This Peruvian city is colorful, easy to explore on foot, and has a bit of a European feel — we're in love!
Arequipa is known for its white volcanic stone, sourced from the four volcanoes that surround the city and repurposed into so much of the iconic architecture around the city. It's the second largest city in Peru and oh-so charming.
Visit Arequipa During Your Semester Abroad In Peru
Learn more about volunteering here with ILP
We've met so many people who have traveled all over Peru and had rave reviews about Arequipa, saying that they stayed here for a couple of months and never got bored. We love that while you're in the city, most sites are within walking distance from the city center, making Arequipa so easy to explore.
There is so much to do in the surrounding canyons, from hiking Peru's version of the Grand Canyon to white water rafting and soaking in hot springs. A trip here means a perfect mix of city + the outdoors.
Here are some highlights you'll want to fit into your trip:
City Highlights
Plaza de Armas
In Latin America, it's pretty common to find the city center being the heart of the city. It's a great spot to start your day exploring, especially in Arequipa where so many things you'll want to see are within walking distance from this central point.
In Arequipa, the main plaza was designed with every detail in mind. Its beautiful arches and fountains aren't the only good part; this plaza is scattered with delicious restaurants to eat at as well. You can even try the famous "queso helado"... and no, it is not cheese ice cream! It is actually a delicious cinnamon ice cream that our volunteers LOVED. Plus, it's everywhere! You can buy a full serving or simply indulge in free samples. One of our ILP volunteers mentioned, “every five feet there was queso helado. It was never-ending free ice cream!"
Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa
The first thing you'll notice at the Plaza de Armas is the towering white Catholic church, the Basilica Cathedral. It's considered the most sacred church in Arequipa ... and even one of the most beautiful in the country.
Visiting the cathedral is free, but there is a small fee to visit the museum.
Find it on Google Maps.
Santa Catalina Monastery
The Santa Catalina Monastery is a renowned religious complex and a photographer's dream! One of our ILP volunteers even said, "when I say we took probably 500 photos here, I am not exaggerating." This historic monastery is known for its vibrant colors and offers a glimpse into the city's colonial past. You'll absolutely want to come wander under the arches and admire the painted walls.
Be sure to block off at least a couple of hours so that you don't feel rushed wandering the monastery grounds.
See ticket prices and hours here.
Find it on Google Maps.
Mundo Alpaca
Learn a bit more about Peruvian culture by stopping by this textile museum. You can take a tour to get to meet some alpacas — learn how they are raised and how their fibers are repurposed into handicrafts and textiles.
It's free to visit and you might even get an opportunity to feed the alpacas. And don't forget to visit the shop where you can purchase some items of your own. It's conveniently located in the city center (and also within walking distance from the Santa Catalina Monastery), so you're bound to be in the area while you're exploring the city.
See visiting hours on their website.
Find it on Google Maps.
Yanahuara
Yanahuara is a quiet little neighborhood with cobblestone pathways and narrow streets. We highly recommend that you set some time aside to come wander this area because not only is it so charming, but you can get some of the best views in the city here.
One of the main pulls to the Yanahuara district is the scenic viewpoint that overlooks the city and the surrounding volcanos. If you can time it right, it's a nice spot to watch the sun go down!
It's about a 20-30 minute walk from the city center, but we think it's worth it. A lot of travelers even prefer to book their stay out in this part of town, and then walk into the city center for the day. You'll find the Yanahuara viewpoint right in front of a park and next to the church San Juan Bautista. Find the scenic viewpoint on Google Maps.
Mercado Central
Be sure to visit Mercado Central while you are in town! The colorful array of fresh fruits and vegetables is the perfect place to grab a snack and to support the locals. One of our favorite things about this market is that you can get a sample of all of the fresh fruit that you are interested in buying. Be sure to taste test the exotic ones!
Walking Tours
Try a walking tour! Not only is it a better way to learn more about the city and see things you might not have found on your own, but it's a great way to support the community. It's free to join a tour, but you're encouraged to tip your guide.
Day Trip Tours
Colca Canyon
Escape the city for a day of hiking! There's great hiking just outside of Arequipa and it's easy to find 1-day (or even multi-day) hiking tours. If you have time for one hike, let it be Colca Canyon. Think the Grand Canyon, but even deeper!
If you do decide to take on Colca Canyon, be sure you prepare accordingly. Our ILP volunteers took a 2-day hiking tour and despite it being "killer," they also said, "if you're adventurous, I'd definitely recommend it.” They also mentioned you want to bring plenty of water and snacks!
Starting at 14,000 feet of elevation, your group will trek down into the canyon from 10am - 5pm (with breaks for meals of course). Eventually, you will make it down to a vibrant lush green oasis with waterfalls as well as condors soaring around you. Once you hear about the views, the hike doesn't seem so bad right?
Don't worry, after you make it to the bottom, the hiking part is over. After spending the night in a cute little lodge at the bottom of the canyon, your guide will give you mules to ride all the way back up the canyon, which is the perfect opportunity to really soak in the views.
Rafting, Hot Springs + More
Along with great hiking in the canyon, this area is ripe with so much to do. You could spend one day of your trip in the city and the next out enjoying hot springs and thermal baths, rafting the river, or walking through the "White City" filled with incredibly detailed stone carvings.
Our ILP volunteers' 2-day hiking tour included visiting the hot springs within Colca Canyon. There are many places in Peru that you can experience hot springs, but Arequipa came out on top as their favorite place due to the ability to polar plunge in the river nearby, the ziplining, and how clear the water was. It is even better than the hot springs you can find in Aguas Calientes!
Find all kinds of surrounding Arequipa tours here.
Volcano Misti
You will not be able to miss Volcano Misti once you arrive in Arequipa. This huge volcano is bound to catch your eye. Don't fret, it's dormant. Not only do you get to walk soundly knowing you won't become the next Pompeii, but, because of its dormancy, you also can hike Volcano Misti.
If hiking Colca Canyon doesn't seem like the multi-day hike for you, then maybe Volcano Misti is what you’ve been waiting for. Here's a tour company you can look into, but don't be afriad to see if something else seems more fit for you and your group.
Planning Your Trip To Arequipa
Getting Here
Arequipa is a major city in the southern end of Peru so, while it's not off the beaten path by any means, there is quite a bit of ground to cover to get down in this part of the country.
Flights: There's a direct flight from Lima to Arequipa that will get you here in 1.5 hours. It's pretty affordable too (typically around $150 USD roundtrip).
Bus: It is possible to catch the bus down here but just know that the ride is 14 hours from Paracas. This option will save you a bit of money since the tickets are around $40 USD each way, but you're also spending so much time in transit.
Staying Here
There is no shortage of really, really affordable hostels here which is good news for us budget travelers! Here are a few with good reviews to get your search started.
Rumi Wasi Inn — 5 minutes walk from the city center
Pusary — a couple of blocks from the city center
There are some affordable Airbnb stays in Arequipa as well which can be good for a larger group. There are some great options in the Yanahuara district if you'd rather stay in that neighborhood.
See Arequipa While You Volunteer In Peru!
International Language Programs (ILP) has opportunities for college-age volunteers to live abroad with other volunteers — you'll give back by spending time with local kids and really get to immerse yourself into the culture. There are programs all over the world, but we're really excited about our volunteer program in Peru! Learn more by clicking the button below.
