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Arequipa travel informationWith sunshine all year round and an average temperature of 23C, it’s always spring in Arequipa (2300m). There’s a lovely relaxed atmosphere in this friendly Peruvian city, which makes it the ideal place for a stopover to adjust to the altitude. The city is cleaner and more cosmopolitan than Lima, but still has that distinct Latino vibe and typical Latin-American colonial buildings and churches.The main attraction is the monastery of Santa Catalina, well worth a visit while you’re here. The city is surrounded by several volcanoes (Misti 5821m, Chachani 6075m and Pichu Pichu 5425m). The best way to get around Arequipa is by taxi. They’re dirt cheap so venturing out of the city to explore the surrounding area won’t cost you much. For adventure tours (modules) that best connect to a stay in Arequipa, see our Peru tours page. |
A day in ArequipaEase into the day with a cup of coffee on a balcony cafe overlooking the Plaza de Armas, the central square of Arequipa. From the Plaza de Armas walk through the historic centre and take a look inside one of the many churches and cathedrals, or visit the Santuarios Museum to see the frozen mummy Juanita, the young Inca-girl who met her fateful death in a ritual sacrifice on Mount Ampato over 500 years ago. You’ll be shown a film telling the story of Juanita, which will give you an interesting insight into the Inca religion. After the film you’ll make a tour through the museum, ending at the glass coffin of Juanita.You can also take a taxi to one of the suburbs of Arequipa, like Tingo or Yanahuara for a spicy Arequipeño lunch in one of the traditional restaurants with views of the volcanoes surrounding the city. |
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Towards the end of the afternoon as the sun begins to set, visit the Santa Catalina monastery. As you pass through the gateway you enter a different world. Hidden behind the walls lies a labyrinth of narrow winding alleyways between high red and blue painted walls. To the left and right small secluded courtyards decorated with flowerpots and jugs, prayer rooms with dark crannies, stairways leading nowhere and pretty flower gardens lovingly tended by the nuns living in the monastery. It’s a magical place, especially at this time of day when the glow of the setting sun makes the colours pop out and there are virtually no tourists around. Keep an eye on the closing time though, it’s easy to get lost here. It’s worth booking a guide to take you round the cloisters. They’re usually students who speak good English and can tell you wonderful stories about life in the monastery. Expect to pay around 20 Sol (and add a tip if you like). |
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Even though it’s nice and warm during the day, the temperatures drop as soon as the sun goes down so bring a warm sweater if you’re planning on hitting the town. In the city centre you’ll find lots of little restaurants that serve Peruvian and international dishes. We had dinner at the Peruvian-Swiss restaurant Zig Zag, with a rather eclectic menu including everything from cheese fondue to succulent alpaca. Are Quepay on Calle Jerusalen is another beautiful restaurant in a colonial building with a real tropical atmosphere; lots of plants and flowers, waterfalls, low lighting and ‘musica folklorica’. For a spiritual dining experience head to Govinda on Calle Santa Catalina. It’s run by Hare Krishna and has a very unusual menu. |
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Posadas and colonial casas in ArequipaArequipa doesn’t have a huge choice of nice accommodation with tidy rooms and good service, so the best ones fill up fast. We’ve found a couple of charming hotels, like the pretty colonial posada in the picture on the left. It’s a real gem, with classic iron wrought gates and a courtyard filled with flowers. The light and airy rooms have TV, phone and mini bar and tasteful colonial-style furniture. The posada, run by a very friendly family is just minutes away from the Santa Catalina monastery and the terrace has views across the cloisters with the Misti volcano in the background. Or you might want to stay in one of our ‘casas coloniales’, with flower-filled courtyard, high ceilings and arched doorways and a cosy homely atmosphere. If you’d rather stay in a casa with pool (unheated) or upgrade to a more luxurious hotel, just let us know. |
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