What to do and see in Arequipa, Arequipa Region: The Best Tours

December 10, 2021 Timmy Ribble

In Peru's second-most populous city, aka "The White City," stunning colonial buildings made of pearly sillar stone vie for attention with the surrounding volcanoes and snow-capped peaks of the western Andes. Founded in 1540, it's a smorgasbord of mansions and museums. The top attraction, 215,000-square-foot Santa Catalina Monastery, is like its own city within a city, complete with fountains and cobblestone streets. Arequipa is the favorite base for visiting Colca Canyon and its massive condors.
Restaurants in Arequipa

1. Colca Magic Destination

Ruta Sur AQP
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

With this service you will visit the Canyon and the Colca Valley considered one of the deepest canyons on the planet and its enchanted villages that surrounds it. Observing the famous flight of the Condor. You will also enjoy its delicious cuisine, typical of the southern region of the country.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Tourist transport with air conditioning, clean and disinfected with a disinfection certificate., 01 hotel night in the town of Chivay., Hotel taxes, Professional tour guide (English - Spanish).

Exclusions: Tourist entrance to the Colca Canyon (Foreigner pays S / 70.00; National pays S / 20.00), Entrance to the Thermal Baths of "La Calera" General income S / 15.00, Lunches and dinners.

2. trekking 3 days huaruro route

Oasis Palmeras Travel Tour Operator
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

This tour will allow you to know the most beautiful places in the Colca Canyon, such as the Cruz del Condor, Llahuar, the Huaruro Waterfall and the Sanchez Oasis. To make this tour normally requires 4 days, we are organizing it in three days, so that more travelers can enjoy it since we know that many do not have many days. so that it is not so demanded, the first day we will help ourselves with a mobility of cabanaconde to the town of Belen, which will save us 5 hours of walking, this makes us able to make this route that normally does in 4 days, In three beautiful days full of adventures. This tour is special and highly recommended by our company.

Inclusions: It includes 3 breakfasts. first breakfast in chivay, second breakfast in fure, third breakfast in cabanaconde, 3 lunches first lunch in llahuar, second lunch in sangalle, third lunch in chivay., Two dinners first dinner in fure, second dinner in sangalle., round trip transportation: one way (arequipa - cabanaconde - llahuar) and return cabanaconde - arequipa, lodging: first night in the town of fure, second night in the oasis of sangalle, guide. English and Spanish

Exclusions: tourist ticket, mandatory payment of admission to the Colca Canyon. latino 40.0, foreigner 70.0 soles, hot springs of the last day, is optional, price 15.00 soles, snack and drinks

Reviewed By kp327

Beautiful views during both days. We were lucky to enjoy the mountains in their full green glory during the summer rainy season without any rain. The hike, especially on its second day with a brutal uphill, is challenging, hence not recommended if you are completely out of shape or have issues with your knees. The accommodation for our overnight stay is pretty and the pool came as a nice surprise after a long hike in the first day. Our guide was Rafael. Very knowledgeable, friendly, professional, punctual and funny. 5 stars for Rafael.

3. Golden hour, legends of Arequipa and Peruvian Coffee

Calle Zela 301, Arequipa 04001, Peru SKY VIAJES Y TURISMO
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5.0 based on 7 reviews

This is a tour full of history in Arequipa and legends that I will tell you as we induce ourselves into the small streets, squares, wrought iron windows and traditional mansions carved in white volcanic stone (sillar). We will stop briefly to take strength in a local coffee shop with an Peruvian organic coffee espresso and Andean tasting chocolates to go to Quinta Salas or "Castillo del Diablo" through its narrow streets until we reach the edge of the Chili River to meet the Barrio del Solar and the Tambo Matadero. Both places were built in the seventeenth century entirely of white ashlar, the first to house the people and the second to sacrifice the sacrifice of animals. Finally at 5:30 p.m., privileged time to take photos (golden hour), we will go to the Plaza de Armas appreciating Spanish courtyards and colonial balconies of the city. Here ends our journey through time in old Arequipa.

Inclusions: Peruvian specialty coffee (espresso or American), Handmade chocolate tasting

Exclusions:

Reviewed By LisaHiHo

This day trip ist perfect to get out of the city for a while. It's just about an hours ride outside of Arequipa. We visited Yura Viejo first which ist very small but in a beautiful sourrounding. Then went on a hike through a small canyon to a waterfall. You have to wade through the water quite a bit which was a lot of fun for our six year old. He did not even ask once 'are we there yet' ;-) The waterfall is beautiful as is the landscape. Our guide was great and our driver very relaxed, too. The termal baths are ok, maybe not a must-do, but our son loved the warm water. Overall a great Tour.

4. Monastery of Santa Catalina, Historic center and viewpoints of Arequipa.

Plaza de Armas Arequipa, Arequipa 04001, Peru AREQUIPA TOURS
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

With this tour we will be able to know both the history of Arequipa from its beginnings, the constructions of the Historic center of Arequipa, Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the surrounding viewpoints as well as one of the most representative centers such as the Monastery of Santa Catalina, come and know this tour on foot walking and enjoying the city as well as by car to get to know the closest viewpoints of the city with beautiful landscapes and beautiful archeology stories. This tour is offered privately and is guided on board in your preferred language so you have a full day knowing a lot about the history of Arequipa.

Inclusions: Private tourist transport, Professional guide, Revenue to all places of visit

Exclusions: Food and extra expenses.

