Santa Catalina Monastery Tour
A walled convent-city of blue and terracotta lanes, sillar cloisters and quiet courtyards, closed to the world for four centuries and now Arequipa's essential half day. A guided city tour with entry is the easy way in.
Peru
Arequipa & Colca Canyon
Arequipa is Peru's White City: a colonial centre built from pale volcanic sillar stone, set at the foot of the perfect cone of Misti and a short drive from one of the deepest canyons on Earth.
This guide covers the essentials, from the walled convent of Santa Catalina and the Juanita museum to condor watching at the Cruz del Condor, hot springs in the Colca Valley, volcano climbs, the Salinas lagoon, the sillar quarries and a food scene built on picanterias and rocoto relleno. There are 20 experiences, 10 hotels and 6 travel guides to help you plan, with honest advice on altitude, seasons and choosing between a one-day and a two-day trip to Colca.
Don't miss
Santa Catalina Monastery Tour
A walled convent-city of blue and terracotta lanes, sillar cloisters and quiet courtyards, closed to the world for four centuries and now Arequipa's essential half day. A guided city tour with entry is the easy way in.
Juanita Mummy Museum and Walking Tour
The Ice Maiden of Ampato, a girl sacrificed by the Inca some five centuries ago and preserved by the cold of a 6,000-metre volcano, is the star of a small, powerful museum. A walking tour pairs her with the old centre.
Plaza de Armas and Cathedral
The sillar-white heart of Arequipa: a wide plaza framed by arcades, a cathedral that fills a whole side, palm trees, rooftop terraces and the Misti volcano rising behind the towers. Free to wander, best at sunset.
Colca Canyon Full-Day Tour with Condor Viewing
A long, rewarding day from Arequipa over a high Andean pass to the Cruz del Condor viewpoint, with vicuna and alpaca spotting, mountain villages and a buffet lunch. It is the quickest way to see the canyon, and demanding.
Things to do in Arequipa & Colca Canyon
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Juanita Mummy Museum and Walking Tour
The Ice Maiden of Ampato, a girl sacrificed by the Inca some five centuries ago and preserved by the cold of a 6,000-metre volcano, is the star of a small, powerful museum. A walking tour pairs her with the old centre.
Plaza de Armas and Cathedral
The sillar-white heart of Arequipa: a wide plaza framed by arcades, a cathedral that fills a whole side, palm trees, rooftop terraces and the Misti volcano rising behind the towers. Free to wander, best at sunset.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
Colca Canyon Full-Day Tour with Condor Viewing
A long, rewarding day from Arequipa over a high Andean pass to the Cruz del Condor viewpoint, with vicuna and alpaca spotting, mountain villages and a buffet lunch. It is the quickest way to see the canyon, and demanding.
Colca Canyon and Cruz del Condor Two-Day Tour
Two days and one night in the Colca Valley: a night in Chivay or a nearby village, the hot springs, then a calm morning at the Cruz del Condor before the drive back. The most comfortable way to see the canyon.
Colca Canyon Trek to the Sangalle Oasis
A hard, beautiful two- to three-day walk that drops into the canyon from Cabanaconde to a green oasis of pools and palm-shaded cabins, then climbs back out. For fit walkers who want the canyon from the inside.
Colca Hot Springs and Chivay Day Tour
A Colca full-day tour that adds a soak in the thermal pools above Chivay to the condors and viewpoints. A warm, welcome finish to the cold, high-altitude day.
Colca Villages and Viewpoints Day Trip
Condor watching plus the valley between: Chivay, Yanque, Maca and the terraces, with time to see baroque churches, weavers and the Andean life that makes Colca more than a single viewpoint.
Misti Volcano Two-Day Trek
Climb the perfect cone that watches over Arequipa: an overnight ascent of Misti, a demanding walk to a crater rim at nearly 5,800 metres, with sunrise over the city and the lowlands.
Chachani Volcano Two-Day Climb
One of the easiest 6,000-metre peaks in the world for non-technical climbers: a two-day ascent of Chachani, with a high camp, an early summit push and views across the volcano chain.
Salinas Lagoon and Flamingos Excursion
A high-altitude salt lake with pink flamingos, llamas, vicunas and a natural hot spring. An easy half-day or full-day from Arequipa with some of the best scenery near the city.
Sillar Route and Anashuayco Quarries Tour
See where Arequipa white stone is born: carved quarries, the Culebrillas canyon, petroglyphs and the craftsmen who still shape sillar by hand. A short, cheap, fascinating look at the city building blocks.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
CIRQA Relais & Chateaux
Arequipa
The luxury pick in Arequipa: a member of the Relais & Chateaux collection, aimed at travellers who want a high-end base with a strong sense of place before heading to Colca or Cusco.
Check rates →Casa Andina Premium Arequipa
Historic Centre
The top tier of Peru best-known domestic chain: dependable comfort, a central location and a strong breakfast, with the polish of a larger group and the local touches of a Peruvian brand.
Check rates →Sonesta Hotel Arequipa
Arequipa
A full-service international-brand hotel for travellers who want familiar standards, business-style facilities and room to spread out between canyon trips and city days.
Check rates →Katari Hotel at Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas
A hotel that sits where most visitors want to be: on the main square, with the cathedral, the arcades and the volcano at your door and the old town a step away.
Check rates →Tierra Viva Arequipa Plaza
Historic Centre
A mid-range Peruvian-brand hotel near the main square, with a practical, comfortable formula that suits independent travellers and families on a sensible budget.
Check rates →Casa Andina Select Arequipa Plaza
Historic Centre
The middle tier of the Casa Andina chain, with the brand reliable breakfast and service at a friendlier price, and a plaza-area address that keeps the old town on foot.
Check rates →Hotel San Agustin Posada del Monasterio
Historic Centre
A character stay named for its neighbour: close to Santa Catalina Monastery, in a part of the old town where quiet colonial streets lead to the main square on foot.
Check rates →La Hosteria
Historic Centre
A small, characterful stay in a historic building, known for a personal feel, quiet corners and a location that lets you walk to the plaza and the main sights.
Check rates →Casa Arequipa
Residential Arequipa
A guesthouse-style stay in a quieter residential district, popular with travellers who want calm, a home feel and a short ride or walk to the centre.
Check rates →Wyndham Costa del Sol Arequipa
Arequipa
A larger, business-class hotel under a global brand, with the services and space that suit families, groups and travellers who like a full-service base.
Check rates →Arequipa & Colca Canyon guides
Arequipa in Three Days: Convent, Condors and Cooking
A sensible three-day plan: ease into altitude with the old town, give a day to Colca or a volcano, then finish with food and the viewpoints.
Eating and Drinking in Arequipa: Picanterias, Rocoto and Pisco
A guide to the city kitchen: the dishes to order, how a picanteria works, what to drink, and how to eat well on any budget.
Best Time to Visit Arequipa and Colca Canyon
Seasons, weather, condors and crowds: when to go, what each season is like and how to plan around rain, cold and holidays.
Day Trips from Arequipa: Canyons, Volcanoes and Salt Lakes
Every excursion worth taking from Arequipa, from half-day countryside outings to long canyon runs, with tips on choosing and combining them.
Colca Canyon: Condors, Villages and Hot Springs
Everything to know before visiting Colca: the route, the Cruz del Condor, the villages, the hot springs, altitude and how to choose a tour.
Arequipa on a Budget: Free Sights, Cheap Eats and Altitude Tips
How to enjoy Arequipa without overspending: what is free, how to eat well cheaply, when to splurge and how to handle the altitude.
