Arequipa

Arequipa -- Peru’s second largest city -- is another permanent fixture on the classic Peruvian gringo trail. The city itself is brimming with colonial, republican and religious architecture, much of which was built using the distinctive white or pink volcanic ashlar stone of the region. Notable buildings surround Arequipa’s plaza de armas, while the vast Santa Catalina Monastery provides another architectural, historical and cultural highlight within the city. The surrounding area, meanwhile, is home to El Misti, a volcano that looms over the city as a constant reminder of the region’s tectonic past. Further afield is Colca Canyon, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and one of Peru’s most visited attractions.