Things to Do in Arequipa, Peru

Quick facts: More than 450 years have passed since the convent opened, and it once housed up to 450 nuns at its peak. The complex covers 20,000 square meters and feels like a colorful, peaceful mini-city with narrow streets and courtyards.

Highlights: One cool secret is the bright red-orange walls, made with a natural pigment called "sillar," that give the whole place a warm glow in the sunlight. You can explore rooms frozen in time: kitchens, chapels, and nun cells still display original 16th-century furniture and wall frescoes.

Quick facts: The canyon carves through volcanic rock and plunges over 3,400 meters, nearly twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. It homes over 70 species of birds, including the majestic Andean condor with a wingspan exceeding 3 meters.

Highlights: Massive terraces built by pre-Incan peoples stretch for miles along the canyon walls, showcasing ancient agricultural ingenuity. At sunrise, the thermal winds create a perfect flight corridor for condors, often seen soaring just meters above visitors' heads.

Quick facts: Brightly colored colonial buildings frame the main square, originally designed as a Spanish military parade ground. The central fountain, made from black volcanic stone, quietly splits the plaza into four distinctive sections.

Highlights: The square’s perimeter features 16 arched porticos, each with shops selling everything from alpaca wool to local spices, combining commerce and culture seamlessly. Native plants and carefully maintained gardens create a surprising oasis, inviting visitors to linger on benches beneath oversized eucalyptus trees.

Quick facts: A massive structure made from white volcanic sillar stone, the cathedral towers over 70 meters high at its tallest point. Inside, visitors can admire a grand organ dating back to 1744 that still fills the space with music during special ceremonies.

Highlights: Look closely and you'll find that the cathedral's twin bell towers contain 11 bells, each named and tuned to specific musical notes for harmonious ringing. The main altar features an enormous statue of the Virgin Mary carved from a single block of alabaster, giving it a ghostly glow under candlelight.

Quick facts: Overlooking the city from about 2,390 meters above sea level, the spot offers a panoramic view that captures Arequipa's colonial rooftops and the towering volcanic silhouette of El Misti. Its distinctive white volcanic stone arches, known as "miradores," were carved by local artisans using sillar, a lightweight volcanic rock native to the region.

Highlights: Admiring the sunset from the arches reveals how the orange-pink hues of the sky melt into the white walls, highlighting the intricate craftsmanship of the colonial era. Local vendors often sell colorful textiles nearby, inviting visitors to soak in both visual and cultural textures in one spot.

Quick facts: Rising 5,822 meters above sea level, this stratovolcano dominates the Arequipa skyline with its symmetrical cone shape. Despite its majestic appearance, it is an active volcano with historical eruptions recorded as recently as the 15th century.

Highlights: Climbers often witness glaciers shimmering near the summit, a rare sight in the tropics that mixes fire and ice in a dramatic contrast. At night, the stars above the peak are incredibly vivid, captivating trekkers who camp near the crater rim around 5,000 meters elevation.

Quick facts: The site features water wheels that have been grinding grain since the colonial era, powered by the Chili River. Visitors can see traditional milling techniques using volcanic stones, a method still employed today.

Highlights: The mill operates using three large, wooden water wheels each over 7 meters in diameter, turning slowly with the river's current. Hearing the rhythmic grind while sensing the fresh air scented with flour dust creates an almost hypnotic atmosphere.