|
|
 |
TOURIST INFORMATION
AREQUIPA |
| GENERAL DATA |
|
| |
Location:
The department of Arequipa is located in the south part
of Perú on the Western Andes.
Peru
Area: 63 343 km2
Capital:
Arequipa
Altitude:
2 335 m.a.s.l.
Average annual temperature: 20º C
(maximum 24º C and minimum 5º C). The rainy
season runs from December through March.
|
| |
| ACCESS ROUTES |
|
| |
By land:
Lima - Arequipa (1 003 km) about 14 h drive.
By air: Daily flights
depart from Lima (about 50 minutes) and Cusco (about 30
minutes).
By railroad:
There is a service that links Arequipa with the cities
of Juliaca, Puno and Cusco. |
| |
| HISTORICAL OVERLOOK |
|
| |
The department of Arequipa has a great historic
past which goes back to ancient times (8 000 to 6 000
BC). Testimonies of this history are its cave-paintings.
The first Spaniards settlers of what was to become Arequipa
were the Dominican Priests who built a chapel and later
a parish in what is now known as Barrio de San Lázaro.
Arequipa was founded on August 15th, 1 540, in the valley
of Chili, and was given the name of Villa Hermosa de Nuestra
Señora de Asunta or Asunción. In 1 541,
a short time after its foundation, it was given the status
of city.
When Potosí passed to the Viceroyship of Río
de la Plata, Arequipa was no longer a part of the route
of the silver that was sent to Spain, and was forced to
face severe economic consequences. The city re-emerged
thanks to its mines in Caylloma and the development of
agriculture. In 1 870, with the arrival of the railroad,
Arequipa became an important commercial center in the
southern part of Peru.
Arequipa, called the White City for its buildings of white
ashlar stone (a volcano stone), was an important bastion
against Spain during the Independence war in the nineteenth
century. During the twentieth century, many important
personages natural of this department have stood out in
the country’s political and cultural life. |
| |
| ATTRACTIONS IN THE CITY OF AREQUIPA |
|
| |
The Cathedral
Located in the Main Square.
Visits: Monday to Friday 8:00-12:00 and 17:00-20:00, Sunday
7:00-13:00.
The old cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1 844. It was
restored in 1 868 by Arequipa-native Lucas Poblete in
Neo-renaissance style with French influence.
La Compañía Church
Corner of calle General Morán and calle Alvarez
Tomás.
Visits: Monday to Sunday: 8:00-12:00 and 16:00-19:00
The façade, the carved wood pulpit and the sacristy
are remarkable. The cloister of La Compañía
has vaulted galleries and bell-shaped arches with sculpted
columns in pure Arequipa style.
La
Merced Church
Corner of calle La Merced and calle Tristán.
Visits: during mass hours.
Baroque church and convent from the end of the seventeenth
century housing a valuable old library and a collection
of oil paintings.
San
Agustín Church
Corner of calle San Agustín and calle Bolívar.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 9:00-18:00.
Baroque façade with abundant decoration carved
in ashlar stone. Noteworthy is also its sacristy, a modern
work of mestizo art.
Santo
Domingo Church
Corner of calle Santo Domingo and calle Rivero.
Visits: Monday-Sunday 7:00-11:00 and 15:00-18:00.
A seventeenth century church displaying interesting sculptures
on the right side portico.
San
Francisco Church
Calle Zela block 1.
Visits: Monday to Saturday 8:00-10:00 and 17:00-19:00,
Sunday mornings only.
It houses a 20 000 book library, a vast collection of
paintings and a chapel that form part of this interesting
Colonial architectural complex of the sixteenth century.
Monastery of Santa Catalina
Calle Santa Catalina 301.
Visits: Monday to Saturday: 9:00-16:00.
Peru’s most important and impressive religious construction,
founded in September 1 579 under the patronage of Saint
Catherine of Sienna. Its doors remained closed to the
world until 1 970. Spreading over 20 426 m2, it has preserved
intact its sixteenth and seventeenth centuries’
design. Its narrow squares, streets and gardens bearing
Spanish names remind the visitor of old Seville and Granada
quarters.
Its two site museums exhibit important art works such
as relics, porcelain, religious objects, sculptures and
oil paintings from several schools.
San
Lázaro Church
Av. Juan De la Torre, Barrio de San Lázaro.
A small chapel in San Lázaro Square, was the first
church to be built in Arequipa’s oldest quarter.
La Recoleta Church
Jr. Recoleta 117.
Visits: Monday to Saturday 10:00-12:00 and 15:00-17:00.
A Franciscan convent founded in 1 648, with cloisters
that are an example of Arequipa’s colonial architecture.
It has a library with works from the sixteenth and eighteenth
centuries (25 000 volumes). There is also an Amazonian
Museum exhibiting objects from the missionary activity
in the jungle during this period.
Del
Moral House
Calle Moral 108.
Typical house of the seventeenth century with a beautiful
façade. Its interior has vaulted halls.
Tristán del Pozo House
Calle San Francisco 108.
Currently this house belongs to Banco Continental. There
is a small museum and a site gallery. Both its façade
and inner patio are remarkable.
