Arequipa & Colca Canyon
~2,335 mA white-stone city under volcanoes, and condors over one of the world's deepest canyons
Destination
The Southern Andes
White-stone Arequipa, condors over Colca Canyon and the high plains running down to Lake Titicaca. Big skies, cold nights and some of the highest beds of the trip.
- Altitude
- ~2,300–4,900 m (verify)
- Best months
- Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov (verify)
- Regions
- 2
- Journeys
- 2
Regions in The Southern Andes
Where to go
Floating reed islands and island weavers on a lake at about 3,800 metres
What to eat in The Southern Andes
Rocoto relleno
Arequipa's stuffed red chilli: spiced beef and raisins inside a rocoto, baked under cheese. Hotter than it looks.
Chupe de camarones
A rich soup of river prawns, milk, potatoes and egg. An Arequipa picantería classic, best on a Friday.
Alpaca
Lean and mild, often grilled as a steak. On the altiplano, alpaca herds are a family's savings.
Native potatoes
Peru grows thousands of potato varieties: purple, yellow, knobbly, striped. Ask for papas nativas and see how many you can tell apart.
Lake trout
Trout from Titicaca and the mountain lakes, fried whole or cooked as a ceviche.
Quinoa
Grown around Lake Titicaca for thousands of years. Try it in a soup, or puffed as a breakfast cereal.
Chuño
Potatoes freeze-dried by frost and sun on the altiplano, a technique far older than the Incas. Keeps for years.
Mate de coca
Coca-leaf tea, offered on arrival at many Andean hotels. A traditional mild remedy for the altitude, though not a substitute for acclimatising.
Journeys
Journeys that go here
7 daysTiticaca & the High Plains
Arequipa, Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca, climbing step by step to about 3,800 metres.
From US$2,900 pp
10 daysPeru for Food Lovers
Lima's tables, Sacred Valley farms, Cusco's markets and Arequipa's picanterías.
From US$4,800 pp
Accommodation
Where to stay
Arequipa & Colca Canyon · boutique
A sillar-stone house in Arequipa
White volcanic-stone arches around a sunny courtyard in Arequipa's historic centre, with a roof terrace facing Misti.
Arequipa & Colca Canyon · lodge
A canyon-edge lodge in the Colca
Stone cottages above the Colca river, with hot springs a short walk away and terraces on every side.
Lake Titicaca & Puno (Uros, Taquile) · lodge
A lakeshore lodge on Titicaca
On the lakeshore outside Puno, with heated rooms, big windows on the water and an early boat to the islands.
Ready when you are
Tell us when you'd like to go and what you'd love to see. Your Peru Specialist will come back with ideas, honest advice on altitude and timing, and a clear price.