Recommended byLe Routard & Le Petit Futé
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Arequipa is one of the most beautiful cities in Peru, listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Its colonial center, built from sillar, a pale volcanic stone, earned it the nickname "White City." Sunny weather almost year-round, a good standard of hotels and restaurants, and a moderate altitude (2,300 m) make it an ideal stop on a trip to Peru, whether before or after tackling the Andean highlands.
A half-day guided tour is recommended to discover the most beautiful corners of the city. This includes a visit to the Yanahuara district, with its square, church, and sillar houses, a stop at a lookout point for a panoramic view of the city and the 3 volcanoes towering over it, and of course a visit to the colonial center, including the Santa Catalina Monastery.
The Santa Catalina Monastery is the largest in Peru and one of the finest colonial buildings in Arequipa. Built in the 16th century, it has housed a community of nuns for over 4 centuries. Its inner streets and courtyards are reminiscent in many ways of Andalusia. The visit to Santa Catalina takes about an hour and a half.
A free half-day to enjoy the charm of Arequipa's colonial center is well worth it. You can use this free time to visit the museum of the mummy Juanita, a young girl sacrificed in Inca times whose body was found in the glacier of the Sabancaya volcano.
Other museums and religious monuments may also be worth a visit, in particular the monasteries of Santa Teresa and La Recoleta, the latter housing a library with books from the 17th century, the Church of San Agustín, the Church of the Society of Jesus (whose cloisters are freely accessible) and the Casa del Moral colonial museum.
The San Camilo Market, a few streets from the Plaza de Armas, is also worth a wander to soak up the atmosphere of this lively neighborhood and discover the variety of local food products: potatoes, fish, vegetables and, above all, fruit.
If you're interested in cooking, we offer a Peruvian cooking class in Arequipa. Learn to prepare ceviche and lomo saltado, two of Peru's most iconic dishes.
An excursion of about 3 hours allows you to discover the immediate surroundings of Arequipa, visiting colonial buildings such as the Sabandía mill and the founder's manor house. This can be done by private vehicle or by taking one of the panoramic buses that depart from the Plaza de Armas.
For "adventure," we recommend the half-day rafting excursion on the Río Chili, great fun and well organized. For "off the beaten track," a one- or two-day excursion to the Majes valley reveals the Peruvian coastal desert and this superb oasis valley, with its famous Toro Muerto petroglyph archaeological site.
If you're in excellent physical condition, you can also try climbing Misti volcano, which towers over Arequipa at more than 5,800 meters. The expedition takes 2 days, and the effort is rewarded with an extraordinary view of the volcano's crater, which shows fumarolic activity.
Finally, Arequipa is the starting point for excursions of 2 days or more to the Colca Canyon. For more information about this destination, click the corresponding link.
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For more information about these hotels, you can visit the Hotels in Arequipa page.
With a private, tailor-made itinerary designed just for you, our team on the ground supports you from your first message until your return home.
