Lagunas de Mejía National
Sanctuary. 145 Km from Arequipa,
3 Km from the beach resort of
Mejía and 19 Km from Mollendo, a
port city.
It is the only surviving wetlands
along 2,000 Km of coastline in
Peru. While its area is rather
small (690 hectares), 8 different
habitats are found there and it is
also a strategic stopover point for
migratory birds (more than 200
species).
• Atiquipa Hills and Quebrada
Waca. Near the city of Chala. The
former is an area of hills along the
coastline covered with distinctive
vegetation. This phenomenon
begins in northern Chile and moves
upwards into part of the Peruvian
coast. It is a habitat rich in trees
and other plants, several of which
are endemic. Ancient Peruvians
capitalized on the resources found
in these hills by constructing
terraces, colcas (storehouses),
trails and other buildings from the
time of the Incas, like Quebrada
Waca (now Puerto Inca), which is
located across from the Atiquipa
hills. Because it was the coastal
point closest to the city of Cusco,
it was chosen by the Incas to be
a staging ground for the products
extracted in this area, including fish
and other seafood, chili peppers,
and others, that were processed
stored, and then transported to the
Incan capital city.
• Toro Muerto and Querullpa. 164
Km. Toro Muerto contains one of
the world’s largest collections of
petroglyphs. It is an area of 500
hectares strewn with stone upon
which ancient peoples carved
thousands of images (animals,
geometric designs and dancers)
between the years 700 A.D and
1,500 A.D. Just a few minutes
away is Querullpa and its amazing
footprints of prehistoric animals
that lived in this area 150 to
200 million years ago, when this
mountainous setting was a serene
beach.
• Valley of the Volcanoes. 340
Km (Andahua). An enchanted
land, starting at an altitude 5,577
fasl and rising to 12,467 fasl,
where more than 30 small coned
volcanoes can be seen. These
dwarf volcanoes vary in height
(100 feet, 200, 300 and even
1,000) create an uncommon
spectacle as you move among
the dried lava flows created from
enormous eruptions. Their villages
are inhabited by people who
constantly struggle to survive in the
harsh environment. In the lava, you
can see highly specialized plants
and animals, including 16 species
of cacti.
• Salinas and Aguada Blanca
National Reserve. 60 Km. An
impressive setting of volcanoes,
rivers, salt licks and strange rock
formations. It protects a dry puna
ecosystem that is necessary for
the conservation of the Chili River
basin and for the vicuña, in addition
to other plant and animal species
found in this habitat, such as three
species of flamingos (parihuanas),
another 141 other bird species and
358 varieties of plants. The area
has a 340,000-hectare extension,
and within it rise mounts Misti
(19,160 fasl), Chachani (19,931
fasl) and Ubinas (18,622 fasl), all
volcanoes and the latter being the
most active in Peru nowadays.
• Sumbay Caves. 88 Km. Taking a
small access road from the main
route to the Colca Valley, you can
reach these caves and their 500
examples of cave paintings that are
between 6,000 and 8,000 years
old.
• Colca Valley and Canyon. 170
Km. A destination that never runs
out of experiences, gathering
together natural wealth, living
history and adventure sports
like rafting, mountaineering,
mountain biking, hiking and
horse back riding. Its depth has
been measured at 11,155 feet
(twice that of the Grand Canyon).
There are 14 villages from the
Colonial era spread throughout the
canyon, each with extraordinary
specimens of civil and religious
architecture, stone houses that
are thatched with ichu grass and
wheat stalks, as well as ancient
churches in the towns of Lari,
Yanque, Cabanoconde and Sibayo
– absolute masterpieces of the
Mixed Baroque style. At the rim of
the canyon, you can find lookouts,
strategically placed, where you can
take in the entire scene and the
majestic flight of the condor.
• Cotahuasi Valley and Canyon.
