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Johannesburg to southern Peru: Arequipa and Colca Canyon

Johannesburg → Arequipa → Colca Canyon

Arequipa
"Plaza_de_Armas,_Arequipa_2006.jpg" by Hans Brian Brandsberg Berg, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Plaza de Armas, Arequipa 2006 (Arequipa)
Photo: Hans Brian Brandsberg Berg, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

White city & condors Best season (general guide): Apr–Nov

Southern Peru has much more than Machu Picchu. Arequipa is an elegant colonial city, and the Colca Canyon nearby is one of the best places in the Andes to see condors. This route spends three nights in Arequipa and two in the canyon. From Johannesburg you'll connect through São Paulo and Lima.

Arequipa is built of sillar, a pale volcanic stone, which gives it the name 'white city'. Its historic centre is listed by UNESCO. The Santa Catalina Monastery is a walled town within the city, with colourful lanes and cloisters. The volcano El Misti rises above the city.

The Museo Santuarios Andinos displays Juanita, the frozen remains of an Inca girl found on a nearby mountain.

The road to Colca crosses a high plateau, where vicuñas and alpacas graze. Colca Canyon is one of the deepest in the world, and its slopes are lined with ancient terraces. At Cruz del Cóndor, condors ride the warm air rising from the canyon in the morning.

April to November is the dry season and the best time.

Arequipa's food is famous across Peru, and picanterías serve dishes such as rocoto relleno, a stuffed spicy pepper. The Plaza de Armas, with its cathedral and arcades, is lively in the evening. In Colca, villages such as Chivay and Yanque have stone churches and hot springs, a welcome end to a day in the mountains.

Pacing: the road to Colca reaches very high altitudes, so spend time in Arequipa first to adjust. Most visitors join tours, but a hire car gives more freedom.

Bring sun protection, as the sun is strong at altitude.

Getting there and around: fly into Arequipa, go on to Colca Canyon overland, and return overland to Arequipa for the flight home.

Suggested outline

  1. Johannesburg

    Start

  2. Arequipa

    By air · 3 nights suggested

    The 'white city' of volcanic stone, with Santa Catalina Monastery and El Misti above.

  3. Colca Canyon

    Overland · 2 nights suggested

    One of the world's deepest canyons, with terraces and condors at Cruz del Cóndor.

    Colca Canyon
    "Colca_Canyon_Puno.jpg" by world-wide-gifts.com, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Arequipa — Arrive; Plaza de Armas· Johannesburg → Arequipa (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day
  2. Day 2 · Arequipa — Santa Catalina Monastery
  3. Day 3 · Arequipa — Museo Santuarios Andinos
  4. Day 4 · Colca Canyon — Over the high plateau to Colca· Arequipa → Colca Canyon (overland)
  5. Day 5 · Colca Canyon — Cruz del Cóndor at dawn
  6. Day 6 · Colca Canyon — Travel home from Colca Canyon· Colca Canyon → Arequipa (overland), then Arequipa → Johannesburg (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

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Arequipa

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Colca Canyon

Nearest airport: Arequipa Search fares · Arequipa ↗

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