5. Chaqchao Chocolate Making Workshop

Santa Catalina 204, Arequipa 04001, Peru Chaqchao chocolate making workshop
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5.0 based on 15 reviews

Listen to the exciting history of cacao while learning how to make chocolate from bean-to-bar. Participants will make chocolate, the traditional chocolate drink of Aztec kings, and will finish the class by creating their very own chocolate bar to take home. The class will also include a chocolate tasting – can you spot the difference between the gourmet and the commercial?

Inclusions: Chocolate making machines

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Reviewed By 1994mahalia

Really really great experience! I wasn’t sure what this would be like at all. Originally I wanted to do a cooking class but the one I wanted wasn’t available on the weekend so stumbled upon this place. I was partly curious, and thought it would be something a little different, besides obviously loving chocolate too! It completely changes your view on chocolate, either for the better or worse and is a super fun and interactive class. The teacher is passionate, engaging, knowledgeable and charismatic so the whole thing runs super smoothly. I whole heartedly recommend as something interesting and fun to do!

6. Colca Canyon / Full day tour

Travel Adventures Peru
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5.0 based on 8 reviews

Come and enjoy an impressive Full day tour through one of the deepest canyons in the world. Disconnect at least one day from the city and fully enjoy the nature that surrounds this valley. Our guide will show you all the beauties such as the huge birds, beautiful alpacas and vicuñas and more than 79 different types of cactus. Our tour starts very early to be able to arrive on time at the Condor's Cross and watch the condors flying over our heads, follow our route to different tiny towns and of course visit the relaxing hot springs.

Inclusions: Private transportation, Air-conditioned vehicle, Breakfast

Exclusions: Entrance ticket to the Colca Canyon: 70 soles per person, Entrance ticket to the Hot Springs, We can buy a buffet lunch for 30 soles

Reviewed By Jaime N

Our tour guide, David, was absolutely brilliant and his knowledge, humour, friendliness and problem-solving skills are what made the tour such a success. He provided us with lots of fascinating commentary, made sure everyone's dietary requirements were met at the restaurants, ensured nobody felt left behind on the short hikes, and he was always happy to answer all our questions. He even sourced clean towels for our visit to the hot springs so that we didn't need to rent any. Worth every single penny we paid for this tour.

7. Arequipa Historical Downtown Tour

Calle Jose Francisco de Zela 216, Arequipa 04001, Peru Paolo Corrales
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5.0 based on 4 reviews

This walking tour in the downtown of Arequipa will help us to understand about the people and history. You get to enjoy more of the city with the anecdotes, legends and traditions you'll know about.

Inclusions: chocolate

Exclusions: Gratuities

8. Monasterio de Santa Catalina Admission Ticket

Monasterio de Santa Catalina
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4.7 based on 116 reviews

The Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena in Arequipa, is considered one of the most important and original architectural works of Peru and Latin America, with more than 400 years of history. It is known as "A city inside the city "because inside there are several streets, cloisters, cells, a square with a pool, laundry, cemetery, etc. In its Pinacoteca you can see an important collection of religious art from the continent, as well as numerous paintings of the so-called Cuzqueña School, the maximum expression of the fusion of two cultures, the Inca and the Spanish. It was opened to the public in the year 1970 and receives daily visitors from all parts of Peru and the world.

Inclusions: Admission Ticket

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Hotel pickup and drop-off

Reviewed By RichardK938

Very nice convent. The courtyards are the highlights with their painted arches. Monks quarters are very spartan as is the kitchen. This tour gives a real feel for how the monks live their simple lives.

9. Sillar Route in Arequipa and viewpoint of the Volcanoes

Plaza de Armas, Arequipa 04001, Peru AREQUIPA TOURS & EXCURSIONES
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4.7 based on 6 reviews

The ashlar is the origin of the architecture of the White City and its tourist route is developed in the district of Cerro Colorado. In addition to the natural landscapes of the area, you can observe the process of extraction, styling and megatallado of the ashlar. It has the necessary infrastructure and tourist services such as interpretation workshops, with the presence of sillar cutters; information panel areas; tourist signage; parking lot; Purchase of handicrafts in sillar and rest areas. The sillar route is managed by the Sillar Cutters Network - Arequipa. It currently comprises a length of 2,000 meters, covering the quarries in operation of Añashuayco, Cortadores and the virgin quarry of Culebrillas.

Inclusions: TURISTIC TRANSPORT, PROFESSIONAL GUIDE

Exclusions: TICKET ENTRANCE 2 DOLLARS

Reviewed By jonathanhN1923VU

I had an awesome time on this ride! The guide was really friendly and even offered us some snacks along the ride. Most of the trip was down a windy dirt road down Chachani volcano, with incredible views of the surrounding mountains and Arequipa below. The guide took us on a couple routes off-road as well. A great way to spend the day if you are an experienced mountain biker or a beginner like me! Thanks for the fun adventure!

10. Arequipa, Historic and Colonial City and Santa Catalina Monastery

Viajes Pacífico
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4.4 based on 18 reviews

Get to know Arequipa on this history-filled city sightseeing tour. With a professional guide, you’ll see the city’s top historical attractions, including the colonial districts of St Lazarus and Yanahuara, the Monastery of St Catherine and the Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa, as well as two locations that provide excellent views of the city and its surrounds – Carmen Alto and the Mirador de Yanahuara. Travel by air-conditioned coach and hop off at various sites to walk around and soak it all in.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off

Exclusions: Gratuities, Food and drinks

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