Department of Arequipa

Arequipa is one of the twenty-four departments that, together with the constitutional province of Callao, make up the Republic of Peru. Its capital and most populated city is the homonymous Arequipa. It is located in the south of the country, in addition to having 528 km of coastline in the Pacific Ocean —the longest departmental coastline— on its southwestern margin, and borders the departments of Moquegua to the east, Puno to the northeast, Cuzco, Apurímac and Ayacucho to the north, and Ica to the northwest.

The coastal zone is one of the driest portions of the coastal desert, while the interior Andean region features steep valleys and canyons.

With 1,382,730 inhabitants in 2017, it is the fourth most populous —behind Lima, Piura and La Libertad, 71.3% of whom reside in the capital, the city of Arequipa.

The average educational level is higher than the national average; it has an illiteracy rate of 3.5% and 15% of the population has higher education. It has eight provinces, of which the most developed by the volume of their economic contributions are Arequipa, Islay and Caylloma. The main cities of the region are, firstly, the capital, Arequipa, for its commerce and industries; tourism is also important in Arequipa. The Cerro Verde mine is an important part of its economy, followed by the city of Mollendo, for the port of Matarani, beach tourism and for its agriculture, followed by the town of Chivay, for its tourism, thanks to the Colca canyon, and the town of Camaná, thanks to the port of Quilca and beach tourism.

16.6% of the road network in the department is paved, with Arequipa, Caravelí, Camaná and Caylloma being the provinces with the highest percentage of this type of surface. This is the second most interconnected department in terms of of telecommunications, after Lima, since it has 111.2 thousand fixed telephone lines, with a teledensity of 9 lines per 100 inhabitants and a density of 31.84 mobile lines per 100 inhabitants.

History

Its territory was initially occupied by the Wari empire. later , the Churajón culture left traces of its passage in irrigation works, terraces and cultivated lands. In the north of its valleys, the Chuquibamba culture developed, which extended to the southern provinces of Ayacucho and had contacts with Cusco. Legend mentions that Arequipa was founded by the fourth Inca, Mayta Cápac, who was with his army in that area. When he ordered the displacement of his people, there were those who asked him to stay, answering the Inca “ari qipay”, which in the Quechua language means “yes, stay”.

Some time later, the Spanish conquerors founded the capital of the region on the slopes of the Misti on August 15, 1540. After that date and for more than three centuries the city was populated by Spanish families. Thus, Arequipa was the city in Peru with the most Spaniards. Its first mayor was the conquistador D. Juan de la Torre y Díaz Chacón. In the Republican era, the uprisings of Ramón Castilla, Mariano Ignacio Prado, Nicolás de Piérola Villena, Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro and others took place here. In modern times of statesmen like José Luis Bustamante y Rivero and Fernando Belaúnde Terry. Arequipa is the foundation of the economic complex of southern Peru.

Geography

It is located in the southwest of Peru, facing the Pacific Ocean with 527 kilometers of coastline. That is why it is the commercial center of the southern part of the country, which includes the departments of Apurímac, Cusco, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Puno and Tacna; and, it is part of the southern Peruvian tourist corridor, which means that it is interconnected with 40% of the country, and perched on a slope or slope in the Andes Mountains. It limits to the northwest with Ica and Ayacucho; to the north, with Apurímac and Cusco; to the east, with Moquegua and Puno; to the southwest, with the Pacific Ocean.

Colca Canyon, Arequipa, Peru.

• South Latitude: 14o36′6′′′.
• Western longitude: Between meridians 71o59′39′′ and 75o5′52′′′′′.
• Climate: The region of Arequipa has several climates in its territory, ranging from warm and temperate (coastal varieties) to the glacier and perpetual snow (in the high mountains). It is warm on the coast, the sectors close to the sea present a very humid climate, with winter cranes characteristic of high humidity, but few significant precipitations, with temperatures between 14 °C and 27 °C degrees in sectors close to the sea and approximate temperatures between 10 °C and 35 °C degrees in sectors like Acarí.

