Arequipa – The “White City”

The ultimate advantages

Peru is one of the most spectacular countries to visit. In general, travellers from abroad enter through the capital city of Lima (mostly by air), or overland from Bolivia, through Desaguadero or Yunguyo (both in the Lake Titicaca Region). Besides Lima, there are four regions of particular interest: 

• the Trujillo/Cajamarca region in the North

• the "Callejón de Huaylas" north of Lima

• Cusco/Machu Picchu in the central-southern part of the country

• the Arequipa/Lake Titicaca area in the “south” 

The “Departamento de Arequipa” (63,345 km2, with approximately one million inhabitants) is located in the southwestern part of the country. It is bordered to the north by Ica, Ayacucho and Apurímac, to the south by Moquegua, to the east by Cusco and Puno, and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. 

The ultimate advantages of Arequipa as the ideal venue to learn and practice Spanish are its unique urban atmosphere and its year round beautiful weather. Its moderate altitude of a bit more than two thousand meters (considerably lower than Cusco, located at 3330 m) is such that it should not cause any “soroche” (altitude sickness). - And not to forget: there are few places in the Hispanic world, where Spanish is spoken as beautifully and as correctly as in Arequipa. 

What the legends tell 

Arequipa is located at a height of 2330 m in a green oasis in the foothills of the Western Andes. In reconstructing the town in the second half of the 16^th and the 17^th century, the Spaniards used the “sillar,” a pearl-white volcanic building material which, when the sun's light hits the ancestral mansions and the ancient churches and convents, produces a glimmer, a magnificent glow, thereby causing people to affectionately refer to Arequipa as "La Ciudad Blanca" ("The White City"). 

With roughly 750,000 inhabitants, Arequipa is – together with Trujillo – considered the “second city” of Peru. Its main square, the “Plaza de Armas,” is probably the most spectacular in the entire country. The magnificent Cathedral and the shopping malls are built in the colonial style. 

There are two theories about the origin of the name “Arequipa.” 

1. Long ago the Aymara Indians settled here. In their language (Aymara) "ARI" stands for "summit" and "QUIPA" for "laying behind.” Indeed, seen from the Lake Titicaca region and the “Altiplano,” Arequipa is located behind the majestic volcano Misti. 

2. The second theory suggests that the name comes from the language of the Incas (Quechua). The legend tells a story about the Inca Mayta Capac, the fourth Inca, travelling from the highlands, the Altiplano, heading southwest and crossing the pass between the Misti and the Chachani. A column of militaries, sacred virgins and nobles escorted him, and when Mayta Capac saw the settlement that had never before been visited by any emperor, he was amazed by the beauty of this place and the strategic importance it held as a connection between the ocean and Cusco. He said: "Ari, quipay!" translated as "Yes, stay!" 
    

The foundation of Arequipa (15 August 1540)  The Spaniards redesigned and (re)constructed the city in accordance with their own taste and architectural concepts, beginning on 15 August 1540. The result is one the most charming colonial towns in the Americas. The 15th of August is still celebrated in various festive forms within and around Arequipa through carnivals and fairs for an entire week. The climax of the festival takes place in the evening of the 14th of August with a splendid firework display on the Plaza de Armas. The wide façade and steeples of the impressive Cathedral, and two story arcades that grace the other three sides with palm trees, old gas lamps, and a white stone fountain nestling in an English-style garden, probably make Arequipa’s Plaza one of the most beautiful colonial Main Squares in the New  World.

Under the volcanoes 

El Misti (the Gentleman, 5821 m) is not the only volcano around Arequipa, but it is the most famous and elegant, and lies between two other volcanoes, the Chachani (the Beloved, 6075 m) and the steep Picchu Picchu (the Top Top, 5425 m). The pressure between the tectonic plates of South America and the Pacific Ocean has created memorable dates in Arequipa’s history: in 1687 and 1868 earthquakes damaged a large number of historical buildings in the city, including the Cathedral, which was damaged for a second time on 23 June 2001. 

Main attractions 

In the city's historic centre you can admire a wholly "arequipeño” architectural style. Formed towards the end of the 17th century, it is a blend of Italian baroque, Spanish silver-plating, and Andean creativity. No wonder that Arequipa’s colonial inner city is listed as a UNESCO Cultural Patrimony of Humanity. The Convent of Santa Catalina is the most important and spectacular religious monument in Peru. It was founded in September 1579 under the name of Santa Catalina de Siena and was then expanded in the 17th century. Shut off to the world until 1970, it was built as a “city in a city” and is probably the largest convent in the world. Nuns, sometimes more than 400 at once, lived there for more than 400 years, totally cut off from the outside world. Santa Catalina cloaked itself in mystery and silence until 1970, when a large part of the convent opened its doors to the public. Today there are nuns still living in the northern part of the complex.

