Arequipa Peru Travel » cotahuasi

Arequipa’s tourist attractions promoted at EuroCotal in Spain

Arequipa — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 03:56:52 +0000

Tour operators and travel agencies in Arequipa will participate in the 4th Fair of Latin American and European Tourism, Art and Culture (EuroCotal), to take place in Malaga, Spain, in June, said Arequipa’s Destination Management Organization (OGD) official Eddy Carpio Cuadros.

Apart from offering the traditional tours to Colca Valley, the Historic Center and the countryside, operators have also scheduled new routes to the Valley of Volcanoes, Cotahuasi, among other natural attractions, he said.

“This fair will be attended by tour operators and similar organizations throughout Europe, and our presence will be useful to promote Arequipa as tourist destination in Peru”, said the OGD representative.

According to Carpio, members of OGD decided to participate in EuroCotal fair, because they think it will be a great opportunity to promote Arequipa in Europe, and therefore, get prepared to tackle the global crisis affecting the tourism sector.

“This fair takes place in June, which is a great month to start selling tour packages for 2010, and especially to promote Arequipa”, Carpio stated.

Arequipa tourism and trips

Arequipa — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:27:30 +0000

The city of Arequipa and the nearby Colca Canyon are firmly established stops on the tourist trail in Peru. However, the region has far more to offer the visitor than just this, from stunning scenery in the world’s deepest canyon – The Cotahuasi Canyon – to the amazing Valley of Volcanoes, with over 60 mini-volcanoes rising out of an incredible moonscape.The city of Arequipa itself, surrounded by spectacular volcanoes, has a beautiful historic centre with the amazing convent of Santa Catalina. Additionally, Inca tradition is brought to life in the small but wonderful Museo Santuarios de la Altura, where the ice mummy ‘Juanita’, an Inca child sacrifice, is on display.

The Colca Canyon was thought to be the world’s deepest canyon until it was discovered that nearby Cotahuasi Canyon is in fact deeper still. Nevertheless, a visit to the Colca Canyon is an incredible experience, not just for the spectacular setting, but also to see the giant condors. These birds, with a wingspan of over 3m and weighing up to 12kg, glide past on the thermals only meters away.

For those wishing to leave the gringo trail, the Cotahuasi Canyon offers some beautiful scenery and superb trekking, and the Valley of the Volcanoes provides a landscape unlike any other. The petroglyphs of Toro Muerto, over 2,000 carved rocks under the desert sun, is an incredible archaeological site visited by few tourists.

Adventure in Arequipa is also easy to find, with plenty of 6,000m-plus mountains and volcanoes easily accessible for climbing, and excellent trekking in the Colca Canyon and in the Cotahuasi Canyon. For those seeking greater thrills, some of the world’s best white-water rafting is possible in the region, through the Colca and Cotahuasi Canyons. For those wanting to ride the rapids without so much danger, good rafting is also found in Majes.

Cotahuasi Canyon Trekking in La Union

Arequipa — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:57:08 +0000

The Cotahuasi Canyon and the towns and villages in the area are best accessed via Arequipa, although they are really towns of the central highlands, with many of the customs and the music from the area originating from Ayacucho. The area is very beautiful, and is full of wonderful mountain scenery making for some superb hiking. The Cotahuasi Canyon, considered to be the world’s deepest, is an incredible place, with sheet cliffs rising up from the riverbanks. Despite its attractions, the area receives very few visitors due to its inaccessibility.

Even if you are not going as far as the canyon itself, there are several places on the way that make for an interesting visit from Arequipa. These include the petroglyphs at Toro Muerto, which are over 5,000 etched rocks in the desert. There is also good, but not difficult, rafting at Majes, two hours from Arequipa, making a nice day trip.