DESTINATIONS - AREQUIPA

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AREQUIPA

Nicknamed the 'white city', Arequipa is surrounded by spectacular mountains, including the volcano El Misti. A feature of the city is its many beautiful buildings made of a light-colored volcanic rock called sillar.

The Convento de Santa Catalina, perhaps the most fascinating colonial religious building in the country, was until recently home to almost 450 nuns. Many of the city's beautiful colonial houses, such as Casa Ricketts, are now used as art galleries or museums. Within a few blocks of the colonial Plaza de Armas are half a dozen churches well deserving of a brief visit. Further out, you can visit the attractive suburbs of San Lazaro, Cayma and Yanahuara, which are renowned for their dramatic views of the valley with the volcanoes. Accommodation and food is cheap and often provided in lovely locations. The Colca Canyon, arguably the world's deepest canyon, is a popular excursion from Arequipa (one or two days). The Colca Canyon, with more than 1 kilometer from cliff-edge to river bottom, with its pictoresque pre-inca terracing, impressive scenery and friendly Indian villages (e.g. Chivay) with traditionally dressed peasants, is certainly worth a visit.