Arequipa
Arequipa, Peru's 'White City,' is built from gleaming volcanic sillar stone and backed by towering volcanoes, offering world-class colonial architecture, canyons deeper than the Grand Canyon, and a legendary food scene at a fraction of what you'd pay in Lima or Cusco. Excellent infrastructure, low prices, and a compact walkable center make it one of South America's best-value destinations.
Why go to Arequipa
Santa Catalina Monastery
A sprawling 16th-century walled city-within-a-city painted in vivid blues and oranges, one of the most stunning colonial complexes in the Americas.
Colca Canyon
One of the world's deepest canyons where you can watch wild condors soar at eye level from Cruz del Condor viewpoint at dawn.
Plaza de Armas
A UNESCO-listed baroque cathedral and elegant arcades frame one of the most beautiful main squares in all of Latin America.
El Misti Volcano Trek
Summit a picture-perfect 19,100-ft snow-capped volcano looming directly over the city on a guided two-day climb.
Juanita the Ice Maiden (Museo Santuarios Andinos)
Come face-to-face with a perfectly preserved 500-year-old Inca sacrificial mummy, a genuinely unforgettable and eerie encounter.
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Good to know in Arequipa
- Transit: Colectivo minibuses and combis cover the city for $0.30-0.50 per ride; taxis are cheap ($1.50-3 within the center) but always agree on the fare before getting in, apps like inDrive work well here.
- Tipping: Not obligatory but appreciated, 10% is generous at restaurants; guides expect $3-5/day; rounding up taxi fares is sufficient.
- Tap water: Do not drink tap water in Arequipa; buy large 7L bottles at markets for $0.80 or use a filtered water bottle to save significantly over small bottles.
- Free-entry days: Santa Catalina Monastery offers free entry on December 8 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception); several municipal museums including Museo de Arte Contemporáneo are free on Sundays.