With a cinematic setting in the shadow of the looming Misti Volcano, Arequipa – the ‘White City’ - dials up the drama. The UNESCO-stamped historic centre is simply mesmerising, with its eye-catching blend of colonial and indigenous architecture working in absolute harmony. Head out for a pleasant afternoon’s stroll through the Old Town, wandering past the majestic Basilica Cathedral and Convent of Santa Catalina, among many other beautiful religious monuments.
Then there’s the Colca Canyon, which lies a few hours to the north, a place where wild adventure and breathtaking hikes await. The canyon, which plunges over a kilometre from its highest rugged hills to the riverbed below, bestows truly spectacular views, enhanced no end by the presence of a very special creature: the Giant Andean Condor. This iconic bird can often be seen swooping past the walls of the canyon, glimpsed from many scenic, elevated lookout points for an archetypal Peruvian moment to remember.