Arequipa is a beautiful colonial town in the south of Peru. It is known for the white stone that much of the city is constructed with. The courtyards throughout the town, full of restaurants and bars, create intimate moments. These spaces make an intricate maze that is incredibly interesting to explore. You can truly spend a whole day wandering in and out of the historical center buildings to find different rooftops, courtyards, shops, and restaurants and discover the various things to do in Arequipa.
3 hours outside of Arequipa is the Colca Canyon. The canyon is the second deepest in the world (much deeper than the Grand Canyon in the United States) and attracts visitors with its world-famous condor viewpoints, charming small towns with rich culture, relaxing thermal baths, and abundant trekking opportunities. The main towns of the Colca Canyon region are Chivay, the cultural center of the area, and Cabanaconde, the trekking hub of the area.
While hiking is one of the main reasons to visit the Colca Canyon, this guide discusses the other things to do in the region and how to slot in the hiking around these other activities.
Logistics for Visiting Arequipa
Getting to Arequipa, Peru
Even though Arequipa is the second largest city in Peru, you will still need to take a bus or a plane from Lima, Cusco, Puno, or other cities in the region. In terms of flying to the city, the airport of Arequipa is a small 4-gate terminal located north of the city. Many people fly into Arequipa from Lima or Cusco.
Look into various flight options for visiting Arequipa.
The other option is taking a bus. If you are coming from Bolivia or Lake Titicaca, there is a bus option from La Paz through Peru Hop. The advantage of taking Peru Hop is that they will drop you off directly at your accommodations. Other buses will go from different towns in Peru to Arequipa as well, including from Cusco. If you go with a different bus company, the cost may be cheaper than Peru Hop but they will drop you off at the main bus station of Arequipa, the Terminal Terrestre in the southern part of the town.
Check into different bus options for getting to Arequipa.
Where to Stay in Arequipa
The town of Arequipa is relatively small and the historical center is where most of the tourist activities are located. It is best to stay as close to the historical center as possible. Selva Alegre and Vallecito are two neighborhoods near the center where you can find many hostels, hotels, short-term rentals, etc. If you stay close to the Plaza de Armas, you will be right on the action of nightlife, restaurants, and bars.
Looking for where to stay for in Arequipa? You can check out various hotels here.
A 4+ Day Itinerary with Things to Do in Arequipa and Colca Canyon
This guide is a starting point to exploring the region. The town is full of beautiful architecture so wandering through the town is half of the best things to do in Arequipa and beyond. Below you will find some of the most significant things to do in the town to give you the best idea of local culture.
Day 1
Walk around the city center of Arequipa and try out the local restaurants in the town
Day 2
Head to Colca Canyon and take in the beautiful nature
Day 3
Take a tour of the Colca Canyon area to see the highlights
Optional Day 4-7
Colca Canyon hike days (optional)
Final Day
Return to Arequipa for some final exploration of the town, including visiting some musems
The Top Things to Do in Arequipa, Peru
A Walking Tour of the Main Cultural Icons of Arequipa
Once you have arrived in Arequipa, you will want to learn about the city through a “free” walking tour with Free Tour Arequipa. The tour talks about the different important sites of the historical center of Arequipa. You will visit one of the many churches in the city and your tour guide will tell you the hours of the other beautiful monuments so you can go back to visit them. In addition, this tour is great for learning about different bars and restaurants in the area where you can get some authentic Peruvian or Arequipan food, including guinea pig (cuy), “cheese” ice cream (queso helado), or chocolate.
Some Restaurant Options in Arequipa
There are numerous great restaurants in Arequipa such as Zig Zag which offers delicious meat, El Fuego de San Antonio which serves traditional Arequipan food, and Kao which is a delicious Thai Peruvian fusion concept. These are just a few of the amazing restaurants in this town!
Other Things to Do in Arequipa
- Monasterio de Santa Catalina which can be self-guided or with a professional guide available at the entrance. This is truly a must-visit!
- Mirador Yanahaura for amazing views of the volcanoes towering above Arequipa
- Basilica Catedral de Arequipa which can be visited during the day with a guide or for free after 5 pm
- Mercado San Camilo where you can buy local products or even sample the famous local dessert of Queso Helado from Senorita Rosita on the second floor
Visiting Colca Canyon from Arequipa
Colca Canyon is a main attraction located outside of Arequipa. It is an amazing place to take in the local countryside or even do some multi-day hiking through the canyon. If you are hiking into the canyon on a one-, two-, or three-day adventure, you will want to get to the region the day before your hike and be prepared to start your early the next morning.
