Although the sunny climate of Arequipa and its position at the foot of the towering, snowcapped, occasionally-active, 19,101-foot-high Misti Volcano make the city extremely pleasant and scenic, it is really its function as the gateway to Colca Valley that makes Arequipa worth visiting either on the way in or way out.

A visit to Colca offers views of rare, wild camels such as vicuñas and guanacos as well as views of Andean Condors flying at close range almost every morning at a specific overlook in the valley. Two indigenous highland tribes still inhabit the valley and maintain many of their colorful traditions.
In addition to the condors flying at close range, the other main scenic attraction of the valley are the extensive, very striking-looking, pre-Inca agricultural terraces.