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Arequipa often gets overshadowed by Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu.
But honestly? That is a mistake.
If you are looking for the best things to do in Arequipa Peru, this city gives you colonial streets, volcano views, colorful markets, excellent local food, and one of the best day trips in South America: Colca Canyon.
Known as Peru’s “White City,” Arequipa is famous for its historic center built with sillar, a pale volcanic stone that gives many of its churches, mansions, arches, and courtyards their signature look. The historic center is also recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site because of its unique blend of European and native building techniques.
Arequipa is also a smart stop if you are traveling through southern Peru. According to the official Arequipa tourism site, the city sits at around 2,335 meters above sea level, which makes it lower than Cusco but still high enough that you should take your first day slowly.
Here are the best things to do in Arequipa Peru for first-time visitors.
The best things to do in Arequipa Peru include exploring Plaza de Armas, visiting Santa Catalina Monastery, walking through the UNESCO-listed historic center, shopping and eating at San Camilo Market, seeing Misti Volcano from Yanahuara Viewpoint, trying local dishes at a traditional picantería, and taking a day trip or overnight tour to Colca Canyon.
For most travelers, 2 to 3 days in Arequipa is ideal. That gives you enough time to enjoy the city, try the food, adjust to the altitude, and visit at least one major day trip outside the center.
Plaza de Armas is the best place to start your Arequipa trip.
This central square is surrounded by elegant colonial buildings, arched walkways, cafés, restaurants, and the impressive Arequipa Cathedral. It is also one of the easiest places to understand why Arequipa is called the White City.
Come during the day for photos, then return in the evening when the buildings are lit up and the square feels more relaxed. If you want a deeper look at the city’s historic layout and architecture, the UNESCO page for Arequipa’s historic center is a helpful reference before your visit.
This is also a good place to get your bearings before exploring the rest of the historic center. If you are using maps, translation apps, taxi apps, or checking restaurant reviews, make sure your mobile data is working before you start walking around.
Santa Catalina Monastery is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Arequipa.
From the outside, it may not look huge. But once you enter, it feels like a quiet city hidden inside the city. You will find colorful courtyards, narrow stone lanes, blue and red walls, small chapels, old rooms, and peaceful corners that are perfect for photography.
It is only a short walk from Plaza de Armas, so it is easy to combine with the cathedral, nearby cafés, and other historic center attractions. Arequipa’s official tourism site notes that Santa Catalina Monastery is about a 5–8 minute walk from Plaza de Armas, making it one of the easiest major attractions to add to your first day.
Plan around 1.5 to 2 hours here if you enjoy history, architecture, or slow travel photography.
Arequipa’s historic center is not just pretty. It is historically important.
The city’s old center was built using volcanic sillar rock, creating a unique style that blends Spanish colonial architecture with local Andean building traditions. UNESCO highlights the city’s walls, archways, courtyards, open spaces, and Baroque-style facades as part of its cultural value.
The best way to enjoy it is simple: walk slowly.
Wander through the streets near Plaza de Armas, visit the Church of La Compañía, look for carved stone details, and stop at rooftop cafés for views over the white buildings and volcanoes.
If you like quieter corners, add the San Lázaro neighborhood to your Arequipa itinerary. It is one of the older parts of the city and gives you a more local, less polished side of Arequipa.
San Camilo Market is one of the best places to experience daily life in Arequipa.
Inside, you will find fresh fruit, juices, bread, cheese, snacks, local ingredients, and simple food stalls. It is colorful, busy, and much more interesting than only eating in tourist restaurants.
This is a good place to try local flavors without spending much. Look for fresh fruit juices, empanadas, and regional dishes. If you have a sweet tooth, try queso helado, Arequipa’s famous frozen dessert. Despite the name, it is not really cheese ice cream. As Food & Wine explains in its guide to queso helado, this dessert is usually made with milk, cinnamon, coconut, vanilla, and spices.
Bring small cash, keep your bag close, and go with a curious stomach.
If you want one of the classic views of Arequipa, go to Yanahuara Viewpoint.
This viewpoint is known for its white stone arches and beautiful view of Misti Volcano, the cone-shaped volcano that rises behind the city. On a clear day, it is one of the easiest photo spots in Arequipa.
Yanahuara is only a short taxi ride from the historic center, so you do not need to plan a full half-day around it. Late afternoon is a great time to visit because the light is softer and the city starts to glow.
After taking photos, walk around the nearby streets or stop for coffee before heading back to the center.
Colca Canyon is the biggest reason many travelers add Arequipa to their Peru itinerary.
The canyon is famous for dramatic Andean landscapes, traditional villages, hot springs, and viewpoints where you may see Andean condors flying over the cliffs. It is one of the most popular tours from Arequipa and can be done as a long day trip or a more relaxed overnight trip.
For official destination context, Peru Travel describes Colca Canyon as one of the country’s most impressive natural attractions, known for its depth, scenery, and condor viewpoints.