Visiting Colca Canyon from Arequipa with a Tour Group
If you do want to visit the Colca Canyon with a tour group, the tours typically pick you up from your hotel around 3 AM. These one day tours are packed with with sites and start and end in Arequipa, so you do not have to find another accommodation in Colca Canyon. Stops include the Mirador de Patapampa to see the amazing Andean Mountains, Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve to see some wildlife, and the Condor’s Cross to see the amazing condors flying over the canyon. Tours often include breakfast and lunch. While you can reserve the tour in person when you are in Arequipa, you can also reserve this type of tour online in advance here.
Spending a Few Days in Colca Canyon to Explore
If you want more time and flexibility with visiting the Colca Canyon area, you do not have to take a transportation so early in the morning. The majority of the transportation options to Colca Canyon will depart in the morning and arrive in Chivay (the main town in the region) in the afternoon.
This will allow you to walk around the small town and enjoy the sites such as the Plaza de Armas and Puente Inca. There are also plenty of restaurants near the main plaza to try out and one great lunch option is Polleria Tiznao.
Finding a Tour of the Colca Canyon
You can stop in at some of the tour agencies in Chivay to coordinate a group tour of the Colca Canyon. Some of these tour agencies will be able to add you to a longer tour group (going from Puno to Arequipa for example). Other tour agencies have tours that start and end in Chivay. Both of these tour types cover the same viewpoints in the Colca Canyon.
If you are traveling with a small group and want more flexibility, you can coordinate a full-day tour where a taxi will take you on an extended tour of the Colca Canyon, which includes a small hike.
If you are continuing on a hike in the Colca Canyon later in the week, you will want to talk to the agency about your use of the Colca Canyon Boleto Turistico. Every person entering the Colca Canyon must pay 70.00 Soles to receive a ticket that is checked throughout your trek and at some checkpoints along the road through the canyon. The tour agency can help coordinate the purchase of the ticket and ensure the proper entry and exit of the canyon to maintain the validity of the ticket. (While the ticket is valid for 7 days, it is unclear if you can exit and re-enter the canyon area on the same ticket.)
What to do in the Colca Canyon
Top Things to do in Arequipa: A Day Tour of the Colca Canyon
The tour of Colca Canyon is one of the top things to do in Arequipa. If you are departing from Arequipa for a full day group tour, the tour typically starts at 3 AM to provide sufficient time to get to the canyon area. You can also take the tour directly from Chivay, the main town of the Colca Canyon, in which case the tour will start a little later in the day. Different groups may or may not differ from what is below. However, all groups stop at the major tourist attraction of the Mirador Cruz del Condor to see the condors flying overhead. Finally, to visit the canyon, you will have to purchase a Boleto Touristico (tourist ticket) for 70.00 soles (in 2024). It may be provided in your tour or you can purchase it along the tour route. You will also need the ticket if you are doing a multi-day hike through the canyon.
Sample Tour Stops Throughout the Canyon
- Stop in the small town of Yanque to view traditional dancers and go into the Iglesia Inmaculada Concepcion. If the volcano is active, from this town, you may even see smoke coming from Volcan Sabancaya in the distance.
- Visit a few viewpoints to see the canyon with the pre-Incan terraces lining the hills above the Rio Colca.
- Spend an hour at the the Mirador Cruz del Condor, which is the main attraction to see the incredible condors flying above the Colca Canyon. The morning and the late afternoon are the optimal times to see the condors because food is left out for them.
- Do a a small hike at Mirador Cruz del Cura
- Explore the town of Maca where you can explore the shops to purchase local products and visit the Iglesia de Santa Ana.
- Some tours include breakfast and lunch
Hot Springs in the Colca Canyon
In the evening the temperatures drop and it is a great time to visit one of the popular hot springs in the canyon. People usually choose to visit Aguas Termales la Calera near Chivay, Banos Termales de Chacapi near Yanque, or Banos Termales de Sallihua near Chivay. Banos Termales de Sallihua is set down a slope near a secluded section of Rio Colca. It was recommended by locals as the best option and does not disappoint for a relaxing evening in the hot springs.
