Arequipa Historic City
The city of Arequipa in southern Peru is like no where else in the country. The down town area has been dedicated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its many historic buildings, churches and monuments. Beyond the architecture the culture and cuisine of this city stand out. The people are proud and political and the heated coffee shop debates are matched with a spicy vibrant cuisine. In fact the people of Arequipa have gone so far as to design their own flag and passports to set them apart from the rest of Peru. Local restaurants abound in the old part of the city serving alpaca, cuy (guinea pig), fish and seafood with unique local twists.
The old historic buildings clustered around the main square stand out due to the relatively low construction of the city proper. This height limit has been strictly enforced not by laws and regulations, but by the frequent devastating earthquakes in the region. The architectural evidence of this can be seen in the many arches and defensive design techniques to help the four to five hundred year old buildings survive. The main square is one of the best in South America, a stately cathedral on one side and three identical two story buildings surrounding the other three sides. Second floor balconies are dotted with small restaurants and cafes that allow you to enjoy any meal of the day with spectacular views of the architecture backed by a massive volcano.
The region around Arequipa is equally impressive with easy access to Colca Canyon, the second deepest canyon in the world. A plethora of tour operators will take you on one to four day expeditions into the canyon to see soaring condors, local villages, Inca ruins and more.