#arequiparestaurants

With the longest coast and the deepest canyons in the country, Arequipa is the second most important region of Peru. Here travelers can enjoy Peru’s rich history, the country’s best regional cuisine, and breathtaking natural sites for outdoor lovers. A visit to this interesting region is sure to please travelers who want to learn more about Peru and its hidden gems.

This highly volcanic region boasts several rivers and fertile land, where early nomadic Peruvians hunted endemic species (llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, birds, viscachas, among others) thousands of years ago as proven by the Sumbay Caves’ carved paintings. Its history started with them and continued with the arrival of the Wari people (Toro Muerto Petroglyphs), the Incas (Uyo Uyo Site), and the Spanish conquerors. The city of Arequipa, located at 7661 feet above sea level, combines all this rich history; due to its unique architecture made out of a volcanic stone known as “Sillar,” its downtown was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 2000.

Peruvian cuisine has gained worldwide fame in the last 15 years, and an important contributor is the region of Arequipa due to its endemic flora and fauna, used by Peruvians for hundreds of years. These cooking techniques, improved over time, have been used to create delicious dishes such as “Rocoto Relleno,” “Pastel de Papa,” “Chupe de Camaron,” “Solterito de Queso,” and “Cauche de Queso.” These dishes can be enjoyed at traditional restaurants known as “Picanterias” or at gourmet-style restaurants. A visit to the marketplace of “San Camilo” will allow visitors to learn about the different types of vegetables, grains, and fruits used by local restaurants.

Only seven hours by car are needed to travel from the Pacific Coast to the high Andes of Arequipa. This excursion can offer beautiful beaches (Catarindo), lagoons with hundreds of endemic and migratory birds (Mejía), a desert with high sand dunes (La Joya), volcanoes and snowy peaks, rivers, and deep canyons where the Andean condor is the king. The region of Arequipa is a paradise for birdwatchers due to the large number of species found in Mejia and on the way to the Colca Canyon. Adventure travelers will be able to raft or kayak the Chili, Colca, or Majes rivers, mountain bike in Chiguata or Chilina, rock climb in the Cotahuasi Canyon or the outskirts of Arequipa, ride an ATV to the outskirts of the Pichu Picchu volcano, or hike to the bottom of the Colca Canyon.

While Arequipa allows travelers to get used to the altitude of higher-elevation cities, it most importantly provides its own unique experiences. After visiting the ancient Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena, enjoy lunch at the Trattoria del Monasterio, Chicha, or Tanta, where the menus have been designed by the well-known chef Gastón Acurio. In the afternoon visit the districts of Yanahuara and Cayma to enjoy the views of the volcanoes that surround the city, the Chili River, and the countryside; and as the sun starts to set, go back downtown to enjoy a cup of Peruvian coffee at the restaurants of the Katari or Casa Andina Select hotels. At night consider a visit to Salamanto, where chef Paul Perea has created a unique menu based on local ingredients and a great selection of wines.