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What to do in Arequipa?

The center of Arequipa is the ideal place to admire the avenues and alleyways that account for so much of Arequipa’s charm and elegance. Such as Arequipa’s main square – Plaza de Armas, the Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa, It is considered one of the first seventeenth century religious monuments of the city. It is built of sillar (white volcanic stone) with a brick base. Destroyed by fire in 1844, it was rebuilt in 1868 by the Arequipa architect Lucas Poblete. He used a Neoclassical style and placed the entrances of church on the flanking naves. In 2001, the building was struck hard by an earthquake, which seriously damaged its towers. The surrounding streets are filled with well-preserved colonial- and republican-era houses. Over 500 of these casonas still exist within the city proper and the surrounding countryside; notable examples include Casa del Moral, Casa Tristan del Pozo, and the Mansion del Fundador. Architecturally stunning churches line the city streets, but Arequipa is most famous for the world renowned Santa Catalina Monastery.

Monasterio de Santa Catalina, (Saint Kathleen Monastery) a beautiful religious site home to the nuns of the Dominican Second Order that was closed to the public for nearly 400 years. Open today, it offers narrow alleyways and a peaceful plaza and gardens reminiscent of ancient Seville or Granada; enjoy the serene atmosphere as you stroll through them. 

The building exhibits rooms of very different architectural design. One of the areas has established as a gallery to display the canvasses of the Cusco, Quito, and Arequipa Schools. There are other rooms, or sectors, to visit as well, like el Claustro de la Portería (the Gate Cloister), el Museo Precolombino (the pre-Colombian Museum), el Claustro de San Francisco (the Cloister of Saint Francis), etc

Other important places in Arequipa city are, Selva Alegre suburb, Yanahuara lookout, (composed of a series of sillar stone arches where the words of famous Arequipa citizens have been engraved), the Molino de Sabandia, and also the Andinos Sanctuary Museum (Museo Santuarios Andinos), adjacent the Plaza De Armas (Main Square), is another popular cultural attraction in the city. Here, they exhibit la Dama de Ampato (the Lady of Ampato), an Inca mummy of a twelve to fourteen year old girl found at the top of the Ampato volcano by the climber Miguel Zárate, the archeologist José Chávez, and the anthropologist Johan Reinhard on September 8, 1995. According to the specialists, it is very likely that the girl, whose remains were found frozen, died from a blow to the temple from a five pointed granite mace. It seems that she was sacrificed to the Ampato Apu (protector god) some 500 years ago.

Colca Valley and Colca Canyon tour: Just 3 hours and 45 minutes from the capital is the Colca River valley and canyon, one of the most extraordinary destinations in the country. Throughout the region, you can see colorful pre-Incan agricultural terraces still used today for growing quinoa, corn, barley, and wheat. During the pre-Hispanic era, the department was inhabited by the Collaguas and the Cabanas; today, the inhabitants have learned to conserve their Colonial churches in Yanque, Lari, and Madrigal, and they continue to wear their traditional clothing. 

The Canyon is one of the deepest places on the planet, reaching a depth of 3400 meters / 11.155 feet at the lowest point in the location of Canco. On the right side, it is flanked by the Chila Cordillera (Bomboya, Serpregrina, Mismi, Queshihua) and on the other by Mount Hualca Hualca, Sabancaya, and Ampato. You can see Mount Ubinas and beautiful Mount Coropuna in the distance.

You can also do many types of adventure sports in the valley such as mountain biking, trekking, and white water rafting. And, at the Cross of the Condor, you can view the majestic flight of the condors. Other places of interest in the department are the Toro Muerto petroglyphs, the Andagua Valley of the Volcanoes and the Cotahuasi Canyon.

When to visit Arequipa?

Arequipa sits at an altitude of (2335 masl / 7333 fasl) Lowest point: 9 masl / 30 fasl (Punta de Bombón)

Highest point: 4910 masl / 16.109 fasl (Mirador de los Volcanes, Volcano Lookout, – Caylloma). The city of Arequipa has a semi-arid and temperate climate with a maximum temperature of 21.7ºC (71ºF) and a minimum of 6.9ºC (44.4ºF).  The best time to visit Arequipa is during the dry months of June through September. That said, Arequipa averages over 300 days of sunshine every year, so visiting during the so-called rainy season probably won’t spoil your trip. However, it could affect your visit to Colca Canyon. Daytime highs average 20-21ºC (68-70ºF). At night, temperatures typically dip to 10ºC (50ºF), but during June-August may dip to 7ºC (45ºF).

Make sure to bring some warm clothes for the evenings, especially if you’ll be trekking or spending the night in the Colca Canyon.  According to Arequipa experiences, has two tourism high seasons: December-February, when the Latin Americans are on vacation, and May-September, when North Americans and Europeans take their breaks. The busiest time, though, is mid-August, when the city celebrates its founding. If you are planning to be in Arequipa at this time, reserve your hotel room far in advance.

If you plan to travel to Lake Titicaca or to Cusco, Arequipa’s relatively lower altitude makes it an ideal stopover to ease acclimation.