Locals and tourists with or without a guide can freely visit the parts that are open to the public. Everything has been beautifully renovated and the little streets and squares are full of colourful flowers and the walls are painted in fresh tints. Narrow alleys bring you to the different parts of the convent, passing through picturesque squares and odd living rooms with original furnishings on the way. Many people can still smell the atmosphere of the dark Middle Ages when visiting the dining hall, the square where nuns did their laundry, the washing hall and the extensive library with an incredible collection of books. Unfortunately the library is not always open to the public. 

Besides the Convent of Santa Catalina, there are other masterpieces of religious architecture worth mentioning, among them La Compañía (Jesuit Church) with the Ignacio Chapel, the Franciscan convent La Recoleta, the Church and Monastery of La Merced, and the San Francisco Plaza, all encompassing a 16^th century colonial architectural complex. 

Apart from religious monuments, Arequipa displays beautiful colonial buildings from both the 17^th and 18^th century, of which the most important are the Casa del Moral, the Casa Tristán del Pozo, the Casa de Irriberry, the Casa del Pastor, and the Casa Goyeneche. Some of them are still private property; but most have either been sold to banks or been reconstituted as shopping malls and hotels. Some of these fantastic colonial houses can still be visited. Pay special attention to the perfect workmanship, the gardens, and the many statues and frontons. 

Former picturesque satellite towns have been incorporated into Greater Arequipa, such as Yanahuara (at 2 km from the Main Square), famous for its churches built in Andalusian style, and Cayma (at 3 km), well-known for its picanterías (typical local restaurants featuring spicy “creole” cuisine), its beautiful 17^th century main church, and an extraordinary panoramic view of Arequipa.

The surroundings  In the outskirts of the city, you'll find fascinating villages with stepped terraces dating from pre-Inca times that are still used today by farmers from the districts of Chilina, Socabaya, Paucarpata, Characato, and Sabandia. Other attractions are the Yura, Socosani, and Jesus thermal baths. Two of the world's most spectacular canyons are found in the Departamento de Arequipa: Cotahuasi, in the province of La Unión, and the Colca Canyon, in the province of Cailloma. The latter is more than 100 km inlength, while its depth begins near the village of Chivay, achieving its deepest point at 3269 meters. The Colca area is very well-suited for the practice of technical sports such as rafting, kayaking, and trekking. A series of Arequipa based tour operators offer reasonably priced two days packages to the Colca Canyon, including transport, hotel accommodations (with breakfast) and tour conducting (USD 25.00 to 40.00 per person, depending on hotel's rating). The EDEAQ will help you to get you a suitable arrangement in terms of schedule and budget and will inform you about possible special offers. The Cotahuasi Canyon, the deepest in the world with 3354 metres, is almost twice the depth of the GrandCanyon in the United States and it extends from the foothills of the snow-capped Solimana up to the confluence of the Cotahuasi and Ocoña Rivers.

It is situated at 379 kilometres from Arequipa, a 12-hour drive approximately. The road is full of a great variety of sceneries that increase its beauty thanks to the vigilant presence of the snow-capped Coropuna (6377 m, Peru's highest and largest volcano) and Solimana (6093 m). Visiting the Cotahuasi Canyon requires at least four, probably five days (round trip from/to Arequipa), but it is definitely worthwhile. The EDEAQ will provide advise how you can organise your trip to one of the greatest natural wonders on the planet. In Cotahuasi village, simple family-run guesthouses plus one small hotel as well as rustic restaurants offer their price worthy services to otherwise rare visitors.

On the way to the Cotahuasi Canyon, do not miss a visit to the spectacular Valley of the Volcanoes (Andagua region). It is an impressive National Sanctuary, which consists of a valley and more than fifty small volcanoes of different sizes, all of them formed during the Quaternary Era, offering a unique natural landscape. This additional pattern will require three additional travelling days.

The Salinas y Aguada Blanca Reserve is one of the principal reserves dedicated to reproduction of the vicuña population, which is a thin American Camelidae possessing the finest fur used in the highest quality textiles in the world. 

The Pampa Cañahuas (a National Reserve, formed by extense plains, created to protect the natural species of the region, especially thousands of vicuñas), the Sanctuary of Mejía Lagoons (created to protect the natural habitat of the regional fauna, it is one of the most important stations for migratory birds in the Peruvian Coast), the beaches of Mollendo (Mejía in particular) as well as the Camaná and Puerto Inca beaches are all fascinating places worthy of a visit. -Please note that the beach season is between mid-December and March.

See also: www.arequipa-tourism.com

Leisure and Sports 
 

Cultural events  

The school always makes its students aware of cultural and other events taking place in Arequipa and is, if necessary, helpful in ordering tickets. The most important local daily papers (El Pueblo, El Correo, Arequipa al Dia) likewise inform about pertinent events; as does the monthly publication "Boletin Informativo de la MPA," published by the "Dirección de Cultura y Turismo de la MPA.” 

