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.
The Southern Andes
Arequipa & Colca Canyon
A white-stone city under volcanoes, and condors over one of the world's deepest canyons
- Altitude
- ~2,335 m (7,661 ft)verify
- Altitude band
- Moderate
- Time needed
- 2 nights Arequipa, 1–2 nights Colca
Arequipa is built from pale volcanic stone, with three volcanoes on its skyline and a kitchen tradition all its own. At about 2,335 metres it's a smart first step up. From here, the road climbs over the high puna to Colca Canyon, where condors ride the morning thermals at Cruz del Cóndor.
Altitude note: Arequipa about 2,335 m; Colca villages about 3,400–3,650 m; the road crosses a pass near 4,900 m (verify).
Few people notice it. A good place to sleep while you adjust. Altitude, explained
Highlights
- Santa Catalina Monastery
- Picanterías (traditional lunch houses)
- Cruz del Cóndor
- Colca's pre-Inca terraces
What to eat here
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.
Accommodation
Where to stay in Arequipa & Colca Canyon
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.
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
The Southern Andes
Nearby too
Floating reed islands and island weavers on a lake at about 3,800 metres
Add Arequipa & Colca Canyon to your trip
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.