Arequipa

Arequipa is Peru's elegant “White City” and one of the most beautiful colonial cities in South America. Its historic center, built largely from the pale volcanic stone known as sillar, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features magnificent churches, grand mansions, and the sprawling Santa Catalina Monastery, a fascinating “city within a city”. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu volcanoes, Arequipa combines colonial heritage with a vibrant cultural scene and one of Peru's most celebrated culinary traditions. Among its highlights is the Museo Santuarios Andinos, home to the famous Inca mummy “Juanita”, one of the best preserved Inca mummies ever discovered. As the cultural and economic center of southern Peru, Arequipa is also the ideal gateway to the Colca Canyon and the spectacular landscapes of the Andes.