If you have enough time, I recommend the 2-day, 1-night Colca Canyon tour. A day trip is possible, but it usually starts very early and involves a lot of time on the road.
For travelers who want a slower pace, staying overnight near Chivay or inside the Colca area makes the experience much better. You can enjoy the views without feeling like you spent the whole day in a van.
A travel eSIM is useful here because many tours use WhatsApp for pickup times, location updates, and last-minute coordination. Just remember that signal can become weaker in remote mountain areas, so download your maps before leaving Arequipa.
If you have extra time in Arequipa, consider adding a less obvious day trip.
The Sillar Route takes you to the volcanic stone quarries where Arequipa’s famous white building material comes from. It is a good option if you want to understand the city’s architecture beyond just looking at pretty buildings.
Another option is Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, where you can see lagoons, wide-open landscapes, volcano views, and sometimes flamingos. The official Peru tourism site lists Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve as a protected natural area near Arequipa, known for its high-Andean scenery and wildlife.
These trips are especially good if you already visited Colca Canyon or want something less crowded.
Arequipa is one of Peru’s best food cities.
While Lima is famous for fine dining and ceviche, Arequipa is where you can enjoy strong regional food culture. The best place to do that is at a traditional picantería, a local restaurant serving Arequipeño dishes.
Try:
Rocoto relleno: stuffed spicy pepper
Chupe de camarones: shrimp soup
Ocopa: potatoes with creamy herb and chili sauce
Adobo arequipeño: pork stew, often eaten in the morning
Queso helado: Arequipa’s classic sweet dessert
If you want to understand how important food is to the city’s identity, Peru’s official tourism platform also highlights Arequipa as one of the country’s standout destinations for traditional regional cuisine.
A picantería meal is not just lunch. It is part of the Arequipa experience.
For most first-time visitors, 2 to 3 days in Arequipa is the sweet spot.
Here is a simple plan:
1 day in Arequipa:
Visit Plaza de Armas, Arequipa Cathedral, Santa Catalina Monastery, the historic center, and San Camilo Market.
2 days in Arequipa:
Add Yanahuara Viewpoint, a traditional picantería, and either the Sillar Route or a slower food-and-walking day.
3 days in Arequipa:
Use your third day for Colca Canyon. This is the better option if you want to see the city and still enjoy one major day trip.
4+ days in Arequipa:
Stay overnight in Colca Canyon, explore Salinas Lagoon, or add more hiking and cultural tours.
If you are traveling from Lima to Cusco, Arequipa also works well as a middle stop. It helps break up the journey and gives you time to adjust before reaching higher-altitude places like Cusco.
Arequipa is lower than Cusco, but it is still a high-altitude city. Since Arequipa sits at around 2,335 meters above sea level, take your first day slowly, drink water, avoid heavy drinking on arrival, and do not schedule a hard hike immediately after landing.
For safety, use normal city caution. Keep valuables secure, avoid empty streets late at night, and use official taxis or ride-hailing apps when possible. Government travel advisories, including Canada’s Peru travel advice, recommend caution due to crime, protests, and possible travel disruptions in some areas.
For connectivity, set up mobile data before or when you arrive. A Peru travel eSIM can help with maps, taxi apps, WhatsApp tour pickups, restaurant searches, translation, and hotel check-ins.
This is especially helpful if your Peru route includes Lima, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Cusco, and Machu Picchu, where you may be moving often and relying on your phone for planning.
Yes. Arequipa is worth visiting for its UNESCO-listed historic center, white volcanic stone architecture, Santa Catalina Monastery, Misti Volcano views, regional food, and access to Colca Canyon.
Arequipa is best known as Peru’s White City. It is famous for sillar architecture, Plaza de Armas, Santa Catalina Monastery, Misti Volcano, picanterías, and Colca Canyon tours.
Two days is enough to see Arequipa’s main city highlights. However, 3 days is better if you also want to visit Colca Canyon without rushing.
Arequipa and Cusco are different. Cusco is better for Inca history, Sacred Valley trips, and Machu Picchu access. Arequipa is better for colonial architecture, regional food, volcano views, and a calmer city atmosphere.
You can travel without it, but mobile data makes the trip easier. It helps with maps, taxis, translations, tour pickups, restaurant checks, and staying connected during day trips.
Arequipa is more than a quick stop before Colca Canyon.
It is one of Peru’s most beautiful cities, with white stone streets, volcano views, historic buildings, colorful markets, and some of the best regional food in the country. If you are planning a Peru itinerary, give Arequipa at least 2 to 3 days.
Start with Plaza de Armas and Santa Catalina Monastery, eat at a picantería, watch Misti Volcano from Yanahuara, and save time for Colca Canyon if your schedule allows.
Before your trip, consider setting up a Peru eSIM so you can use maps, WhatsApp, translation apps, taxi apps, and booking confirmations without relying on public Wi-Fi.
