Arequipa: Best Things to Do in Peru's White City
Arequipa, also known as White City, is a popular colonial city you should visit while in Peru. Our Arequipa travel guide focuses on the best things to do in Arequipa so you can plan your time here. The top attractions are Santa Catalina Monastery, or a day trip to Colca Canyon, volcanoes, but the city has so much more to offer. We also share tips on where to stay, how to get or how to stay safe.
Peru, as a travel destination, has so many beautiful places to visit. It is hard to decide whether you should focus your attention on exploring Inca ruins, hiking in the Andes, and adventuring in the Amazon rainforest, or wandering the streets of colonial cities during your limited time in the country.
If you ask us what we loved the most about this country, it was the fact it was quite easy to combine all those activities and top attractions in one trip.
And when we talk about the colonial cities, there's one place you should not definitely miss, Arequipa.
To be more specific, the historical city center of Arequipa is the place that needs to be on your itinerary.
What is even more important, the location close to the famous Cusco and Sacred Valley, the same as Lake Titicaca and border crossing to Bolivia, is ideal, and you do not need to make any detours.
Simply put, Arequipa's convenient position is one of the main reasons for planning your trip to this destination.
You won't need that much time to understand that Arequipa is special.
But you will need longer to soak up the laidback atmosphere that is accompanied by a wide array of things to do, rooftop views, well-rated restaurants, coffee shops, and that's only what you can find within the city.
Apart from that is Arequipa surrounded by volcanoes (yes, plural), and within driving distance is also the most renowned canyon in the country.
Arequipa is a synonym for the cobblestone streets and chalky white buildings made of sillar, a type of volcanic rock, which is very photogenic.
Thanks to many top attractions and great tourist infrastructure, Arequipa is on almost every backpacker bucket list.
Even for us who traveled long term was Arequipa a perfect place, as from time to time, we need to break the journey and remind ourselves how the normal life looks like.
Our drive from Nazca to Arequipa was more exciting than we had wished as our bus was involved in a car crash, so the first day we did not have the right mood to explore the city.
But the next day, we were able to carry on in our routine that involved exploring the best things to do in Arequipa, top attractions, and we also made a few day trips.
This travel guide to one of our favorite cities we had visited in Peru also includes tips so you can start planning your own trip.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN AREQUIPA
You probably know that feeling when you arrive in a new destination you've never been to before, want to cover all the top sights, and do not know where to start.
Arequipa did not feel that way at all. It does not mean there are not many attractions to see, but most of them are located in the historical center, so you do not have to worry you would accidentally miss anything.
Overall the whole visit was very natural, and we could understand why so many travelers call Arequipa home away from home.
The city itself is very walkable, and you can see the best it has to offer in one day, although we would recommend staying at least two nights for a better experience.
This way, you'll have enough time to admire the architecture in the White City, learn more about the way of life in Santa Catalina Monastery, and, most importantly, take it slow and sip a coffee in one of the cute coffee shops.
As many best things to do in Arequipa are actually located outside the city limits, take this information also into account.
It is more convenient to base yourself in Arequipa and make day trips to Colca Canyon or top of one of the volcanoes surrounding the city from here.
Based on our experience, we've put together a list of must-visit places in Arequipa.
AREQUIPA'S OLD TOWN
Even though your main motivation to travel to Arequipa might be to climb the volcanoes or hike in the Colca Canyon, you should put exploring Arequipa's city center firmly on your itinerary.
Not only wandering Arequipa's colonial streets is one of the cheapest and best budget-friendly things to do when in the city, but also the historical center is beautiful and worth your time.
The main Arequipa's highlight is Plaza de Armas, lined with colonial buildings made of white volcanic rock, palms inducing the relaxed atmosphere, and unmissable Arequipa's Basilica Cathedral and El Misti volcano looming behind.
No wonder that Arequipa's city center was listed on UNESCO World Heritage List.
When walking the streets in the city center of Arequipa, you would have never guessed that this is Peru's second-largest city.
The main square and the streets around still belong to the locals, and this is another reason why Arequipa is popular among the community of street photographers.
