Ten years after my visit to Arequipa, I am finally putting together my favorite ten images of this beautiful city! La Ciudad Blanca de Arequipa is a must on any Peru itinerary. It offers a variety of attractions, including cultural sites and beautiful nature. Arequipa sits at 2,325 meters above sea level on the edge of the Peruvian altiplano. With one million people, it is the second largest city in Peru. Also known as the “White City,” Arequipa was mostly built using “sillar” a type of white volcanic rock.
La Ciudad de Arequipa’s main square has a beautiful cathedral and is surrounded by restaurants, hotels and shops. One attraction in the city often overlooked by tourists is the 16th century Convento de Santa Catalina. This colorful colonial monastery is a photographer’s dream with its brightly colored walls and floral arrangements. We spent a morning wandering around the monastery before heading back to the plaza for lunch.
Towering over the city of Arequipa is the Misti Volcano. Currently a dormant volcano, El Misti rises to almost 5,821 meters (19,098 feet) above sea level. The volcano is especially beautiful when it’s snow capped, and it can be admired from anywhere in the city. My favorite view of it was during a drive outside the city where we saw a wild herd of vicuñas drinking from a watering hole with El Misti on the background!
There is a lot more to Arequipa than just the city. One place not to be missed is the Colca Canyon where you can see the Andean Condors soaring above the second deepest canyon on Earth! There are lots of towns worth a stop on the way back from the Canyon, including Vichay where we saw traditional dancers outside a church. Or you can just pull over on the side of the road to admire the jaw-dropping scenery like we did!
I hope you enjoy this gallery of Arequipa in ten images!
For more photo galleries visit my photography page.
