16 Best Things to do in Arequipa, Peru

Things to do in Arequipa Reading Time: 17 minutes

Maybe you’re like me and arrived in Arequipa without doing any research. Now that you’re here, you’re wondering- what are the best things to do in Arequipa? Or maybe you’re planning ahead, saving locations in your Google Maps, and getting excited for your trip. Either way, I’m here to help! Below is a list of 16 things to do in and around Arequipa that you can use to fill your time!

I spent one week in Arequipa climbing volcanoes, visiting canyons, and eating and drinking the most fresh and delicious traditional items in Arequipa. I want to share all of this with you so you can enjoy one of the most beautiful cities in Peru. Even the historical center of Arequipa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Where is Arequipa Located?

Arequipa is in the southwest corner of the country of Peru. It is a 5-6 hour drive from Puno, at Lake Titicaca, and 9-10 hours from Cusco. I actually flew between Arequipa and Cusco, as I found a great deal on Skyscanner.

How Many Days Do You Need in Arequipa?

I stayed in Arequipa for a full week because I don’t like to travel fast, and don’t like to feel rushed. I also have more time to spare. How long you stay in Arequipa really depends on what you want to do and see. You can see everything in the city center within just 24-48 hours in Arequipa.

However, if you want to do some of the excursions, you will need more time. You should also consider rest days in between some of the adventures. For example, if you plan to do a 2-day trek to Volcano Misti, you probably won’t want to be very active the day after you come back.

Is Arequipa Safe to Visit?

Yes, Arequipa is safe to visit. Not once did I ever feel scared or threatened as a solo female traveler. I spent a lot of time walking around all over, in both the daylight and night, and always felt safe.

Where to Eat in Arequipa

1. Super Adobo Arequipeño

Location: C. Alfonso Ugarte 214, Yanahuara 04017

This is a picantería about 10-15 minutes walking out of the main tourist center. It’s in a white corner building. The inside is small, and unassuming, with very eclectic interior design choices. But, the food is some of the best you’ll find in Arequipa, particularly the adobo. One of my dear friends lived in Arequipa for six months, so when she recommended I come here, I listened. It was my first time having adobo in Arequipa, and it was pure magic. Just the right amount of spice, broth so perfectly creamy yet not too creamy. The pork cooked just right. They have a lunch menu for 17 soles (4.50 USD). The adobo was 20 soles (5.30 USD) and came with a hot mate.

2. Picanteria la Capitana

Location: C. los Arces 209, Cayma 04014

This picanteria was recommended to me by the locals I bought my SIM card from on my first day, though I couldn’t try it out until my last day. This seems to be an extremely popular local joint. I got there around 12:30 for lunch and was able to squeeze into a shared table (with a clear plastic wall guard between myself and the two other women at the table) without much problem. When I left 45 minutes later, however, the line was out the door and down the street. Get there early.

I’ll be honest, this was not the best food I had in Arequipa. I paid 22 soles (6 USD) for the rocoto relleno (meat stuffed pepper), and 5 soles (1.35 USD) for a chicha that tasted a bit fermented. The food came out quickly, like reheated leftovers, and lacking a bit of salt. So, why, you are probably asking yourself, am I recommending this place to you? Pure experience!

It’s a fairly large place, and the faded white walls are covered with magic markers letting you know who ate there, when, where they’re from, and what they ate. Fake plants abound. I spotted a couple of other foreigners around, but it was mostly locals. By the line outside, you’ll see it has made quite a name for itself.

3. Prana Vegan Club

Location: C. Ugarte 109, Cercado 04001

Okay so you’ve eaten at La Capitana and had your local experience, but now you want to find where all the foreigners are at. Head to Prana. It’s right in the center, and easy to find. Just head up the spiral staircase once you enter the building and you’ll be met with the sounds of English, German, and French all along the beautiful terrace. The food is good and affordable. You can get fresh juices or smoothies. The lunch menu can be 12 or 15 soles (3-4 USD) depending on which entree you choose, but it also comes with a side, a drink, and an unlimited salad bar. The salad bar is simple, with just two plates of sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and beetroots. Unfortunately, I only had time to come here once, but I thought about it at least 5 other times.

