Among the many attractions this city has to offer, the colonial buildings located in the historic centre are some of the main ones. Such buildings are made from ashlars stone, a white volcanic stone very commonly found in the area.

The Moral House, Tristan del Pozo's House, Iberry's House, Pastor's House and Goyeneche's House are some of the ones that can be visited.

In addition, there are other interesting monuments to visit such as the absolutely beautiful Santa Catalina Monastery, the Company of Jesus Church, the Yanahuara viewpoint, the Sabandia mills or the Sachaca viewpoint.

Other well worth visiting places are Andagua, the Imata Stone Forest, Cotahuasi, the Sumbay Caves and Stone Forest, the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserves, the Colca Valley and Yura.

The Colca Valley is located a few hours away from the north area of Arequipa city, in Peru. The Colca river and Cañon del Colca river are both located there.

Beautiful landscapes and amazing animals such as condor, llama, alpaca, guanaco, vicuña and vizcachas can be enjoyed in this wonderful place.

In order to reach this valley it is necessary to ascend about four thousand three hundred meters above sea level and afterwards descend near three thousand four hundred meters between snowy landscapes.

See Colca Valley in Arequipa...

The word Cotahuasi comes from the Quechua terms ccoto and huasi. While the first one means "meeting" the second one means "home". Thus, it may be concluded that Cotahuasi means "meeting of homes". However, other translations define it as "House of the Deepness".

Villa Cotahuasi is the capital of both Cotahuasi district and La Union Province.

The Villa is found at a height of two thousand six hundred and eighty meters above sea level and is located eighty kilometers away from Arequipa city.

Along the road, a broad variety of landscapes can be enjoyed including the Coropuna and Solimana.

The Santa Catalina Convent is a religious and tourist complex located in Arequipa's historic centre. Such convent was built as a city in 1580 and enlarged during the XVII century.

This one may well be the world's largest convent. About four hundred nuns lived here for more than four hundred years, having no contact with the outside world.

People from Arequipa never really got to know what was happening behind the high, hermetically closed walls. Nevertheless, numerous rumors were flying about at that time.

The Santa Catalina Complex remained a deep mystery until the year 1970, when it was finally opened to public.

Nowadays, some nuns still live in the north area of the complex.

Sabandia is a small town located in the outskirts of Arequipa city. Here, it is possible to enjoy stunning views of the Misti and Chachani volcanoes.

Sabandia district is one of the twenty nine that constitute the province named Arequipa inside the department bearing the same name.

During the XVIII century a high mill with a rectangular base used for producing wheat and maize flour and other foodstuffs was built here.

Nowadays, it is highly recommendable to visit the vaults from this mill.

Cayma is located in the outskirts of Arequipa city. The most wonderful view of the whole White City can be enjoyed here.

Moreover, Cayma district is one of the twenty nine that constitute the province named Arequipa. The Dominican monks built here a hermitage in the year 1544.

Such hermitage was used as a base for building later a church, during the XVIII century, which is still well preserved nowadays.