What are the highlights?

The Colca Canyon and its condors, multi-day canyon trekking , and the El Misti and Chachani volcano climbs above the white city.

When is the best time to visit?

May to November (dry season) is best for canyon trekking and volcano ascents; condors are most active in the early morning.

Can I climb El Misti without experience?

It is non-technical but a serious high-altitude effort — fit, acclimatised trekkers can summit over two days with a guide, making it a fine first high-altitude climb .

Things to do in Arequipa

Arequipa, the elegant 'white city' of pale volcanic stone, sits at 2,300 m beneath a trio of volcanoes and guards the gateway to the Colca Canyon. It blends colonial culture and gastronomy with high desert, condors and some of the world's most accessible high-altitude climbs.

Canyon, condors and volcanoes

Multi-day Colca Canyon trekking and condor-watching at Cruz del Cóndor, and the volcano ascents of El Misti (5,822 m) and Chachani, in the southern volcanoes. Open the Book here tab for dates.