If you go to Peru you should not miss visiting this city. Here is a list of all the things to do in Arequipa and its surroundings.
Arequipa is known as the White City because it uses a volcanic stone called sillar in some colonial buildings, which gives them that color.
The south of Peru and a large part of central Peru are at high altitudes. Arequipa, in particular, is located a little more than 2,300 meters above sea level. This causes, first, a lack of oxygen, and second, the body to function slowly the first few days, if you arrive from levels close to sea level.
It is an expensive city. The mix of tourism, commerce and production make its economy a little higher than other cities in the region.
The history of colonization has a meeting point with this city, which was recognized as loyal to the Spanish crown and later, UNESCO declared the historic center of the city as a World Heritage Site for its cultural content.
This city was part of the fight for freedom between the local peoples and the Spanish crown. And it still is. Its center is living history. The extension of this center is more than 300 hectares. If you want to go around it all, it will take you a whole day to walk and soak up the magic of the place. It is located in the center and you can see colonial-style houses and life along its small streets.
People dressed in time-worn costumes, in fluorescent colors, like many of the highland towns of South America. "Mamitas" or "Cholitas" in its streets, selling all kinds of crafts, healing herbs, or typical foods.
Here you can visit what, in my eyes, was the most impressive ecclesiastical monument ever seen: the Monastery of Santa Catarina de Siena.
This is another of the things to do in Arequipa. History tells us that this building remained a monastery for women who took their vows, it remained upside down until 1970, and that after that it was opened to tourism, demonstrating a sort of historical, living, spiritual and cultural monument of the city and the region. I would rather say worldwide, due to the number of tourists that can be seen there.
It can be visited every working day, and not religious holidays. The entrance costs 40 Peruvian soles. There are some discounts, but they are only for people born in Peru, and for foreign students. So if you are a traveler, a foreigner and you travel cheap, this attraction may seem a bit expensive to you.
Even so, it is impressive to see its walls from the outside and contemplate such a construction with a claustrophobic feeling.
The historic center is also full of mansions and cathedrals that can be visited. Like the Cathedral of Arequipa and the Church of the Company, two monuments built with different architectural styles and of impressive majesty. Civil and military monuments from those times, some rebuilt for tourism, and no less impressive for that.
As they call the main historical squares in Peru, is beautiful. Every day you will find tourists from all over the world taking photos, something very similar, but on a smaller scale than what happens in the Plaza de Armas in Cusco. This place is another of the things to do in Arequipa that you cannot miss.
Arequipa is in the middle of seven volcanoes. El Misti, el Chachani, el Pichu Pichu, El Sabancaya, el Ampato, el Hualca Hualca and el Coropuna. The most important and characteristic for the citizens of Arequipa is the Misti. And for us too, since it is one of the two that, if you dare and take precautions, you can do a trek to climb. The other is the Chachani.
The Misti is the protector of Arequipa. That's what the locals call it. To be able to climb this natural monster that erupted only 4 times in 500 years (that makes the walk/climb a bit dizzying and calm at the same time).
You have to hire a tour from the city of Arequipa, or go on your own to the neighboring town of Chiguata, 30 km from Arequipa, or to the Aguada Blanca and Salina Natural Reserve and from there start doing a "climbing trek."
It is important, and they will tell you this when you are in the city, that you do not try to go on these treks the first few days you are in the area, because your body needs to adapt to the altitude. El Misti is 5,800 meters above sea level. If you want to do it, you should take these precautions.
This is another of the volcanoes that can be climbed alone (as long as you know how to do these high-risk activities) or by hiring a tour from Arequipa. The average price for a two-day tour is 200 US dollars. This is the famous volcano from which sillar is extracted. This volcanic stone that gives color and nickname to the city of Arequipa.
Chachani can be climbed by hiking. It is not difficult, but as I said before, you have to take precautions, due to the altitude, the lack of oxygen and provisions, since this trek can be done alone (if you are an experienced adventurer in these matters). You go to the side of the volcano from Arequipa. And from there you must walk to the base camp, which is at no less than 4900 meters. And from there you begin to climb when the characteristics merit it.
It is a ravine that is located in the Colca Valley. An impressive mountain valley on the edge of the Andes which can be explored on foot to a viewpoint.
The "La Cruz del Cóndor" viewpoint, as its name suggests, allows you to observe the flight of this bird and enjoy a view that is unique in your life. I do not recommend this trek to people who suffer from altitude sickness or vertigo, because at certain times the cliffs take your breath away.
To go there, you must go to the town of Chivay. It is 30 kilometers from Arequipa and there you can also hire a tour or talk to a local to tell you how to get there.
It is a tributary that cuts the city of Arequipa in two. It has slopes combined with rocks, regional flora and fauna. Some time ago the flow of this river began to grow, and since then adventure tourism began to have more attendance. Because of its rapids, you can do fun rafting trips that will get your adrenaline pumping in a second.
For this, it is necessary to hire them from a tourism company, since it is very necessary to be safe, and take many safety measures such as body and head protection, and someone who knows how to maneuver the boat.
Another thing to do in Arequipa is to visit this beautiful place. It is a National Park in which you will find local fauna. The famous llamas and alpacas. The South American "Bambi." A camelid from the region that is known for generating one of the best wool in the world with its fur. This National Park has the Luicho Salt Flats inside it. A salt lake that unfortunately can only be visited when it has enough water.
I hope you liked these things to do in Arequipa and its surroundings. In itself, this city has a beautiful tourist attraction for anyone who wants to visit it, a relaxed atmosphere for travelers, cultural commerce, with local Peruvian crafts, and world-renowned llama and alpaca wool clothing.
From my point of view, it is a truly tourist city. Most of Peru is, and the white city does not escape these characteristics at all. Tourists come from all four cardinal points to enjoy this historic South American metropolis.
