Arequipa is the perfect destination to enjoy a vacation full of nature, adventure, history and delicious cuisine. Designated a World Heritage Site, this city is undoubtedly one of those places you must visit at least once in your lifetime. Here are 8 tourist spots in Arequipa that you must visit.
1. Misti Volcano
Arequipa is home to one of the most impressive destinations for daring travelers: Misti, a 5,822-meter-high volcano that is more than 800,000 years old. It is one of Peru's 16 active and potentially active volcanoes. If you're looking for an adventure-filled plan, we recommend climbing the Misti Volcano. This two-day trek is surrounded by incredible landscapes, and you'll camp at over 13,000 feet above sea level. The view of the Misti crater upon reaching the summit is completely unique.
You can see the Misti from practically any part of the White City, but if you want to trek to the top, we recommend hiring a tour since it is a demanding walk at high altitude. You need to be accompanied by a guide who knows the area and can accompany you throughout the journey.
2. Santa Catalina Monastery
In the heart of the city of Arequipa is one of the great architectural works of colonial Peru. It is the Santa Catalina Monastery, a cloistered convent built in the 16th century and which has more than 20 thousand square meters that you can explore from end to end. Its colorful streets, interesting history, and amazing architecture have made the Santa Catalina Monastery one of the top tourist spots in Arequipa.
How to get there: The Santa Catalina Monastery is located just a few blocks from Arequipa's Plaza de Armas. If you want to visit it on your own, you'll just have to follow Santa Catalina Street (located next to the Arequipa Cathedral Basilica) and continue along it for four blocks. If you prefer, you can join our City Tour in Arequipa, which includes a guided visit to the monastery and other places in the city.
3. Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve
Among the great natural places to visit in the surroundings of Arequipa is the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve. This is the home of the majestic Arequipa volcanoes that we mentioned earlier, of typical Andean plateau animals such as the llama, the alpaca, the vicuña and the guanaco and of large lagoons inhabited by birds such as flamingos.
In addition, in this place you will find the Sumbay Caves, where more than 500 rock art paintings are preserved that are between 6,000 and 8,000 years old. Among the drawings that you can see here, you will find the typical camelids of this Andean region in a resting state.
How to get there: to get to the Salinas and Aguada National Reserve you will have to take a taxi in the center of Arequipa that will take you to Chiguata, 25 km from the city. Once here, you have two options, continue with the taxi to the reserve or make the journey on foot, in an easy walk that lasts around two hours.
4. Yanahura Viewpoint
If you like to see the whole city from above, you have to visit the Yanahuara Viewpoint. Located in the picturesque district of the same name, this viewpoint offers one of the most spectacular views of Arequipa. The city sits at the foot of its three most famous volcanoes: Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu. Another attraction of this place is its characteristic white ashlar arches, which feature quotes from famous Peruvian figures.
How to get there: The Yanahuara viewpoint is located just 10 minutes on foot from the center of Arequipa, so you can easily walk there.
5. Choqolaqa Stone Forest
The Choqolaqa Stone Forest resembles a landscape from another planet—the setting of a Hollywood Martian fiction film or a surrealist painting by Dalí. It is also known as the New Arequipa. Legend has it that one day, its inhabitants stopped respecting their Apus, and as a result, everything turned to stone.
How to get there: From Arequipa, take a five-hour journey to Tisco. In Tisco, you can ask the locals for directions to Choqolaqa, which is about two hours away. Due to the difficulty of reaching the site, we recommend hiring a tour operator that offers this excursion from Arequipa.
6. Sillar Route
One of the main characteristics of Arequipa is the white walls of its most important buildings. This color comes from the material they are built with: sillar, a famous stone originating from the city's volcanoes that has served as a construction element for hundreds of years. If you want to know how this stone is extracted, we recommend taking the Sillar Route, a tour of a quarry on the outskirts of the city where you can also observe the work of carving, milling and mega-carving.
How to get there: there are buses and taxis that take you to the sillar quarries, but also organized excursions, such as our Sillar Route tour that also includes a visit to the Culebrillas petroglyphs.
7. Colca Canyon
When we think of tourist destinations in Arequipa, the Colca Canyon is the first thing that comes to mind. This impressive natural wonder is the main tourist attraction in the region, and for good reason! Located 3,600 meters above sea level,
Colca is one of the deepest and narrowest canyons in the world. You can enjoy the flight of the condor, relax in hot springs, discover the origin of pre-Inca terraces, and sleep under a blanket of stars surrounded by nature.
You can make the trip on your own by taking public buses or taxis, but we recommend taking our Colca Canyon excursion for a more comfortable and complete experience. You can also take a two-day trek through the canyon to see its most spectacular corners.
8. Imata Stone Forest and Pillones Waterfall
The Imata Stone Forest is a place where wind and rain have transformed the rocks into large, natural sculptures. Walking through it is an exciting experience. Nearby is one of Arequipa's most innovative and spectacular tourist attractions: the Pillones Waterfalls. This natural wonder is the perfect place to spend the day taking photos and enjoying the fresh air.
How to get there: These two sites are 145 kilometers from Arequipa, so the best way to visit is to take a day tour, which will take you directly there and allow you to enjoy the experience to the fullest.
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