Things to Do in Arequipa

Plaza de Armas is the main square in Arequipa, featuring vibrant gardens, lush palm trees, bird fountains and colonial architecture. The first thing you will notice is how immaculately clean and symmetrical it is. Additionally, you'll be in the best location to explore some of the city's history and important buildings, like government offices, prisons and police stations. On the north side, you'll see the twin-towered Cathedral. Founded in 1612, it was reconstructed numerous times in the 19th century due to earthquakes and fire damage.

If you're looking to relax, chill out at one of the cafes or rooftop bars surrounding the square with a coca tea or Pisco Sour. These rooftop venues are also great for photographers who want a variety of shots, and the mountains set behind the provincial buildings make for an interesting contrast.

Also known as Guagua-Putina, this stratovolcano is located in southern Peru, 11 miles from Arequipa, and stands at 19,101 feet above sea level. The volcano features a symmetric conical shape, characteristic of rotating layers of lava and debris from eruptions. El Misti’s last eruption was in 1985, and is now a popular climbing attraction.

There are two main routes, including the Pastores route and the Aguada Blanca route. Pastores is the more popular choice, as it’s closer to Arequipa. It starts at 10,800 feet, with an overnight stop usually being made at Nido de Aguilas around 14,800 feet. The Aguada Blanca route begins at Monte Blanco camp at 15,700 feet. At the top, you’ll find a large iron cross standing 33 feet tall, which was erected in 1901. While neither climb is particularly technical, both require peak fitness due to the steep sand slopes. These excursions are best done between July and November when the climate is most favorable for climbing.

Located four miles southeast of Arequipa is the Sabandía Mill, built in 1785 as the first mill of its kind in the area. Although the structure fell into a dilapidated state, it was restored in 1973 by architect Luis Felipe Calle, who was so proud of his work that he purchased the building and opened it to visitors.

Inaugurated on Oct. 2, 1580, 40 years after Arequipa was founded, the Santa Catalina Monastery (Monastery of St Catherine) has grown to become a city in itself. In fact, its design resembles the original city streets of Arequipa. especially given the white sillar structures the city is known for. The monastery is also made of ashlar, or petrified volcanic ash, coming from Volcan Chachani which overlooks Arequipa.

Visitors can explore the monastery independently or with a guide, wandering through narrow streets, ambient courtyards, peaceful plazas and ancient churches. Along with the historical churches and chapels, the cloisters are also especially noteworthy; the Main Cloister is the largest in the monastery and features both paintings and confessionals, while the Cloister of the Oranges includes three beautiful crosses residing among vibrant orange trees. You should also explore some of the streets, such as Cordova Street, which has a mix of old and new architecture; Sevilla Street, originally the gateway to the first church of St Catherine; and Plaza Zocodover, where nuns once congregated on Sundays to trade religious handicrafts.

Built around 1730, this large ancestral house is an excellent well-preserved example of baroque-mestizo architecture. The name of the house has nothing to do with ethics, but instead derives from the ancient mulberry ("moras") tree in the central courtyard. Visitors will enter through a white sillar arch adorned with precisely detailed carvings of figures and symbols. For instance, one of the them is a coat of arms made of smaller carvings including a puma, bird, castle and two crossed keys, held up by two angels, while a crown floats above.

Inside, you'll find sculptures, furniture, embellishments and artwork, including pieces from the Cusco School of Painting, one of the most important in American Art. Immersing yourself in this world will make you feel like a wealthy Peruvian during the 16th century. Out back, you can stroll through a small but well-manicured garden that is nice for taking pictures. There is also a small museum focused on Peruvian banknotes, as well as a map collection charting South American development.

Founded in 1648, this Franciscan Convent features four cloisters and 11 rooms. The structure represents a range of architectural styles, from Romanesque to Neo-Gothic. Moreover, a visit to Recoleta Convent is an all-in-one pass to check out the collections of the Archaeological and Anthropological Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Religious Arts Museum. Along with religious works, visitors can explore pre-Columbian and Amazonian art, as well as paintings showing Cusco and Arequipa influence.

If you're interested in expanding your knowledge, the library houses more than 20,000 books, with the oldest volume dating back to 1494. Some points of interest in the convent include Porter Cloister, which features a brick vault, 17th-century furniture, a spacious courtyard and the Cloister of San Francisco, embodying a Franciscan atmosphere through its architecture. The Mission Senate stands as a tribute to Convent Arequipeño Franciscan missionaries, while Senate Alcantarino symbolizes reliquary convent architecture and features white roofs symbolizing the cradle of the Franciscan (Assisi).

While there are many notable museums in Arequipa, the Museum of Andean Sanctuaries (Museo Santuarios Andinos) is one of the best. Visitors can see exhibits that focus on Andes Mountain archaeology and history, such as the world-famous preserved mummy of ‘Ice Princess’ Juanita, a young Inca girl whose remains were only discovered in 1995. Juanita was sacrificed over 500 years ago as part of a Capac Cocha ceremony in which children were sacrificed to appease mountain gods. The child is thought to have been about 11 to 15 years old, and the body is so well-preserved that it has been touted numerous times as one of the world's top discoveries.

The history of Founder's Mansion dates back to the early days when the Spanish first occupied Peru. Originally owned by Arequipa’s founder, Garcí Manuel de Carbajal, it was purchased by Spaniard Juan Crisóstomo de Goyeneche y Aguerreverre and used as a country estate for ecclesiastical and civil dignitaries of the era. As the years passed, the building became dilapidated, until 1981 when it was purchased by a group passionate about Arequipa’s heritage. Visitors can still take in 16th-century architecture, and the mansion is predominantly composed of ashlar stone and thick walls with artwork, numerous vaults, antique furniture and colonial-style rooms.