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Peru Tours and Travel

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Arequipa and Colca Canyon Tours

Dubbed the "white city" for its beautiful buildings made of sillar, a pearly volcanic rock, Arequipa nestles against the foot of the El Misti volcano and is guarded on either side by spectacular peaks. Once an important Inca city, modern-day Arequipa has a population of nearly half a million and serves as the commercial center of southern Peru. Home to the Universidad de San Augustin, the city hosts a vibrant student and cultural scene.With its fine baroque churches and beautiful colonial buildings, many of which now house art galleries and museums, Arequipa is said to have the best-preserved colonial architecture in Peru, apart from Cuzco.

Possibly the most fascinating colonial religious complex in the country, the Santa Catalina Convent is a miniature walled town in the middle of Arequipa. Founded in 1579, it was only opened to the public in 1970 after centuries of mystery. The convent housed about 450 nuns who lived there in total seclusion except for their female servants. It has preserved the characteristics of XVI and XVII centuries perfectly. Narrow plazas, streets and gardens have Spanish names,remeniscent of ancient quarters in Sevilla or Granada. It has site museums where artwork has been collected including porcelain relics, sacred ornaments, sculptures and canvases from different schools.

Locals claim that the sun always shines on Arequipa. With an annual rainfall of less than six inches, undoubtedly they're right. The city hosts a delightful climate — cool and dry throughout the year. Set in the southern cordilleras of the Peruvian Andes, amid its smoking volcanoes, deep canyons, and terraced valleys, Arequipa makes a good base from which to explore the Andean villages and backcountry.
Altitude: 2,335 meters/8,500 feet
Climate: Warm days and cool nights (75 deg/42 deg F, 23 deg/5 deg C), seasonal rain (January toMarch)

The spectacular terraced Colca Canyon, said to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, is a popular excursion from the city. The landscape in the Colca Canyon is remarkable for its Inca and pre-Inca terracing which goes on for many kilometers (the most extensive in Peru), along the valley there are several villages whose inhabitants are involved in agriculture and continue using the terraces today - life here has changed so little down through the centuries.

The Colca River, like many Andean rivers, carves an inhabitable valley in its upper reaches, then dives to sea level. The river changes names five times: It's called Paco Paco at the source; Chilamayo for 7 miles; Colca through the 155 miles of its high valley and breakneck plunge, Majes for 37 miles, in which it broadens and flattens out; and Camana.

OTHER TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: The Cathedral is restored in neo-Renaissance style with some French influence. It has three large facades and inside has a main altar made form Italian Carrara marble, the pulpit is carved in wood. . The Compañia: Its carved facade is impressive. The pulpit in carved wood, the sacristy, true masterpieces. Its cloisters feature vaulted galleries and round arches with columns carved in a style typical of Arequipa. . Yanahuara: A quarter famous for its 1750 Church and watchtower with carved lavastone arches.

Sample Itineraries

Day 1 - Arrival and transfer to your hotel. City tour of this Colonial city, visiting first of all the Convent of Santa Catalina, now open to the public after more than 400 years of cloistered religious life. Then tour the Plaza de Armas or Main Square, the Cathedral, Church of the Compañía's fabulous Colonial jewels, and finally the typical district of Yanahuara overlooking the city.

Day 2 - Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport.

2012 Price per person in US$:

Prices include group tours. We can also quote for private tours

Day 1 - Arrival and transfer to your hotel. Tour of the city and of Santa Catalina Convent that has remained the same since its foundation in 1580 but was only opened to the public in 1970. Then tour the Plaza de Armas or Main Square, the Cathedral, the church of La Compañía and the Colonial district of Yanahuara.

Day 2- breakfast, then morning departure for Pampa Canahuas, passing through Yura on the way. Arrive at Pulpera and Callali villages, and stop at Sibayo to visit the new and old town. Here you will see an Incan bridge. Lunch included. Continue on to Chivay village an its thermal baths, La Calera.Accommodation at the LODGE. Dinner. Overnight.

Day 3 - Breakfast at the hotel. The early morning excursion reaches an observation point, on a wide bend, where a wooden cross called CRUZ DEL CONDOR has been erected. The view from here is breathtaking: one can see the silvery thread of the Colca River flowing below in the roar of the canyon, while majestic condors soar overhead using the warm air currents from the canyon depths to rise towards the high peaks. Here the chasm is 1,200 mts. deep, but the highest part of the canyon wall on the other side is more than 3,000 meters above the river level, and permanently snow capped. Return to Chivay. On the way visit the Colonial church of Maca and Yanque. Lunch included. Return to Arequipa and transfer to the airport.

2012 Price per person in US$:

Prices include group tours. We can also quote for private tours

Also see Added Value Tours