At the thousand meters of altitude, the climate varies from temperate to temperate, temperate-cold and cold in the mountains that dominate the landscape; the temperature variation is noticeable between the sun and the shadow and between the day and the night.

In the high dots the temperature drops considerably, surpassing only in the warmest month the 0 °C. But it should be borne in mind that this average may vary during the year. Snow precipitations are frequent, with the highest incidence in the months of July and August in sectors higher than the 4000 m. n. m. and temperatures below −20 °C, there are also large-scale phenomena that causes large economic losses among farmers and ranchers in the region. Rains in the Andean region fall regularly between January and March. On the coast are frequent rains or cranes, as well as fogs on the ground..

• Most important rivers: Tambo, Ocoña, Majes and Chili.
• Volcanoes: Coropuna (Coropuna)6425m s. n. m.), Ampato (6288 m. n. m.), Solimana (6093 m. n. m.), Hualca Hualca (6025 m. n. m.), Chachani (6057 m. n. m.), Misti (5822 m. n. m.) and Pichu Pichu (5664 m. n. m.).
• Cordilleras: Cordillera de Ampato, Cordillera Chila, Cordillera Huanzo and Cordillera Volcaánica.
• Abras: Apo Apacheta (Apo Apacheta)5100 m. n. m.) in Castile; Chucura (4720 m. n. m.) in Caylloma and Visca (4650 m. n. m.) between La Unión and Condesuyos.
• Islands: Hornillos, Blanca, Casca and Saragosa.
• Lagunas: Mucurca, Huanzo Ecma Chachas Peñane Del Indio Salinas and the national reserve Lagunas de Mejía.

Demographics

Ethnic Groups

Most populated cities

The following is a table with the main cities in the department of Arequipa:

Provinces

Arequipa Department Division

This department is made up of 8 provinces, the following table shows their data.

Provinces of Arequipa department
Pos	Province	Population 2020	Districts	Capital	Ubigeo	Area km2	Altitude m. n. m.	Location
1	Arequipa	1 175 765	29	Arequipa	0401	9 682.02	2337
2	Camaná	61 708	8	Camaná	0402	3 998.28	15
3	Caravelí	43 690	13	Caravelí	0403	13 139.86	1 776
4	Castilla	34 743	14	Applaud	0404	6 914.48	631
5	Caylloma	97 458	20	Chivay	0405	14 019.46	3 632
6	Condesuyos	16 426	8	Chuquibamba	0406	6 958.40	2 935
7	Islay	54 851	6	Mollendo	0407	3 886.49	52
8	The Union	12 797	11	Cotahuasi	0408	4 746.40	2 675
Total		1 497 438	109	Arequipa

Authorities

Regionals

Transportation

• Maritime port: Mollendo (Matarani)
• Railroad: Mollendo-Matarani - Arequipa - Juliaca - Puno - Cusco - Machu Picchu.
• Airport: Rodríguez Ballón International Airport. Mollendo airfield.

The Interoceanic Highway

Dawn at Punta de Bombón, in the province of Islay.

This highway has an extension of 2,603 km (of 1,071 kilometers corresponding to roads that must be paved, 1,514 km of paved roads and 17.5 km of urban roads, not including the urban area of Juliaca). These works will connect three Peruvian ports in the Pacific Ocean: San Juan de Marcona, Matarani and Ilo, with Iñapari on the border with Brazil.

The highway is part of the Regional Infrastructure of South America Integration (IIRSA), which seeks the commercial integration of the departments of Madre de Dios, Puno, Cusco, Tacna, Moquegua, Arequipa, Ica, Ayacucho, Apurímac and Huancavelica.

It is estimated that the highway will allow products from the southern Peruvian departments to enter the Brazilian market and goods from Acre and Rondonia in Brazil, and ultimately those from the Amazon and Mato Grosso, to enter in Peru.

Culture

Gastronomy

Filled coats, fresh out of the oven.

The Arequipa pantry stands out for the variety of crops and food products such as rocotos and chili peppers, assorted fruits, vegetables, beef, ram, guinea pig, pork, alpaca, ostrich, a variety of fish and, in a great way, shrimp, milk and cheeses, wines and piscos, corn chicha, etc. One of the peculiar characteristics of the food is the spiciness; this makes the places where they are sold called picanterías.