Casa
de la Moneda
Corner of calle Ugarte and calle Villalba.
Built in 1 798, its solid structure has preserved its
original features. During the nineteenth century it was
the seat of Arequipa’s Mint House.
Goyeneche
House
Calle La Merced 201.
Visits: Monday to Saturday 9:00-12:00 and 16:00-18:00.
Currently the local office of the Central Reserve Bank,
it dates from the eighteenth century. It is entirely built
with ashlar stone. A large and splendid mansion, it is
decorated with original colonial furniture.
Museum
of the University of San Agustín
Av. Independencia, Ciudad Universitaria.
Phone: (054) 22-9719.
Visits: Monday to Friday 8:00-15:00.
It has several sections, the most important being the
History and Anthropology Hall, housing remarkable collections
of pottery of varied styles belonging to the many civilizations
that flourished in the department.
Museum
of the University of Santa María
Calle Samuel Velarde 320, Umacollo.
Visits: Monday to Saturday 9:00-17:30.
It houses a collection of prehistoric stone objects, stone
weapons and textiles.
Santuarios
de Altura Museum
Corner of calle Ugarte and calle Santa Catalina.
Visits: Monday to Saturday 9:00-17:45.
This building houses the Maiden of Ampato exhibition.
It is located in front of the Monastery of Santa Catalina
in Santa Catalina street. |
| |
| OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY |
|
| |
Yanahuara
Located 2 km from downtown and about 8 minutes drive.
Both its church, built in 1 750, and a belvedere with
ashar arches overlooking the city, are remarkable.
Cayma
3 km from downtown and about 8 minutes drive.
It is called Arequipa’s Balcony for its elevated
location overlooking the city. It features an eighteenth
century church.
Yura
Located 28 km from the city and about 46 minutes drive.
Famous for its hot springs at the foot of the dormant
Chachani volcano.
Socosani
Located 45 km and about 1 h drive from Arequipa.
Mineral-medicinal waters, bottled for consumption.
Huasacache
Located 20 km from the Main Square of the city of Arequipa
and about 20 minutes drive.
A village on the banks of the Socabaya river where an
eighteenth century colonial house, known as the Mansión
del Fundador, can be admired.
Sabandía
Located 9 km from the city of Arequipa and about 20 minutes
drive.
Beautiful countryside landscapes at the foot of the Chachani
and Misti volcanoes. The eighteenth century mill is worth
a visit.
Jesús
Located 6 km from the city of Arequipa and about 12 minutes
drive.
Hot springs specifically prescribed for kidney, liver
and skin diseases.
Tingo
Located 3 km from the city of Arequipa and about 8 minutes
drive.
Very popular hot springs. There is a boulevard where typical
food is served.
Colca
Valley
Located 148 km northeast of Arequipa and about 4 h drive.
To follow this circuit travelers must head for the northwestern
part of Arequipa to Yura until reaching the cove known
as Mirador de los Cóndores (natural outlook). From
there it is possible to make out the snow-capped summits
of Ampato and Sabancaya. The descent continues down to
Chivay.
There is another route 160 km to the north, that takes
about 5 h drive. The journey is along the Charcani and
follows a winding road over the slope of the Chachani
volcano, rapidly descending to the magnificent Colca Valley
where the traveler will have the sight of a beautiful
landscape surrounded by terraces, snow-capped mountains
and villages founded in the sixteenth century. It was
in those days that Viceroy Toledo ordered to have the
dispersed descendants of the Collaguas brought together
in 14 communities. The villages have remained as if suspended
in time, preserving their original characteristic features
like the layout of their streets, their richly decorated
churches and their traditional festivities.
The first town to visit is Chivay (142 km from Arequipa)
in which travelers can find lodging and food services.
Some 40 km further to the northwest is Cabanaconde, and
nearby, the Cruz del Cóndor observation point.
The Colca zone is very appropriate for adventure tourism
and travelers are recommended to stay more than one day
to enjoy the area.
Toro
Muerto Petroglyphs
Located 220 km west of Arequipa and about 2 h 30 minutes
drive. On the way back from Colca Valley through Pampa
de Siguas or leaving directly from Arequipa, taking the
route to Lima and then a 7 km detour at Corire (district
of Uraca), the amazing Toro Muerto petroglyphs can be
found. Volcanic rocks lie over approximately 5 km2, most
probably the result of violent eruptions of the Coropuna
and Chachani volcanoes. The petroglyphs which are dispersed
over an area of 3 876 m long and 250 m wide, depict animals
and plants.
Caves
of Sumbay – Paleolithic Art
Located behind the Misti volcano, 88 km from Arequipa
and about 1 h 45 minutes drive following the Cailloma
road. Sumbay is a typical high plateau setting at an average
4 127 m.a.s.l. The archaeological importance of Sumbay
lies in its caves which exhibit valuable paintings from
the Paleolithic era, representing human figures, camelidae
and pumas.
Andagua
Volcano Valley
Located in the north of the Castilla province (Andagua)
377 km from Arequipa and about 5 h drive, its spectacular
beauty lies in the dozens of small dormant volcanoes.
