Arequipa is a beautiful city located in southern Peru, known for its stunning colonial architecture, vibrant culture, and breathtaking natural landscapes. The city is often called the “White City” due to the extensive use of white volcanic rock called sillar in many of its buildings.
One of the main attractions in Arequipa is the historic city center, which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Plaza de Armas is a must-see attraction, with its beautiful cathedral and colonial buildings that showcase the city’s rich history. Another interesting neighborhood to explore is the San Lázaro district, known for its colorful streets and traditional handicrafts.
For nature lovers, the Colca Canyon is a popular destination located just a few hours from Arequipa. It is one of the deepest canyons in the world, and visitors can see Andean condors soaring over the canyon’s stunning landscapes. The Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu volcanoes are also visible from the city and provide a stunning backdrop to its already beautiful scenery.
Visitors can also enjoy local cuisine, which is known for its unique flavors and influences from the indigenous cultures and Spanish colonialism. Some of the most popular dishes include rocoto relleno, alpaca steak, and chupe de camarones.
Overall, Arequipa is a city full of history, culture, and natural beauty, offering visitors a truly unforgettable experience.
According to the agreed schedule (morning shift starts at 9:00, afternoon shift starts at 2:00 pm), we will start the city tour in the white city of Arequipa by picking you up from your hotel in our transportation to the main square of the city. There, we will board our panoramic bus and begin the journey through the historic center of the city, enjoying panoramic views and visiting its main tourist places, such as the Main Square and the San Lázaro neighborhood. During the tour, we can make short stops to get off the panoramic bus and enjoy the place, with the main stops being the district of Yanahuara and its famous tourist site, the Yanahuara viewpoint. From there, you can appreciate the wonderful portal of the traditional church with the background of the highest volcano in Arequipa, the Misti live crater.
After this short stop, we continue our journey to the Carmen Alto viewpoint. This place offers views of archaeological terraces along with the vegetation of the area, as well as the three imposing volcanoes of Arequipa, such as Misti, Chachani, and Picchu Picchu. After visiting the Carmen Alto viewpoint, we head to the mini zoo of Incalpa, where we will get to know the 4 South American camelids (llama, alpaca, vicuña, and guanaco).
To finish our panoramic bus tour in Arequipa, we will visit the ancient Sabandia Mill (considered an architectural jewel) surrounded by hundreds of trees, a beautiful waterfall that with its force moves the past stones of the old mill to grind. In that same place, we can also observe a collection of cacti, flowers, and plants of the area. This attraction is located 20 kilometers from the center of the city of Arequipa. After finishing this tour, we will return to the center of Arequipa and end our panoramic bus tour there.