Although Arequipa is for sure a tourist place that cannot be missing on any traveler's Peru itinerary, you can still take a camera in hand, photograph the vendors, traditionally dressed women, and embrace the atmosphere you had arrived in Peru for.
Of course, do this activity with respect, and always ask for permission before taking the photo.
Certainly, Plaza de Armas is the hot spot with many tour agencies, but walk only a street or two away, and you will get to a completely different world.
Arequipa is the best explored on foot independently, but if you prefer guided tours to learn more about the city, you can book Arequipa City Tour.
ENJOY A DRINK ON THE ROOF
Arequipa reminded us a bit of Latacunga, a city in Ecuador that is base for hiking Quilotoa Loop but also visiting Cotopaxi National Park.
What had these destinations in common? It was the beautiful surroundings and the fact local hoteliers were aware of it and decided to work with this feature to provide travelers with a new experience level.
What does it mean in reality?
Simply put, when looking for accommodation, you should make sure your hotel has a rooftop, where you can chill after all day sightseeing, enjoy a drink, meet same-minded travelers, and soak in the views.
No worries, if you are a budget traveler, even cheap hostels often have rooftops!
If you are looking for a special dining experience, some of the best restaurants close to Plaza de Armas also offer rooftop views.
BUY ALPACA SWEATER
Alpacas are an inseparable part of everyday life in Arequipa. These animals are very important for local culture and economics as well because many women work as weavers, making sweaters and other goods that you can buy in a souvenir shop.
It is always better to check the quality, though, to make sure you purchase an original.
It is pretty common to see local women in the center of Arequipa standing on the busy squares with their lamas, offering tourists to take a picture for a small fee.
To be honest, we are not fans of this practice, especially if children are involved, but it only depends on your travel style and opinions.
And by the way, you can get a photo of lama or alpaca somewhere else for free.
If you want to learn more about alpacas and the people of Arequipa, head to the museum Mundo Alpaca that is more than recommended to first-time visitors.
SAN CAMILO MARKET
Peru and South America, in general, are famous for colorful markets. If you're looking for an authentic place in Arequipa, you should definitely visit the San Camilo market, which is only a few minutes' walk from the main square.
That you do not plan on buying anything?
It's really not a problem, visiting the market is more about the experience and atmosphere.
Still, you should have cash in your pocket because we are pretty confident that you'll be lured to taste either a fresh juice or a local food served directly from the pot.
We bought incredible avocados for dinner too and were pleasantly surprised by the prices (and we even did not have to haggle).
COLCA CANYON
Colca Canyon is the second deepest canyon in the world, and either a one-day or multi-day trip to the canyon is one of the most popular things to do from Arequipa.
Sitting at almost 3500 meters above sea level, Colca Canyon is also one of the most visited places in Peru, so expect some crowds.
Not only the depth of the canyon is impressive, but you can also see traditional villages, the real Peruvian countryside, and the way from Arequipa to the canyon, which leads across the altiplano, offering views of volcanoes and grassy areas with grazing llamas is truly spectacular.
Add huge flying condors above the canyon's steep walls, and it must be clear that this is something you cannot miss when traveling in Peru.
Even though the Colca Canyon's entrance fee is also quite expensive, you need to pay S/.70 no matter if you plan on visiting the area for a day or longer; it is yet another place where you simply have to close your eyes and open your wallet.
If you decide on visiting Colca Canyon, you have two options on how to get there from Arequipa and many options on how long you would like to spend there.
It is possible to travel by public bus independently to Cabanaconde, the base for hiking in Colca Canyon.
Still, the more popular and more comfortable way how to get there is with a tour.
It is not easy to tell how much time you should allocate for visiting Colca Canyon, as this is highly individual and depends on your preferences.
You can either take a one-day tour from Arequipa; this is the alternative we had opted for as we were short on time.
Check out the Colca Canyon Day Tour here.
Had we been more flexible, we would have opted for the Colca Canyon 2-Day Tour or 3D/2N Colca Canyon Trek.
Our Tip: In case you travel on a really low budget, and cannot afford to visit Colca Canyon, do not despair as Peru has many beautiful canyons which are not that famous, therefore not that expensive.
