Welcome back to our Peru series! We’ve already talked all about Peru’s vibrant capital, Lima, and the wonders of hiking to Machu Picchu, but this week we’re going to a city that’s a bit more under the radar: Arequipa.
Arequipa is located in South-Western Peru, and is just a short flight away from both Lima and Cusco. On our itinerary we went from Lima to Arequipa to Cusco which was a great route and definitely helped with altitude acclimatization. I absolutely loved the local, quaint feel of Arequipa. It truly felt like an under-the-radar hidden gem of a city filled with delicious food, gorgeous volcanic mountains, and beautiful colonial architecture. You really can’t go wrong with a visit to Arequipa, and in this article I’ll show a few of our favorite things that may inspire you to head off the beaten path in Peru!
1. Colca Canyon Hike
I know it’s kind of counter intuitive to tell you to go to Arequipa just to leave Arequipa, but I truly believe that no trip to Arequipa is complete without Colca Canyon. It is the world’s second deepest canyon with beautiful views and unique flora and fauna. We wrote a whole article about our experience, which you can check out here. It’s a two day adventure if you’re up for the hike, but you can also take a day trip just to see the canyon and try and catch a glimpse of the largest flying birds in the world, Andean Condors.
2. Plaza de Armas
The Plaza de Armas is the main square in the old town of the city. It is beautiful and lined with arched walkways and a gorgeous church. This whole area of the city is filled with colonial architecture. Thinking about the dark side of colonial history, it can make some of these churches and buildings feel eerie, but we try to appreciate the city for what it is and how the city has developed into the vibrant place it is today.
3. Santa Catalina Monastery
This monastery was something that every blog and article I read said to do in Arequipa. It looked pretty, and I was excited, but I did not expect to enjoy it nearly as much as I did. We had planned to just walk around, so we paid our entrance fee and said no to the women offering tours at the beginning, but after walking into one room and having no idea what on earth its significance was, we decided it might be worth it to cough up the $10-12 per person for a guide. We ended up spending hours walking around the monastery with our guide who was incredibly knowledgeable and a pro photographer willing to take pictures of us in pretty much every part of the monastery. I highly recommend visiting the monastery, and if it’s in the budget, a guide makes all the difference for this experience!
4. Rooftop bars
Arequipa is known as a city surrounded by volcanoes, most notably Misti Volcano, which resides just outside of the city. The perfect way to view them is at sunset from one of many rooftop bars in the city. There seems to be an endless supply of incredible views in Arequipa, but my personal favorite is Sunset Rooftop Bar. It is actually located on the top floor of a small hotel/hostel on an unassuming corner. It is honestly a bit confusing to locate, there is another rooftop bar across the street and the entrance is certainly not clear, but just trust Google Maps and walk in, and you will not be disappointed. It is small, cozy, and unbelievably chill. There are a few tables, lots of plants, and incredible pisco sours. The sunset does not disappoint, and it’s a great way to relax during what is inevitably a very adventurous Peru trip!
5. Mercado Central
This market is definitely my favorite in Peru, and maybe my favorite… ever? This market captures the energy of the city and offers some of the freshest produce and most delicious street food you could ask for. We actually visited the market multiple times during our time in Arequipa for the yummy food and vibes. The smoothies are out of this world, I loved the one with mango and papaya. There were also some super tasty saltenas and empanadas for really affordable prices (think <$1). However, the shining jewel of this market is an older woman standing by one of the doors with a large silver contraption filled with… coconut ice cream. It’s typical of Arequipa and called queso helado, and it may be one of the best frozen treats I’ve ever had. It is made with condensed milk, coconut, and cinnamon, and the lady at the market has won awards for her innovative churning method. She basically has a metal bucket filled with ice and salt with another metal bowl on top and she shakes it around until it freezes then scrapes down the sides fresh for each cup ordered. If you try one thing at the market, or in Arequipa for that matter, it should be this!
6. Incredible, Innovative Restaurants
Peru is of course known for having some of the best food and best restaurants in the world, and Arequipa is no exception. We ate so much good food in Arequipa, and I don’t think you can really go wrong wherever you eat. Some of our favorites included a Thai-Peruvian fusion place that is beautiful with incredibly flavorful food called Kao Thai and Peruvian Cuisine, a pizza place with life changing strawberry milk called 13 Monjas, and Las Gringas which has great food and even better vibes in their outdoor courtyard. For those on a stricter budget, you can’t go wrong with street food like empanadas, chicharron, or super affordable smoothies.
7. Gorgeous Cobblestone Streets
Lined with shops and… glasses?? When we first arrived, we were surprised by all of the glasses shops lining the streets, but apparently it is…. Don’t worry, there are a bunch of other shops that sell non-glasses goods, and we spent hours just strolling and enjoying the city.
9 ¾ . Hiking a volcano
Something I can’t necessarily recommend, because we didn’t do it ourselves, but what seems super cool is hiking one of the three volcanoes (Misti, Chachani and Pichupichu) surrounding the city. They are high elevation, technical climbs that are recommended to do with a guide. These hikes are multi-day and require camping on the mountain. Overall, it seems tough, but awesome. Our guide for our Colca Canyon hike had climbed Misti Volcano multiple times.
Closing thoughts
Arequipa was truly one of our most favorite destinations in Peru. There is so much to do and explore both in the city and out in nature. The food is outstanding and the people are friendly. It is an incredible destination that is worth visiting, especially if you’re looking for a unique experience a bit off the major tourist path.
Love Always,
M+E