XX Km. A striking natural setting
in the heights of the department,
home to a huge amount of
biodiversity and scenic beauty,
such as the impressive vistas of
mounts Coropuna and Solimana,
eternally snow-covered, the Sipia
waterfall and its hotsprings and the
Cotahuasi Canyon (with a depth
similar to the Colca Canyon). The
Peruvian State has declared the
area a scenic reserve (protected
natural area) and it is a perfect site
for trekking, rafting, rock climbing,
paragliding and mountain biking.
Colca Canyon and Arequipa welcomes travelers with open
arms and a well prepared table with plenty
of variety to the food found there. At the
feet of Mount Misti sit a heart-stirring
countryside and a city dressed up in
white from the sillar stones that its main
buildings are fashioned out of.
Recommended for
History, archeology and
petroglyph buffs, who will
thoroughly enjoy the city of
Arequipa and its architecture
(mansions and churches),
Atiquipa, the Toro Muerto
petroglyphs and the Sumbay
caves.
Nature lovers, bird watchers
and researchers, who, while
visiting the surrounding
countryside, the Colca and
Cotahuasi valleys, Lagunas
de Mejía National Sanctuary
and the Salinas and Aguada
Blanca National Reserve, will
experience the greatness
these lands have been
blessed with.
Culture Nature Adventure
Adventure sports
aficionados, who live
for trekking, rafting,
mountaineering (ascending
volcanoes like mounts Misti,
Chachani, Ampato and
Coropuna, as well as other
peaks in the Chila Mountain
Range) and rock climbing.
Others:
Hydrotherapy devotees,
who will find that the volcanic
nature of the department’s
geology has produced hot
springs with medicinal
properties, like those in Yura
and Socosani near the city
of Arequipa, Calera Chivay
and Yanque in the Colca,
Huancarama in the Valley of
the Volcanoes and Luicho in
Cotahuasi.
Lodging and tourist
services
The city of Arequipa offers a wide gamut of hotels, up to 5 stars. In Colca, certain towns in the valley boast accommodations of up to 3 stars. In
Cotahuasi and Orcopampa, two places located in the Valley of the Volcanoes, there are lodges and other basic accommodation.
You can find transportation, restaurants and other tourist services in Arequipa. In the Colca Valley, there is transportation (car and bus) as well as full
service trekking and rafting outfitters. If you wish to visit the Valley of the Volcanoes and Cotahuasi, we recommend hiring specialized services.
The city of Arequipa also possesses the proper infrastructure for organizing conventions and congresses.
Because of its strategic location, Arequipa is the jumping off point for many circuits in the southern region of Peru.
What to eat?
To experience the true taste of the White City, you must find your way
to one of the so-called picanterias (traditional restaurants where they
cook over open flame). A good table begins with a rocoto relleno (spicy
red chili pepper that is stuffed with beef, spices and hard boiled egg,
topped with a cheese and milk mixture, then oven baked), moves on to
the soups, preferably the caldo blanco (chunks of mutton, potatoes, corn,
garbanzo beans, starch and spices) or the puchero (boiled beef, pork
and chicken with vegetables and spices), passes to the main dishes, of
which there are many fabulous options to choose from, like adobo (pork
loin marinated in garlic, onions and chicha de jora – corn beer – and
served with bread), any of the picantes (stews with a base of pork, beef,
mutton or duck), a chupe de camarones (prawn chowder, seasoned with
red chili peppers and chocked full of faba beans, rice, corn kernels and
potatoes) or the fried malaya (flank steak, boiled and seared), and ends
with a dessert, the favorite being queso helado (“frozen cheese” directly
translated, but really a type of coconut and cinnamon ice cream), but you
may also choose from a wide range of chocolates and toffees. To wash
that all down, order one of the local beers or a regionally produced soft
drink or even chicha de jora (corn beer). If you wish for a “digestivo”
– a beverage to aid in digestion, drank after the meal – then order a té
piteado (anise infusion) or Anís Najar (a local anisette).