We also visited Sonche Canyon near Chachapoyas in northern Peru, where the entrance fee costs only S/.3, and the views are similarly spectacular, plus you can combine this trip with visiting pre-Incan Kuelap fortress.
SANTA CATALINA MONASTERY
Visiting Santa Catalina Monastery in Arequipa is for sure not a budget-friendly activity, but for us, it was undoubtedly one of the best things we've done in the city.
The entrance fee is S/.40 per person, plus we recommend you to take an English or Spanish speaking guide who will be able to explain more about the past and today's everyday life in the monastery.
The guide costs S/.20 per small group, and as we met two Australian guys by the entrance, we could share the cost with them.
We know that the monastery entrance fee is pretty steep, especially for Peruvian standards, but it is really worth it.
Santa Catalina Monastery is basically a city within a city. Its streets, blue and red houses where nuns lived, courtyards, and cute squares are incredibly photogenic.
When you enter the grounds, it is easy to forget that only a few moments ago, you were walking the white streets of Arequipa - this is how different the monastery is.
The guided tour took approximately an hour, but once it finished, we decided to walk around the monastery independently one more time to appreciate this architectural gem fully.
During the tour, we learned a lot about the place, but the second round gave us a chance to focus on details.
The monastery was built in the 16th century and was founded by a rich widow Maria de Guzman.
Once women from the upper class walked inside the monastery, and the door shut behind them, they could barely speak to each other; they could never walk out of the city, they prayed most of the time and lived a tranquil, spiritual life.
If you think this sounds more like a prison, being a nun in Santa Catalina Monastery was actually a prestigious thing. Families had to pay a high dowry to ensure their daughters would be accepted.
A family that had a nun in Santa Catalina Monastery usually hoped for the redemption of their sins.
When the city was at its peak, more than 450 nuns lived within its walls, nowadays only about 20 nuns still live inside the walled city, but they value their privacy, and no visitor is allowed to see them.
You can buy your Santa Catalina Monastery ticket here in advance, but the guide will be assigned to you once you enter the grounds.
VOLCANOES
Hadn't Arequipa been nicknamed the White City already, it could have easily been called the Volcano City.
The city is beautifully set in a volcanic chain, and thanks to the closeness to the volcanoes, the city was also built from a volcanic stone called sillar, which proved to be a great building material.
It is only up to you how close you want to be to Arequipa's volcanoes.
You can either watch them when the sun sets, and the slopes are turning red every evening from your hotel's rooftop terrace, or you can see many of them from the viewing platform on the way to Colca Canyon.
The last, but the most challenging way you can see the volcanoes up close is to climb one or two of them (volcanoes near Arequipa are over 5000 meters high, so think about acclimatizing in the city first).
The most famous volcano is El Misti (5822 m). It is the volcano you can see looming behind Arequipa's cathedral on Plaza de Armas; other treks you can do are Ampato Volcano or Chacani Volcano hikes.
It is not possible to hike to the top of the volcanoes on your own, so you need to either reserve your hike in advance online or shop around in Arequipa.
You can reserve the 2-Day Misti Volcano Tour via this link.
The 2-Day Chacani Volcano Tour is available here.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
REACH YANAHUARA VIEWPOINT
It might almost seem that the list of things to do in Arequipa is endless, and this is not far from the truth.
On the other hand, the compact city center's biggest advantage is that most of the top attractions are easily accessible on foot.
This is also the case of the Yanahuara viewpoint. If you want to get great views (the best time to visit is during sunset), escape the crowds, stretch your legs, and wander old cobblestone streets, Yanahuara has it all.
The place is about 20 minutes walk from Plaza de Armas.
We found the area safe, but keep an eye for your belongings, especially if you want to stay after dark. It is your chance to get here one of the most iconic photos from Arequipa - the volcano in the middle of the arch.
VISIT MUSEO SANTUARIOS ANDINOS
Arequipa is a big city, so your assumption that there are plenty of museums is right. But there's one museum that differs from the others and is definitely worth your time even if you prefer outdoor activities.
Museo Santuarios Andinos is famous as a resting place of Juanita.
Inca culture was known for making sacrifices, and to make sure the sacrifice will really work, they often sacrificed not only animals but also humans.
