Exclusive Tours in Arequipa

Arequipa is one of the most beautiful cities in Peru. Embark on a history-filled excursion with our guide around the main square and use the city as a base to embark on adventure tours from Arequipa to the Colca Canyon.

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Volcanoes are in sight!

Attractions in Arequipa

Your visit to Arequipa will be filled with Peruvian cuisine, views of volcanoes and white stone colonial buildings, and in-depth exploration of culture and history through its picturesque streets.

Plaza de Armas Arequipa

Arequipa Main Square

Currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the Plaza de Armas, you will see European architectural styles, such as baroque and neoclassical, all with a touch of Andean culture. The best restaurants overlook the Basilica Cathedral, where you’re likely to hear live Peruvian music and have the best views in the city.

Volcan Misti, Arequipa

Misti volcano

El Misti, is a cone-shaped volcano that stands tall and proud in the background of the city of Arequipa. At 19,098 feet (5,822 m) above sea level, it’s impossible not to get a good look at El Misti during your stay in Arequipa. We suggest, a private tour of the city of Arequipa will include a visit to the Yanahuara neighborhood to get the best views of the city of Arequipa framed by its three volcanoes: El Misti, Pichu Pichu, and Chachani.

Skeleton image

Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve

One of the most important reserves in the country, the Salinas Aguada Blanca National Reserve is a protected park on the route to Arequipa and the Colca Canyon. Here you will find lagoons, wetlands, birds, wild vicuñas, volcanoes, and more throughout the scenic landscapes.

Monasterio Santa Catalina, Arequipa

Santa Catalina Monastery

The Santa Catalina Monastery in Arequipa is over 20,000 square miles and is very much a mini-city within a city. In 1579, when it was originally built, it was intended as a monastery for Dominican nuns who built everything they needed within its walls and never left the property.

La doncella de Hielo Juanita

The Ice Maiden Juanita

Juanita’s reputation is due to being one of the best-preserved mummies in the Andes. You can visit his remains at the Museo Santuarios Andinos in Arequipa and learn about his history, his death in the 1400s, and his discovery in 1995 in the snowy mountains of the Andes.

Caคon del Colca

Colca Canyon

Colca Canyon draws us lush green fields and terraced mountain lodges into the depths of the second deepest canyon in the world. Soak in its natural hot springs, rest in one of the picturesquely landscaped hotels, and watch Andean condors soar through Andean skies.

Chivay

Chivay

Chivay is a small town that is considered the gateway to the Colca Canyon. Chivay has an 8th-century Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción located in the main square where you can find villagers in traditional dress and small shops to buy Andean souvenirs.

Picanterias de Arequipa

Picanterias

The cuisine of Arequipa is a delight that cannot be missed on your visit. While all of Peru has delicious food, Arequipa’s secret ingredient is spice. The restaurants where you can try these spicy versions of Peruvian food are known as “picanterías”.

 

Skeleton image

Sillar Route

The impressive walls formed with volcanic material are one of the less crowded places to visit in Arequipa, but more impressive. On this tour, you will be able to see the active quarries of Añashuayco and learn how an entire city was built with this material. That is why Arequipa is known as “The White City”.

FAQs

Located in the department of Arequipa in southern Peru, sharing borders with the departments of Ica, Cusco, Apurímac, Puno, and Moquegua. Its longest border is with the Pacific Ocean.

Tour the city don’t miss the historic Santa Catalina Monastery, spend time in the beautiful central plaza, and learn about Juanita, the Inca Ice Maiden, at the Museo Santuarios Andinos. For lunch, don’t miss the opportunity to try what many consider to be the best local dishes in all of Peru at one of the best restaurants in Arequipa.

Two or three days should be enough to cover the highlights including the Colca Canyon, but you could easily spend a week or more here visiting museums, eating great food, and venturing out into the countryside.

Arequipa sits at 7,660 feet (2,335 m) above sea level and few travelers experience altitude sickness here. However, the road between Arequipa and the Colca Canyon reaches altitudes of 13,100 feet (4,000 m). You’ll notice the difference if you get out of the car and try any strenuous activity, like climbing or running. Stick to the comfort of your car, bus, or van, and you shouldn’t have a problem.

The bus tickets to Arequipa are:
Bus from Lima to Arequipa: 16 to 18 hours in total
Bus from Cusco to Arequipa: 10 hours in total
The following are popular departing bus routes from Arequipa
Bus from Arequipa to Puno (Lake Titicaca): 6.5 hours in total
Bus from Arequipa to Chivay (Colca Canyon): 3 hours in total

From May to November the weather is warm during the day and cold at night, this time is considered a high season full of visitors. Be sure to make accommodation reservations in advance. The end of the rainy season (April and May) is also a good time to visit as the lands will be a brilliant green.

Many towns in the Colca Canyon are higher in elevation than Arequipa (2,335m 7,661ft) and about the same as Cusco (3,400m 11,150ft). Stay hydrated, avoid heavy meals or alcohol on your first few days at altitude, and drink the local remedy coca leaf tea. Give yourself a few days to acclimatize before attempting any strenuous activity.

To get a taste of high-altitude Andean trails, many travelers choose a Colca Canyon trek as a less expensive and less crowded alternative to the Inca Trail. The most popular route starts from Cabanaconde and descends to the oasis of the tourist town of Sangalle.

The average distance from the mountain peaks to the river below is 10,200 feet (3,109 meters). This distance makes Colca one of the deepest canyons in the world. The nearby Cotahuasi Canyon is a few hundred meters deeper.

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