Bienvenido a Arequipa

As my overnight bus pulled into Arequipa, I noticed that the city was sunny, sandy, and a little chaotic (the drivers, anyway). At first the change from Cusco (climate, and many fewer tourists) was overwhelming, but then I noticed the volcanoes towering over the city. Misti, Chachani, Pichupichu. These tall, snowcapped peaks are beautiful and a little ominous, since Misti is an active volcano.

Arequipa's buildings are primarily built out of sillar, a volcanic rock mined nearby. This gives the city a really unique, beautiful look and earns it the nickname "ciudad blanca".Read more