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| Title: | Arequipa | |||
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| Date of publishing: | February 22, 2015 | |||
| Hits: | 4260 | |||
| Category: | Other content | |||
| Language: | English | |||
| Also available in the following languages: | Dutch | |||
Arequipa
Located on an oasis of the Chilina river and in the foothills of the volcanic mountain range Arequipa is the second largest city in Peru. It is an industrial city with different alpaca fleece garments and textile companies located there. It is a very traditional town which has preserved its colonial character. The colour of the lava produced by the Misti volcano is a natural building material, so, this is the reason it is called “The White city”.
Within the city the historic centre undoubtedly represents the main tourist attractions, showing colonial houses, palaces, churches and monasteries such as Santa Catalina, which is the oldest of Peru. Among these architectural attractions is also the Sanctuary Museum where the mummy Juanita is exhibited, this frozen lady was found in 1995 in the crater of the volcano Ampato in the same region. It is also the region where we visit the Colca Canyon, the second deepest canyon in the world.
COLCA CANYON
Northeast of Arequipa city is the volcano El Misti, flanked by the volcanoes, Chachani and Pichu Pichu. Beyond those mountains is the Colca Canyon. It is the second deepest canyon in the world and more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the United States of America, although the canyon's walls are not completely vertical. This place is a paradise for nature lovers and Andean culture. The Colca Valley has a large number of agricultural terraces that were built in pre Hispanic eras by pre Inca cultures. Today the descendants of these ancient cultures live in 14 picturesque villages, keeping alive their traditional way of life, dress, and feasts. They are the direct descendants of the cultures of Collahua and Cabana.
The canyon is home to the Andean Condor (Vultur Gryphus), the world’s biggest flying bird. The condors can be seen at fairly close range as they fly through the canyon walls and are an increasingly popular attraction.