One of them was so-called Juanita, whose body was discovered in 1995 when a glacier covering her tomb high in the mountains melted and revealed the body.
We could hear many stories about human sacrifices from our guides on the Inca Trail or Salkantay Trek, but it is in Arequipa where the story gets the real shape, and you can really imagine the young girl climbing up the mountain, poorly dressed, waiting for her life come to an end.
The entrance fee to the museum costs S/.20 and includes guided service (compulsory).
Except for the artifacts that were found near the body, you can watch a short film about the discovery, and of course, you will see the mummified body later.
It is forbidden to take photos inside; you even have to leave your belongings in the locker before entering the exhibit.
WHERE TO STAY IN AREQUIPA
Arequipa is a popular travel destination, and you won't have a problem finding a suitable hotel or hostel according to your budget and requirements.
Even when traveling on a budget, you can easily find a reasonably priced room in the city center, preferably with a rooftop.
It is also better to book a hotel with English-speaking staff (if you do not speak Spanish) so you can arrange a Colca Canyon tour straightaway.
We've handpicked the three best hotels in Arequipa for every type of traveler. All of them have a perfect location, so you do not have to use public transport or taxis in order to go sightseeing.
Budget | Holidays Hostel Arequipa - Cheap, centrally located hostel offers breakfast, comfortable rooms, and wifi works well, and overall you'll get a perfect price/quality ratio. You can also book your Colca Canyon tour here.
Mid-range | Casa de Avila - Only 400 meters from Arequipa's main square, this hotel is the real gem for the price. It has its own central garden, where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
Luxury | Casa Andina Premium Arequipa - This hotel is a real treat for those who can splurge. Situated in the White City center, this colonial mansion was turned into a hotel with a soul, and the traditional furniture and courtyards are the highlights here.
HOW TO GET TO AREQUIPA
Arequipa is Peru's second-largest city. It is conveniently located either on the way from Nazca - home to famous Nazca Lines - or Cusco to the borders with Bolivia, where travelers often visit Lake Titicaca from Puno (in Peru) or Copacabana (Bolivia).
Because of this fact, it is quite obvious that all bus companies have the White City on an itinerary.
You can take regular, usually overnight buses to Arequipa from all destinations mentioned above without any problem.
Usually, we traveled with MovilBus in Peru, and everything was fine, but the truth is that on the way from Nazca to Arequipa, our bus was involved in a car crash.
Luckily, no one on the bus was injured. Unfortunately, we can't say the same about the driver of a small red car we crashed in.
Arequipa has two bus terminals. One local bus terminal and one serving larger cities and destinations further away.
Those two bus terminals are right next to each other, so it is not confusing at all, and a taxi driver will always drop you off at the right place.
To get on the platform, you will have to pay an additional S/.3 on top of the bus ticket.
If you want to get to the bus terminal later in the afternoon, arrange your taxi (or catch a bus) well in advance because the traffic in Arequipa is terrible and you will most likely get stuck in a traffic jam.
Taxi from the bus terminal to the city center costs S/.7 to S/.10 depending on the time of the day and your bargaining skills.
In case you want to avoid long and tiring overnight bus journeys, Arequipa has an airport so that you can get here quickly from either Lima, Cusco, or other popular destinations in Peru.
SAFETY IN AREQUIPA
Arequipa's city center feels very safe, but don't get fooled.
Although the city has a much better reputation than the capital city of Peru, Lima, the city's calm appearance should not lull you, and it is still better to act like anywhere else in South America.
Keep an eye on your valuables, especially in the center. Do not walk late at night alone around downtown as it will be empty, and you will be an easy target.
Do not show off your expensive camera or phone, and do not hail a cab on the streets, always ask the staff at the hotel, they will be more than happy to help you out.
You can read our in-depth post on staying safe when traveling in South America.
When it comes to your health, do not drink tap water in Arequipa (or anywhere in Peru). If you are a responsible traveler, you might want to consider purchasing SteriPen.
When you plan on making one-day trips, for example, to Colca Canyon or one of the nearby volcanoes, do not underestimate acclimatization.
Arequipa is already 2335 meters above sea level, Colca Canyon roughly 3500 meters above sea level, and the mountains and volcanoes around are over 5000 meters high.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