Outstanding among these are the so called Gemelos (identical
twins), located 10 km from the city. South of the town
is the Andomarca volcano with a pre-Columbian citadel
at its foot.
Imata
Stone Forest
Located 113 km and about 3 h 30 minutes drive from the
city of Arequipa. Rock formation consisting of a singular
series of natural stone columns to which the erosion of
the wind has given the form of a mysterious petrified
forest. This site of easy access is located near the Arequipa
– Juliaca railway. Access by land is gained taking
the road to Puno
Cotahuasi
Valley and Canyon
Located in the province of La Unión, 379 km and
about 12 h drive from the city of Arequipa, this is an
Inter-Andean valley with several attractions such as the
Sipia Falls, its hot springs, the privileged view of Coropuna
and Solimana Mounts and the Canyon’s faults, considered
together with the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest on
earth. Its impressive landscape makes it ideal for activities
such as canoeing, trekking, photography, mountain biking,
etc. |
| |
| FOLKLORE |
|
| |
The region boasts a large variety of dances
accompanied by different costumes, the most important
being probably the Carnaval Arequipeño, a group
dance that is present during the week of carnival and
the city’s anniversary (August 15th); the Yaraví,
of Quechua origin; the Pampeña, a primitive huayno
in which dancers dress on farmer costumes.
The most genuine musical expression of Arequipa is the
Yaraví. Other popular expressions of Arequipa’s
musical folklore include the Carnaval Arequipeño,
the popular Huayno and the Pampeña. |
| |
| HANDICRAFTS |
|
| |
| Craftsmen manufacture repoussé leather
items such as belts, desk objects and furniture. With
ashlar stone they make lamps, pictures, ashtrays and decorative
items. Forged iron is used in the making of street lamps,
gates, lamps and decorative furniture. They also make
copper items. |
| |
| GASTRONOMY |
|
| |
Arequipa’s cuisine is one of the most
varied in Peru. Some of its most famous dishes include:
 |
Assorted Chupes conceived to be served
each day of the week, such as chupe de camarones
(shrimp chowder with milk, eggs and oregano). |
|
Rocoto relleno (baked red hot chili stuffed with
minced meat, cheese, milk and potatoes). |
|
Soltero (soft unripened cheese salad with lima
beans, onions, olives and red hot chili pepper). |
|
Adobo arequipeño (pork marinated with chicha
and species, cooked in a covered saucepan). |
|
Ocopa (cooked potatoes, covered by a sauce made
of soft unripened cheese, lima beans, onions, olives
and red hot chili pepper). |
|
Escribano (salad made of potatoes, red hot chili
pepper, vinegar, oil, tomatoes and parsley). |
|
Pebre (soup based on lamb’s meat, beef and
cured llama or lamb meat). |
|
| |
| FESTIVITIES |
|
| |
Feast of the
Virgin of Chapi (May)
Feast celebrated with pilgrimages to the sanctuaries and
displays of fireworks on the eve.
Corpus
Christi Festivity (June)
Feast celebrated with a mass and the Corpus Christi procession
departing from the city’s Cathedral.
Anniversary
of the City of Arequipa (August)
Arequipa International Fair held in Cerro Juli comprising
a number of attractions and artistic and recreational
activities, including the Misti Ascent International Competition
and crafts exhibitions in Fundo del Fierro. The central
day (August 15th) includes a Friendship Parade, among
other activities.
Feast
of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception (December)
The celebration comprises a number of cultural activities
including the famous Witite dancers’ competition. |
| |
| SERVICES |
|
| |
Airport
Aeropuerto Alfredo Ramírez Ballónn
Av. Aviación s/n , Cerro Colorado.
Phone: (054) 44-3464 / 44-3458
Land Transport
Terrapuerto
Av. Arturo Ibáñez s/n, Parque Industrial
Phone: (054) 42-2277
Terminal de la Municipalidad de Arequipa
Av. Andrés Avelino Cáceres s/n, Parque
Industrial
Phone: (054) 24-1735.
Railroad Transport
PeruRail Corp.
Corner of Av. Tacna and calle Arica
Phone: (054) 20-5640 / 21-5350.
Health Centers
Hospital Regional Honorio Delgado Espinoza.
Av. Daniel Alcides Carrión, la Pampilla.
Phone: (054) 23-1818 / 23-3812.
24 hours service.
Hospital Goyeneche.
Av. Goyeneche s/n.
Phone: (054) 23-1313 / 22-3501.
24 hours service.
Police Stations
Jefatura de Seguridad Ciudadana.
San Juan de Dios 302, Cercado.
Phone: (054) 21-8952.
24 hours service.
Policía Nacional de Yanahuara.
Emmel 106, Yanahuara.
Phone: (054) 25-1277 / 25-4020.
24 hours service.
Handicrafts Markets
FEDARA
San Francisco 415, Arequipa.
Phone: (054) 44-6302.
FREAP
Mercaderes 235.
Phone: (054) 21-2729.
Post Office
Calle Moral 118, Arequipa.
Phone: (054) 21-5247 / 215245 / 28-4326.
Open: Monday toSaturday 8:00-20:00, Sunday 8:00-14:00. |
| |
| |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