The diversity of this mestizo cuisine can be summed up in the existence of broths or chupes for each of the days, Monday "chaque"; Tuesday "chairo"; Wednesday "pebre"; Thursday "timpusca" (in pear season) or "menestron"; Friday "chupe de camarones"; Saturday "tail time" or "pout"; Sunday "white loins broth".

It is known in the country for its stews and stews prepared over a wood fire and in clay pots. Among the best known are the chupe de camarones, ocopa arequipeña, stuffed rocoto, pork marinade, cheese single, potato cake, chactado guinea pig, cheese rubber, chest locro and chaque to name a few. The typical Arequipeño dessert is ice cream cheese, and as a drink, in addition to chicha de jora, nájar anise.

Education

The illiteracy rate is 4.90%, lower than the value reached at the national level (8.13%), this is not decisive for higher education achievements. In general, a higher relative level of education is perceived in Arequipa compared to other regions. However, the majority of the population only reached complete secondary school (22%), followed by 17% showing incomplete primary education and 15% with incomplete secondary education, while only 10% (107,966) of the population present a level completed university, and 7% have higher education, or university education not yet completed.

• Public and private schools: 2337.

• Initial education: 819.
• Primary education: 1096.
• Secondary education: 422.

• Universities:

• Universidad Nacional de San Agustín (UNSA).
• Catholic University of Santa Maria (UCSM).
• Technological University of Peru (UTP).
• Universidad Católica San Pablo (UCSP).

• University of San Martín de Porres (USMP).
• La Salle University (ULS).
• Universidad Autónoma San Francisco (UASF).
• Universidad Privada Autónoma del Sur.
• Continental University.

International Book Fair

The Arequipa International Book Fair organized every year in which presentations, exhibitions, book signings and folkloric festivals are held.

Tourist attractions

Beaches of the Punta de Bombón.

Crystal water in Caleta Catarindo, Mollendo, Islay.

Chira Beach, Camaná.

The Misti volcano is imposing, built on a serene countryside with springs, old mills (in Sabandía), thermal baths (in Yura and Socosani), small ones with Andalusian-style alleys (Yanahuara) and, not far away, a village rooted in a stony hill (Sachaca). The use of ashlar stone (volcanic mineral) in the construction of temples, convents and mansions give the city a peculiar appearance. The most visited places are the Colca Valley and its canyon (which is one of the deepest in the world) and because of the current permanence of three living cultures: the "Kawanas", "Kollawas" and the "Ccaccatapay", with their ancient music and customs, the petroglyphs of Toro Muerto, the Cotahuasi valley and canyon. Likewise, the Andahua caves and the Socabaya caverns. In the city of Arequipa, the monastery of Santa Catalina, founded in 1580.

Other places to visit are:

• Volcano Valley. It is 377 kilometers from Arequipa in Andahua. There is an incredible landscape formed by about 80 small volcanoes, which give the appearance of the lunar surface.
• National Sanctuary of Lagunas de Mejía. Located on the coast, 20 kilometres from the city of Mollendo. Natural scenario of 690 hectares with waters of different degrees of salinity, marshes, totorals, salinas and gramadales. Up to 157 species of birds can be distinguished.
• Sumbay caves. 88 kilometers from the capital. In spite of the time, valuable cave paintings of the paleolytic era are preserved inside. Its rocky walls represent human figures, auquenides, pumas, etc.
• Imata Stone Forest. Very original rock formation located on the way to Puno. Set of natural lytic columns that take the appearance of a mysterious enchanted forest.
• Beaches of Mollendo. Gran balneario del Sur del Perú a dos horas de Arequipa, Extensive beaches and entertainment place for young people in summertime free of pollution and fishing and underwater hunting areas with aquatic parks. It is the most important and popular spa in the department and south Peruvian.
• Beaches in Camaná. Spacious 3 hours from Arequipa City.
• Campiña arequipeña. Agricultural rural area in the surroundings of the city, with andenes dating from the Incaic era.
• Colonial Churches. Religious constructions made in a chair (white volcanic stone).

