Hello! If you’re looking for things to do in Arequipa, you’ve come to the right place. In this travel guide, written from our own experience, we’ll tell you the best plans and activities to discover the richness of this Peruvian city, full of history, culture, and natural beauty.
Let’s get started:
The best things to do in Arequipa, Peru
1. Explore the historic center and try Arequipa’s gastronomy
Without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Arequipa is to stroll through its beautiful historic center, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll marvel at its colonial architecture, its mansions, and the use of sillar, a white volcanic stone that gives the city its nickname “The White City.”
You can start your tour in the Plaza de Armas, surrounded by arches, gardens, and fountains. Then, visit the Arequipa Cathedral, an imposing 17th-century building, and walk a few blocks to the Church of the Society of Jesus. Finally, spend at least an hour and a half exploring the Monastery of Santa Catalina.
Also, about a 30-minute walk from the center, you’ll find the Yanahuara Lookout, one of the best viewpoints in Arequipa. On clear days, you’ll see the Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu volcanoes. Along the way, there are restaurants where you can try Arequipa cuisine; we recommend the stuffed rocoto and the frozen cheese.
Recommended accommodations in the historic center: Los Andes Bed & Breakfast, Le Foyer Arequipa, Plaza Central, La Hostería Boutique Hotel, Hotel Los Tambos Boutique and Casona Plaza Hotel Colonial.
See accommodations in Arequipa with discounts
Travel tip: If you want to explore the historic center of Arequipa but don’t know where to start, we recommend joining this tip-based free walking tour. It’s a guided walk lasting approximately 2.5 hours, taking you through the most fascinating streets, temples, and corners of the White City.
To secure your spot on the free walking tour, click here, select your preferred date and time, indicate the number of participants, and you’re all set! Remember, free tours are a great way to learn about the history of a destination, but you should also support the guides with a tip that reflects the quality of their service.
Book your free tour now and discover the secrets of Arequipa!
2. What to Do in Arequipa: Visit the Colca Canyon
The Colca Canyon is one of the most impressive tourist destinations in Peru. However, keep in mind that it’s about a four-hour drive from Arequipa, so it’s best to have at least two days to fully enjoy its landscapes, natural viewpoints, and surrounding areas.
In the Colca Valley, you’ll see one of the deepest canyons in the world and a prime spot for observing the condor in flight. Along the way, you’ll also discover the biodiversity of the Andes mountain range, visit villages of pre-Inca origin, and visit hot springs and the Mirador de los Volcanes.
To get to the Colca Canyon from Arequipa, you can join this organized two-day tour, which includes transportation, accommodations, meals, and a Spanish-speaking guide. If you’re short on time, consider this full-day tour, but keep in mind that completing the trip in a single day can be very exhausting.
If you prefer to travel by public transport, take a bus from Arequipa to Chivay, the main town in Colca. These buses are slow, so the journey takes about 5 hours. You’ll then need to take another bus to reach the canyon, which will add another hour to the trip. Accommodations in Chivay: Casa Andina and La Casa de Anita
Don’t miss your Colca Canyon tour, book here
How do I book the Colca Canyon tour? It’s easy! Just click here to learn all the details of the excursion, including its inclusions and price. Then, choose your travel date, indicate the number of passengers, and click Book.
The tour departs from Arequipa and lasts 2 days and 1 night. During the tour, you’ll visit the Cruz del Cóndor Lookout, hike the trails of the Colca Canyon, relax in the hot springs of La Calera, and discover Andean culture in towns like Maca and Yanque.
When booking any of these tours in Arequipa, you’ll receive immediate confirmation. Plus, if anything unforeseen arises, you can change the date or cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the start of the activity.
See price and details of the Colca Canyon tour
If you’re short on time, you can book this 1-day tour
3. Tour the Santa Catalina Monastery
Another of the best activities to do in Arequipa is to tour the Santa Catalina Monastery, one of Peru’s most important architectural and historical gems. There you can explore a Dominican convent founded in 1579, built with white and pink ashlar, in a colonial style with Andean influence.
Today, you can tour the interior of the monastery and walk among its narrow streets, colorful courtyards, and viewpoints. You can visit the nuns’ rooms, old kitchens with stone ovens, and the laundry room, which provide a glimpse into daily life within the convent.