4. Chelawasi Public House

Location: Campo Redondo 102, Arequipa 04001

Once again, this was another recommendation from a friend who spent some time in Arequipa a few years ago. It’s in a cute area of town, surrounded by other restaurants and cafes, just north of the main city center. This brewpub did not disappoint. I’m a big fan of craft beer, particularly IPA, and I was not let down. The waitress recommended the Pulpa Ficcion Double IPA by the local Melkim Brewery, and I’m so glad she did. I got some croquetas arequipeñas to go along with my beer while watching the highlights of the American soapbox derby racing on the TV.

Cultural Things to do in Arequipa

5. Plaza de Armas on Sunday Morning

Location: Plaza de Armas

On my last morning in Arequipa (a Sunday) I heard drums and banging around 8 am while I was on the rooftop waiting for breakfast. I asked the owner of the hostel what the sound was all about and she told me there is a parade every Sunday morning. Sectors of the military march around the square and then down the surrounding streets. I witnessed this part as the crowd marched toward me, knees high and guns on shoulders, while getting in my taxi to head to the airport. I wish I had known sooner so I could have seen it from the Plaza de Armas. Try to arrive there around 7:30 am.

6. Mercado San Camilo

Location: C. Perú 416, Arequipa 04001

This is a pretty typical market one might expect to find in South America. It has everything. From flowers to trinkets, to hundreds of types of potatoes, meat, fish (even fresh shark), cheese, hats, but best of all, it has juice stands.

On the market’s east end, you can find several juice stands in a row, all raised on a slight platform. You can choose whichever fruit type you want and blend them all. You can choose to get it blended with water, OJ, or milk. There are even specialty juices with beer.

The woman will peel the fruits in front of your eyes, blend them all together, and hand you a beautiful glass container to enjoy on the spot (you can get it takeaway if you prefer). But if you stay, you can hand the glass back to her upon finishing, and she will refill your glass with everything that is still left in the blender, which is essentially an entire second glass.

7. Monasterio Santa Catalina

Location: Santa Catalina 301, Arequipa 04001

The entrance is 40 soles (11 USD) and can be paid with a credit card. From the outside, it looks simple, but it’s actually massive inside. The paths lead you further into what feels like a mini village with brightly painted red walls, and a courtyard with bright blue walls. You can pay extra for a guide if you would like, but my mind wanders too much to be able to follow a guide for too long. I was perfectly fine just to wander in and out of the alleyways, courtyards, and small rooms on my own.

8. Mundo Alpaca

Location: Alameda San Lázaro 101, Arequipa 04001

Is this place a bit gimmicky? Yes, it is! Are the clothes in the shop beautiful yet extremely expensive? Sure are! But, it’s worth it for a quick meander through the area. You can see various types of alpacas that are living on the grounds, and feel the different types of wool that each animal makes. Inside the building, there are giant piles of wool you can pick up and compare with other wool. Continuing further into the building you can see the way the wool is spun into thread, and then how that thread is used to weave beautiful sweaters, scarves, and other items.

9. Mirador de Yanahuara

Location: JF75+282, Miguel Grau, Yanahuara 04017

Not far from Super Adobo is the Mirador de Yanahuara, so you might as well get lunch first and then head up to the scenic outlook point. From this point, there is a great view of the Volcano Misti and Volcano Chachani, as well as a view of the entire city. This is an Arequipa must-see. Several porticos are offer great Instagram-worthy shots. Next to this lookout is a beautiful plaza full of palm trees and ice cream sellers. It’s a great spot to try the famous Arequipa queso helado (yellow ‘cheese’ ice cream).

10. Museo Santuarios Andino

Location: C. la Merced 110, Arequipa 04001

This museum is known for the child Juanita, who was sacrificed 500 years ago. Her body was found mummified in ice in 1995. I did not go to this museum, though it is an option for things to do. The reviews on Google Maps are not kind and describe the tour as rushed, with a required additional price for a guide, and expected tips after a 30-45 minute tour.

