Arequipa and Colca Canyon

Arequipa has a beautiful location at the foot of the El Misti volcano, in southern Peru and enjoys an excellent climate of more than 300 days of sunshine and low humidity. The city has striking architecture, with white wash colonial buildings, grand mansions and elegant churches. Explore the narrow cobbled streets, small plazas and brightly painted cloisters of the beautifully preserved Santa Catalina convent, the most important religious monument in Peru. Arequipa?s surrounding countryside has emerged as a favourite for outdoor enthusiasts who come to climb volcanoes, go white water rafting, trek, and, above all, explore the Colca Canyon. A visit to Colca Canyon is not complete without a stop at the Condor Cross, a viewpoint overlooking the valley. The canyon is reportedly the deepest in the world, thought to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the USA. Another highlight is watching the Andean condors at close range as they float on the rising thermals.