations


AREQUIPA AND THE COLCA VALLEY

We suggest you allocate 4 to 5 days for a visit of this area.

We can design tailor made itineraries to this and other destinations in Peru.

The following set itinerary cover Arequipa and The Colca Valley:
Itinerary 4: (9 days) Arequipa, Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca & Lima