In front of theatres and other relevant venues, shows and events of all types are announced via flyers or posters; much is also learned by word of mouth. They are - for the foreigner - usually quite inexpensive.

See also: www.arequipa-tourism.com/index-en.html

Sports

The EDEAQ can provide its students with short-term memberships in the well-equipped “Club Internacional Arequipa,” a first-class establishment within walking distance from home or downtown (15 minutes, or USD 0.90 by taxi). The membership fees (per person) read as follows: one day (Monday to Friday) S./ 10.00 (= approx. USD 3.30), one day (Saturday or Sunday) S./ 15.00
(= approx. USD 4.90), one week S./ 50.00 (= approx. USD 16.60), one month USD 50.00. – Facilities include swimming/use of pools, tennis, gymnasium/aerobics, soccer, track and field, etc. Please be informed that the “Club Internacional Arequipa” will charge a modest additional fee for the use of some of its facilities.

Well worth mentioning: the most prominent offspring of the “Club Internacional” started his career as a ball boy at the tennis courts of the Club. 14 years after he had asked to borrow his father's tennis racket, Arequipa-born Alejandro Olmedo, in 1959, defeated the Australian Rod Laver in a legendary final (6-4, 6-3, 6-4) to become the first Latin American to win the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament.

Weekend excursions and car rentals 

Depending upon the season and weather conditions, as well as demand, the EDEAQ can organise weekend excursions at competitive rates or will assist pertinent individual initiatives. In addition, the EDEAQ will advise its students which excursion packages (Canyon de Colca, 1, 2 or 3 days, etc.) are available and recommended. 

The EDEAQ further offers its students car rentals to/from Arequipa at very competitive rates (national driving licenses and credit cards for deposit are requested). 

Please note that the availability of all touristic services depends upon the season/weather conditions and/or outfitter capacities. 
 

And what you should know as well … 

Public Transport 

The easiest way to move in and around Arequipa is by taxi. Although there is a quite efficient but often overcrowded system of public transport (small and mid-sized buses), individual taxis also cover such functions. Hundreds of small taxis, most of them the so-called “Ticos”, constantly circulate the streets and roads in and around the city, and are moderately priced (less than a bus or an underground ticket in New York, London or Berlin). During daytime, the fares are - depending upon the distance you travel - between USD 0.60 and USD 1.00.

Restaurants 

Arequipa hosts an impressive number of restaurants, ranging from simple snack bars to sophisticated places whose price levels almost correspond to Western Europe or the United States. It is, however, not difficult to find popular but decent places where you can get a full course meal (often with a soft drink included) for anywhere between USD 2.00 and 4.00.

The “menú turístico” offered in many simple as well as middle class restaurants, although rather specious-sounding, is generally of good value and attracts not only “innocent foreigners” but also local customers.

Typical Dishes and Beverages

The food in Arequipa has achieved international fame. It has the greatest variety available relative to the rest of Peru and is distinguished by its fancy flavours, seasoning and use of "chili," which is why typical restaurants are called picanterías.  Arequipa’s food is so diverse that there is a different soup each day, presented as a broth or chupe (thick soup). The most famous one is the Friday soup, the chupe de camarón (shrimp broth).

The following dishes, based on either shrimp, pork, guinea-pig, cheese and hot pepper, are among the most well-known: ocopa arequipeña, rocoto relleno, adobo de chancho, soltero de queso, pastel de papa, costillar frito, cuy y conejo chactado, cauche and chaque. As dessert, the queso helado is recommended (which has nothing to do with cheese, but is just a delicious type of ice cream made up of milk, egg yolks, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla), as is drinking the chicha de jora, the local beer or anise of the region. The solid quality of Peruvian wines (red, rosé and white, either dry or semidry) has to be mentioned as well. The best-known labels are Tacama and Ocucaje. And, as everywhere in Peru, a delicious meal starts with the national cocktail, the pisco sour, a long drink based on “pisco” (grape brandy), lime juice, ice, sugar, egg whites, and ground cinnamon.
 

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EDEAQ – Escuela de Español Ari Quipay
Casilla 11
Arequipa - Perú
Phone: +51 54 95 934 26 60 or +51 54 22 67 84
e-mail: contact@edeaq.com

Private phone numbers of the Executive Manager of the school,
Mrs. Juana Lourdes Díaz Oviedo de Seelhofer
Monday to Friday: +51 54 95 934 26 60 or +51 54 27 25 17
Saturday/Sunday: +51 54 95 934 26 60 or +51 54 27 25 17 or +51 95 857 08 98
e-mail: lula_seelhofer@hotmail.com