Many of Arequipa's buildings are made from white volcanic stone

Located more than 600 kilometres southeast of Lima, Arequipa is the second largest city in Peru and is nicknamed La Ciudad Blanca - The White City - thanks to the region's pearly white volcanic stone used to construct most of the city's colonial-era buildings.

Situated at the foot of a dormant volcano, Arequipa sits high in Peru's southern Andes. The city's main square, La Plaza de Armas, and the surrounding historic district were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

There are two main reasons to make the journey to Arequipa. One is to appreciate the city's architectural treasures; the other is to visit nearby Colca Canyon - one of the deepest canyons in the world.