Peru is a fascinating destination, with incredibly beautiful places and cities with a lot of history. Arequipa is in the south of Peru and is the second most populous city in Peru, after Lima. Located in an area surrounded by mountains, volcanoes, and beautiful landscapes, the city with great history and architecture is a fantastic tourist destination.
The historic centre of Arequipa is a World Heritage Site, declared by UNESCO in 2000, and without a doubt, it is the tourist area par excellence, it is home to numerous historic buildings and monuments. The various scenic and cultural spaces make it a city that receives national and international tourism.
The colonial and republican religious architecture, a product of a mixture of Spanish and native characteristics, stands out in the Old Town and makes this city a very interesting place to visit.
We can highlight 3 areas within the city that are interesting to visit, the Historic District, the Monumental area of Yanahuara, and the San Lazaro neighbourhood, but there are also places very close that are worth visiting, such as Sabandia, La Mansion del Fundador, the Sillar de Arequipa or the Natural Reserve of Salinas and Aguada Blanca.
A little further away is the Colca Valley, an incredible place that you have to take a few days to get to know and enjoy, but that is certainly worth it.
FIND THE BEST HOTELS TO STAY IN AREQUIPA
HISTORICAL CENTER OF AREQUIPA
This area of the Historic Center of Arequipa was declared a Cultural Heritage of Humanity in the year 2000, it has numerous religious monuments, such as churches, temples, chapels, monasteries, and convents of great heritage interest, but also a rich architectural heritage with facades built with volcanic rock from the area, which gives white colour to the buildings and for which the city is known as the White City of Arequipa.
Arequipa Cathedral Basilica
It is undoubtedly the central attraction of Arequipa, located in the historic center in front of the city's Plaza de Armas, its neoclassical style makes it the most important building of its kind in Peru. Its interior consists of three naves, whose right nave faces one of its lateral facades facing the main square, of which it occupies an entire side, where its main facade is located, which is divided by Corinthian columns.
Plaza de Armas of the city of Arequipa
Located in the heart of the Historic Center of Arequipa. The Plaza de Armas is surrounded by churches, museums, hotels, and restaurants, among the most important places that surround the Plaza de Armas, are the Portal of the Municipality, the Portal of San Agustín, the Portals of the Cathedral, and the Cathedral Basilica of Arequipa.
On the terraces of some of these buildings, there are restaurants from which you can have an impressive view of the historic centre enjoying traditional Peruvian food.
FIND THE BEST HOTELS TO STAY IN AREQUIPA
Iglesia de la Compañia
It is another of the most important monuments of the city, related to religion, considered the most important monument of the "arequipeña school". This church of a Peruvian baroque style has an inscription of the year 1698 on its facade, and inside a splendid baroque-style altar. It is one of the places to know in Arequipa.
Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena
The monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena was built in 1579. It is still in activity, it has tours with a tour guide that shows the lifestyle of the cloistered nuns. It is also a place of great interest for its architecture and its mystique makes it worth visiting.
The Architecture of Arequipa. Goyeneche House and Moral House
The Architecture of Arequipa, which mixes Spanish and autochthonous colonial characteristics, makes several constructions of great interest to visit, among the most emblematic mansions of the historic centre are the Casa Goyeneche and the Casa del Moral, samples of the colonial architecture of the time, made of ashlar and with a solar structure, which allows us to appreciate its internal patios.
The architecture of Arequipa is really striking, within the Historic Center there are 246 mansions declared monuments that had domestic use. Of these, 164 are characterized by their solid wide walls made in the manner of a box, with arches and vaults similar to those built in religious temples and monasteries, giving the same robustness and monumentality to these constructions built in the 17th and 18th centuries. and generally used for housing.
FIND THE BEST HOTELS TO STAY IN AREQUIPA
San Camilo Market
Another obligatory stop within the Historic Center of the City is the San Camilo Market. Here you can learn more about the culture and flavours of Arequipa. The market was declared a Monumental Historical Heritage in 1987, which demonstrates its importance within the city.
YANAHUARA MONUMENTAL ZONE
Already leaving the historic centre, 2 kilometres from the main square of Arequipa is the Monumental Zone of Yanahuara, this area of the city is famous for its churches and alleys built in Andalusian style. It has very interesting places to visit, among which are the viewpoints of Yanahuara, Sachaca, and Carmen Alto.
From these viewpoints you can appreciate the city of Arequipa and all its beauty in its surroundings, the viewpoints are undoubtedly one of the places to visit.
The traditional viewpoint of Yanahuara, with its arches made of ashlar, has been upgraded with a glass viewpoint that rises more than 50 meters.
There is also the Mirador de Sachaca, a 19-meter-high viewpoint from where you can see the volcanoes.
But this area is also interesting for its architecture in Andalusian style, its history, and the San Juan Bautista de Yanahuara Church.
SAN LAZARO NEIGHBORHOOD – Picanterías
The Barrio de San Lazaro is located not far from the Casco Historico. It is the ideal place to get to know the best of local and Peruvian food, in addition to seeing a part of the city that offers a lot such as narrow streets, charming facades, and the best "picanterías" in the city.
The Picanterias in Arequipa are spaces dedicated to the preparation, sale, and consumption of traditional food from Arequipa.
NEARBY PLACES OF INTEREST OUTSIDE THE CITY
Arequipa is located very close to areas of interest that are worth knowing if you have time, you can do tours that take a whole day, but they are worth it.
Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve
It is the perfect opportunity to see incredible landscapes and beautiful animals that live in this protected territory, such as llamas, alpacas, condors, vicuñas, and pink flamingos.
You must go in the company of certified guides and take forecasts of the weather because at nightfall the temperature can drop below zero.
You cannot camp in the reserve, but you can visit different places such as the Laguna de Salinas, and the Lagunas de Mejía National Sanctuary, where migratory birds from the northern hemisphere come to rest every year, before continuing on their way south.
Sillar of Arequipa
The impressive walls formed with volcanic material are one of the places to visit in Arequipa less crowded, but more impressive. On this tour, you will be able to see the active quarries of Añashuayco and learn how an entire city was built with this material. That is why Arequipa is known as "The White City".
Sabandía
Valley with the most crystalline natural waters in the region. Here is the Sabandía mill, built and in operation since the 18th century.
Mansion del Fundador
It is located 12 km from the city. Built on the edge of the Socabaya River, it is a residence that belonged to different owners of historical renown in Peru, although it became especially known for being one of the main properties of the Goyeneche family.
COLCA VALLEY AND CANYON
Its surrounding towns are very picturesque and you can meet them on the way to Colca. In this valley, there are also the La Calera hot springs.
Hot springs of La Calera
Located in the Colca Valley, these hot springs offer a source of groundwater that comes from an inactive volcano, so they are nourished with potassium, calcium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, and sulfates that serve to relieve circulatory, muscular, and heart problems. nervous system.
Archaeological Complex of Uyo Uyo
Located near the Colca Valley, this archaeological citadel was the main seat of the political power of the Curacas and is the largest pre-Hispanic village in the region with at least 10 thousand square meters of extension.
It was recognized as Cultural Patrimony of the Nation and has an Interpretation and Information Center where you can learn about its past.
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How to get to Arequipa
Alfredo Rodriguez Ballon International Airport
To get to Arequipa, the city has the Alfredo Rodriguez Battalion International Airport. It is located 12 km from the city centre. The city maintains air connections with cities such as Lima, Cuzco, Juliaca, and Tacna and with international destinations such as La Paz and Santiago de Chile.
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