If you’re wondering what to do in Arequipa, don’t hesitate to visit the Santa Catalina Monastery. A stroll through this place is absolutely worthwhile, as you can explore it at your leisure and admire its unique architectural style. Hours: Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission: 45 soles (rates subject to change).
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Tips for finding good, beautiful, and budget-friendly accommodation: The best way to get the best price on lodging is to book in advance. If you wait until the last minute, the most affordable and top-rated options may already be sold out, leaving you with fewer choices.
Our favorite platform for finding the best deals is Booking.com. Click here to save up to 15% on your stay. In many cases, you can book without a credit card, pay at the property, and cancel without penalty.
Additionally, if you book frequently, you’ll get exclusive discounts, free breakfasts, and room upgrades at no extra cost, helping you save even more on your trip.
Book your stay today with 15% off! Click here!
4. What to do in Arequipa: Discover the beauty of Laguna de Salinas
Laguna de Salinas, located within the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, is one of Arequipa’s most impressive natural landscapes. Located on the high plateau, approximately 4,300 meters above sea level, it is known for its scenic beauty, wildlife, and views of the Ubinas Volcano.
When you visit the reserve, you can see a wide variety of species, such as vicuñas, alpacas, and flamingos. During the rainy season (December to March), the accumulated water in the lagoon creates a mirror effect similar to that of the Salar de Uyuni, creating a visual spectacle. It’s an ideal plan in Arequipa!
Tip: Getting to the lagoon from Arequipa is not easy. First, you need to reach the town of Chiguata and then continue for about two hours on an unpaved road with sharp curves and steep slopes at high altitude. Therefore, we recommend joining this guided excursion.
Search for cheap flights to Arequipa
Tip: Save time and money by booking on platforms like GuruWalk, Civitatis, or Denomades. We recommend these sites because, in addition to being secure, they allow you to compare prices, read reviews from other travelers, learn about the itineraries in detail, and know exactly what each tour includes.
GuruWalk: Exclusively for free walking tours worldwide. Civitatis: Offers a wide variety of tours, guided visits, and excursions in hundreds of destinations. Denomades: Specializes in nature and adventure activities in Latin America.
On these platforms, you can book at very competitive prices, sometimes even better than at the destination! Plus, they offer a great variety of payment methods and, in many cases, have flexible cancellation policies that allow you to get a refund up to 24 hours before the activity starts.
Discover your next free tour on GuruWalk
Check out available activities on Civitatis
Book the best tours in Latin America on Denomades
5. Explore the Sillar Route
Sillar is a volcanic rock distinguished by its white and pink hues. Since the colonial era, it has been used in the construction of important buildings and monuments, such as the Arequipa Cathedral, the Temple of the Society of Jesus, and the Monastery of Santa Catalina.
Today, the quarries from which this legendary material is extracted have become one of the region’s most important tourist attractions. That’s why one of the best activities in Arequipa is to spend half a day exploring them and learning more about their extraction process and the craftsmanship behind them.
We took this tour of the sillar quarry, which included a visit to the Culebrillas Canyon, a geological formation in the middle of the Andean desert. There, you can walk through narrow gorges and ignimbrite canyons, see ancient petroglyphs, and admire sculptures carved by the local community.
See the price of the Sillar Route tour
Tip: When planning an international trip, we tend to focus on choosing destinations, accommodations, and tours, but often overlook unexpected events such as illnesses, accidents, thefts, or the need to return earlier than planned due to a family emergency.
To travel with peace of mind, it is essential to have insurance that covers medical expenses, repatriation, theft, baggage delays, and even civil liability. Moreover, in many countries, having insurance is a mandatory requirement for entry.
We recommend this travel insurance for its extensive coverage, 24/7 assistance via phone, email, or WhatsApp, and its excellent value for money, which has impressed us. The best part is that you can book it up to 72 hours before your trip.
Buy your travel insurance here and explore the world with confidence!
Other travel guides that may interest you:
7 Colors Mountain
Guide to visit Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca, Peru and Bolivia
Trekking to Laguna 69
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