There are a variety of restaurants that offer Mexican dishes with hot spices. The locals make their dishes with lots of hot peppers and other Mexican seasonings. Tortillas and tacos can be found throughout the city. Tamale carts offer homemade tamales that taste like authentic Mexican food. Hotel accommodations are plentiful throughout the city. The best part about visiting Arequipa is exploring the volcanoes. You can hike and bike throughout a variety of volcanoes within the city. You can also explore whitewater rafting opportunities within the mountains. Consider taking an ocean cruise on the Pacific Ocean while you are in town.

The entire event begins on Palm Sunday, so although in some months Holy Week might take place in April, there are other times where it may start in a different month. The event continues throughout Easter weekend and is marked by several Aztec like rituals, with the creation of handicrafts, textiles and traditional food. The entire week comes to a conclusion on Easter. Every day during the week there is a different event and activity taking place inside Arequipa, Peru.

Arequipa is known as “The White City” because the buildings are constructed of a material called sillar which is a white rock of volcanic origin. One of the most popular tourist attractions for visitors to the city is Santa Catalina Convent which was opened up to the public in 1970. The cloister was built about 400 years ago, and in its heyday it housed about 500 nuns, all of whom were the daughters of wealthy Peruvians. It has been completely restored to its original grandeur and decorated with furniture and paintings that reflect its 16th century origins.

Sightseers in Arequipa also seek out the Plaza de Armas with its palm trees, beautiful gardens and many cafes and restaurants. The cathedral on the Plaza dates back to 1612, and features two elegant towers.

Head South from Lima to Arequipa, the second biggest city in terms of population and industry in Peru. Known as the “White City”, Arequipa is dotted with colonial style buildings and churches, all constructed from a volcanic stone, which is a beautiful pearl white. Adding to the beauty of the city is the weather and surrounding landscapes. The city sits among rolling hills of farmland and green terraces planted with crops. Rising from the outskirts of the city is the Misti volcano, providing a breathtaking backdrop.

Regional cuisine is flavorful and robust. There are many restaurants in the city, as well as shopping destinations like the San Camilo market, crowded with shoppers and tourists looking for the best deals. Several churches are worth visiting as well. The Santa Catalina Monastery is a secret treasure in Arequipa, unknown to many tourists. The monastery was home to a group of nuns that lived in isolation for over 400 years, but now offers private tours to the public.

Arequipa bustled in centuries past, as immigrants seeking glory and opportunity flocked to the new continent. The area became home to affluent “creoles,” native-born Peruvians of Spanish descent. They erected the magnificent Convento de Santa Catalina, commissioned a bridge by Eiffel, ground their flour at the Sabandia Mill and shopped at the San Camilo Market, both still in use today.

Unlike Machu Picchu and Cuzco to the north, Arequipa hasn’t yet succumbed to the hoopla of mass tourism. Visitors are just beginning to discover this historic and thoroughly walkable city crammed with colonial beauty and charm.