Tourist calendar

• January 6. Anniversary of Mollendo. Celebration of the Bajada de los Reyes in Tiabaya.
• February 2. Feast of the Virgin of the Candelaria in the district of Chivay.
• February 2. Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria de Distrito de Quilca - Camaná
• February 3rd. Feast of the Virgin of the Candelaria in the district of Cayma and Characato. In Caravelí the Virgin of the Good Pass is celebrated; the festivities last 4 days and there are rooster fights, bullfighting and passing horse parades.
• Holy Week. Religious acts throughout the department, with spiritual processions and recollection. Men and women wear mourning.
• May 1st. Pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Virgin of Chapi, 45 kilometers from the capital. Pilgrims from all over the country and from this part of the continent arrive to greet their patron.
• August 15th. Anniversary of Arequipa. Civic-religious festivities that last a week with different artistic and cultural activities, rooster fights, sports activities and burning of fireworks and corso. They attend artists from abroad. In Castile is the Feast of the Virgin of the Assumption; with popular parties, corso and competition between districts.
• August 30th. Santa Rosa. Typically religious festival held in Caravelí, with masses, processions and churches profusely arranged with flowers and various ornaments. In Castilla there are popular verbs, contests and sports parties.
• September 8th. Virgin of the Peñas in Castile. Great deployment of Folclore, especially in Aplao. Butlers do the impossible for visitors to find themselves at ease.
• 1 November. All Saints Day. Whole families come to cemeteries carrying music and food to accompany their deceased. The Fridge Cross Party in Mollendo.
• 9 November. Camaná Jubilee Day. The whole population goes to the streets to dance, sing and have fun.
• December 8th. Immaculate Party in [Chuquibamba [Chivay]] and Cayma.
• December 31. Fiesta del Señor de los Desamparados in La Punta de Bombón.

Arequipeños in history

Sports

Arequipa is one of the most sporting departments in the country. Among its most outstanding athletes are soccer players, athletes and tennis players, who on many occasions have managed to represent Peru in international competitions. It also has a wide variety of soccer teams which play a leading role in Copa Perú. Arequipa has 2 National Championships (won by Melgar), 1 Second Division Championship (Won by Total Clean), 2 Promotion and Reserve Championships (won by Melgar) and 5 Peru Cups (Won by Melgar, Huracán, Atlético Universidad, Total Clean and Binational Municipal School).

Football

Honours of Prizes

Champions
Equipment	Competition	City
FBC Melgar	1981 Decentralized Championship	Arequipa
FBC Melgar	Decentralized Championship 2015	Arequipa
FBC Melgar	Closing Tour 2015	Arequipa
FBC Melgar	Closing Tournament 2018	Arequipa
FBC Melgar	Summer Tournament 2017	Arequipa
Total Clean	Second Division 2008	Arequipa
FBC Melgar	Copa Peru 1971	Arequipa
Sportivo Huracán	Copa Perú 1973	Arequipa
Atletico Universidad	Copa Peru 2002	Arequipa
Total Clean	Copa Peru 2006	Arequipa
Binational Municipal School	Copa Peru 2017	Arequipa
FBC Melgar	2014 Promotion and Reserve Tournament	Arequipa
FBC Melgar	Opening Tournament 2015	Arequipa
Subcamps
Equipment	Competition	City
FBC Melgar	Decentralized Championship 1983	Arequipa
FBC Melgar	Copa Perú 1969	Arequipa
FBC Melgar	Cup Peru 1970	Arequipa
Sportivo Huracán	Copa Peru 1975	Arequipa
Fishing Peru	Copa Peru 1976	Mollendo
Fishing Peru	Copa Perú 1978	Mollendo
FBC Aurora	Copa Peru 1993	Arequipa
FBC Aurora	Copa Peru 1994	Arequipa
Sportivo Huracán	Copa Peru 1995	Arequipa
Senati FBC	Copa Peru 2005	Arequipa
FBC Melgar	Booking Inca Tournament 2015	Arequipa
FBC Melgar	Decentralized Championship 2016	Arequipa