GENERAL DATA
Location: The Arequipa region is in the south-east of Peru, at the foothills of the Andes Western Mountain Range, and its capital is Arequipa city, located at the foothill of the Misti volcano, at an altitude of 2,335 m.a.s.l.

It has an area of 63,343 km2 and is divided in 8 provinces and 109 districts.

Annual Average Temperature: 20ºC. (maximum 24º and minimum 5ºC).The rainy season goes from December to March.

ACCESS
By air: Daily flights from the city of Lima (50 minutes approximately) and Cuzco (30 minutes approximately).

By land: Lima - Arequipa (1003 km) with an approximate duration of 14 hours by car.

By railway: There is a train service that joins Arequipa to the Mollendo, Juliaca, Puno and Cuzco cities.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
Arequipa department has a great historical past that dates back to immemorial times (8,000 to 6,000 years BC), of which we have some stone art testimonies. The first Spaniards to occupy what would be the Arequipa area were the Dominican Priests, who built a hermit and then a parish, currently the San Lazaro Quarter. On August 15, 1540, it was founded in the Chili valley under the name of Beautiful Village of Our Lady of the Assumption. In 1541, a little while after its foundation, it was granted the title of “city”.

GASTRONOMY
Arequipa's cuisine is one of the most varied in Peru. The different kinds of chupes (very hearty soups) are its specialty. There is a soup for each day of the week. Typical foods are stuffed rocoto hot pepper, soltero (salad made of broad beans, corn and other vegetables), adobo (meat stew), ocopa (boiled potatoes with cheese and peanut sauce) and several dishes based on crayfish.

TOURIST OVERVIEW
It is called the “White City” due to the color of its houses built with ashlar (a volcanic stone). The Cathedral and several churches, such as the Jesuits (La Compañía) Church, La Merced Church, San Agustin Church, Santo Domingo Church, San Francisco Church, are architectural pieces of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The Santa Catalina Monastery, one of the most important religious monuments in Peru, is in the city center. It was founded in 1579 dedicated to Santa Catalina de Siena. It was kept closed to the world until 1970. It has a surface of 20,426 m2, and has preserved intact the 16th and 17th century characteristics. It has small squares, narrow streets and gardens with names of traditional Spanish cities.

The following are among the main natural attractions: Colca Canyon, Misti volcano, and Imata stone forest.