Excursions from Arequipa

So you’ve exhausted all the things to do in Arequipa. Now what? There are several excursions and Arequipa tours that will take you to the areas outside of the city limits. You’ll need a guide to do the majority of these activities.

11. Salinas and Aguada Blanca Reserve Tour from Arequipa

The nature of Peru is truly breathtaking and looks just like a postcard. This 8-hour tour will take you outside of Arequipa to visit the Salinas (salt flats) and the Aguada Blanca National Reserve. Along the journey, you’ll also pass by other nature spots such as the Volcano Misti and other lakes.

12. Tour along the Sillar Route

This is a 5-hour tour that brings you from Arequipa and along the Ruta del Sillar, one of the most historic roads. On this tour, you’ll have a chance to see masons working with the white stone found in the region. You’ll also have the chance to visit a canyon with unknown petroglyphs on the stones.

13. Chili River White Water Rafting

Head outside of Arequipa to the Chili River to ride class II, III, and IV rapids. Beginners are welcome on this tour. Due to the weather, the best time to do this tour is from April to December. The total time on the river is about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

14. See the condors in Colca Canyon

There are many ways to reach the Colca Canyon, but most of them involve joining a tour. You can do a full-day tour, or join multi-day trekking tours. I did the full-day tour, which you can read about in my blog post below. It was beautiful but also a very long day!

Read more: What the Colca Canyon Full-Day Tour is Like

15. Climb Volcano Misti

Climbing Volcano Misti was one of the most physically difficult things I have ever done in my entire life. But I loved every second of it! It was a huge challenge, and I felt so proud after I did it! We spent two days hiking up the side of the volcano and spent the night at the base camp. Truly incredible sunset up there. Be prepared for the altitude.

Read more: Volcano Misti was the Hardest Climb of My Life

16. Two-day excursion to the Chachani volcano

Like Volcano Misti, this is a 2-day tour climbing up the side of Chachani, one of the massive volcanoes outside of Arequipa. You’ll spend the night at the basecamp and continue the climb to the peak early the next morning. Be prepared for the altitude.

How to Get Around Arequipa

The best way to get around Arequipa is by foot. The town is not that big or overwhelming and you can easily reach all the main spots by walking. There are also taxis readily available and can be easily found on most streets if you prefer to not walk to the further spots, like the Yanahuara Mirador.

Is Arequipa Worth Visiting?

I went to Arequipa with zero expectations. I didn’t do any research beforehand but started there first as it was the cheapest flight from Argentina. After spending a week in Arequipa, I can say that it is absolutely worth visiting. The town is so cute with a lot of charm. There are a ton of great eating options from local to trendy. There are also a ton of cool tours and expeditions from Arequipa that I was very happy to have done.

Where to Stay in Arequipa

Pusary Hostel

This hostel is centrally located, just a couple of blocks from the Plaza de Armas. There is a terrace bar on the roof, and breakfast is included.

Check availability and book your stay in this centrally located hostel

La Puerta Del Sol

This hotel is located just outside the city center. The hotel is modern, and clean. You can enjoy the included breakfast on the rooftop terrace with a great view. Very reasonably priced for what you get.

BOOK NOW for this beautiful Arequipa Hotel

Acolpacha Tambo Boutique

This is a beautiful boutique hotel, located 10 minutes from the center of Arequipa. Breakfast is included. The hotel has a restaurant, bar, and rooftop terrace. This boutique hotel is very stylish and has a center courtyard.

Check availability to stay in this boutique hotel in Arequipa

Things to do in Arequipa Final Thoughts

Despite being a fairly small town, there are many things to do in Arequipa. Try the local cuisine, check out the views of the city, walk around in an old monastery, and challenge yourself to a physical battle with yourself on the side of a volcano. I stayed for an entire week in Arequipa and was never bored for a second. I hope this article has helped you find what to do in Arequipa.

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