Other Things to Do in Colca Canyon (Besides Hiking)
- Visit the Complejo Arqueologico de Uyo Uyo
- Hike to Miradores near the town of Cabanaconde for views of San Juan de Chuccho or Sangalle Oasis
- Go to the Planetarium in Colca
Hiking Options in the Colca Canyon
If you are hiking for 1 or more days in the Colca Canyon the next day, you will want to arrive in the canyon region the day before your hike and stay in Cabanaconde. There are many hostels in this town where you can prep for your hike the next day. These hostels may also allow you to store larger luggage while you are on your hike.
To hike in the canyon, there are different hikes that range from 1 to 3 days. There are hostels at the various stopping points so you do not need to hike with camping equipment but you will want to reserve the hostels in advance. The hike days will be pretty long and challenging if you choose to do the 2-day hikes. We have also included a 1-day hiking option for people who may not have a lot of time.
1 Day Hike
Option 1
Cabanaconde -> Sangalle -> Cabanaconde
Distance:
16.3 miles (10.1 kilometers)
Elev. Gain
3,484 ft (1,062 m)
If you do not have the time to do a multi-day hike, you have the option (albeit challenging option) to hike into and out of the canyon in one day. This hike will be out-and-back from Cabanaconde to Sangalle and back. Because of this, you could always hike into the canyon as much as you want, see some different viewpoints, and turn around and return to Cabanaconde.
2 Day Hikes
Option 1
Cabanaconde -> San Juan de Chuccho -> Sangalle (Stay) -> Cabanaconde
Distance:
12.7 miles (20.5 kilometers)
Elev. Gain
5,482 ft (1,671 m)
Starting from Cabanaconde, you will hike through San Juan de Chuccho to Sangalle (the Oasis). This is where you will want to find an accommodation. Many hostels are located along the river with swimming pools filled with spring water. On the second day, you will go from Sangalle back to Cabanaconde on a 3-4 hour uphill climb.
Option 2
Cabanaconde -> Llahuar -> Sangalle (Stay) -> Cabanaconde
Distance:
16 miles (25.9 kilometers)
Elev. Gain
6,200 ft (1,890 m)
This second option visits a different side of the canyon. It still includes the steep final day from option 1. You will start from Cabanaconde and hike through Llahuar to Sangalle (the Oasis), where you will find an accommodation. Many hostels are located along the river with swimming pools filled with spring water. On the second day, you will go from Sangalle back to Cabanaconde on a 3-4 hour uphill climb.
3 Day Hikes
Option 1
Cabanaconde -> San Juan de Chuccho (Stay) -> Sangalle (Stay) -> Cabanaconde
Distance:
12.7 miles (20.5 kilometers)
Elev. Gain
5,482 ft (1,671 m)
Starting from Cabanaconde, you will hike to San Juan de Chuccho. This is where you will want to find your first accommodation. On the second day, you will hike from San Juan de Chuccho to Sangalle (the Oasis), where you will find your second accommodation. Many hostels are located along the river with swimming pools filled with spring water. On the third day, you will go from Sangalle back to Cabanaconde on a 3-4 hour uphill climb.
Option 2
Cabanaconde -> Llahuar (Stay) -> Sangalle (Stay) -> Cabanaconde
Distance:
16 miles (25.9 kilometers)
Elev. Gain
6,200 ft (1,890 m)
This second option visits a different side of the canyon. It still includes the steep final day from option 1. You will start from Cabanaconde and hike to Llahuar. This is where you will want to find your first accommodation. On the second day, you will hike from Llahuar to Sangalle (the Oasis), where you will find your second accommodation. Many hostels are located along the river with swimming pools filled with spring water. On the third day, you will go from Sangalle back to Cabanaconde on a 3-4 hour uphill climb.
3 or 4 Day Long Hike Option
Cabanaconde -> Llahuar (Stay) -> Sangalle (Stay Optional) -> San Juan de Chucho (Stay) -> Cabanaconde
Distance:
19.6 miles (31.5 kilometers)
Elev. Gain
6,811 ft (2,076 m)
This option is the longest of all the options and combines the other two 3-day hikes into one longer loop. This option also does not include the steep final day climb back to Cabanaconde and has a longer and more gradual climb. To do this in 3 days, you will want to go from Cabanaconde to Llahuar to San Juan de Chuccho to Cabanaconde. To do this in 4 days, you will want to go from Cabanaconde to Llahuar to Sangalle to San Juan de Chuccho to Cabanaconde.
You can take a minibus from Cabanaconde to Arequipa after your hike is done if you choose. Otherwise, you can stay another night in Chivay (using a minibus or taxi to get to Chivay), and take a comfortable tourist bus to return to Arequipa (see the Final Day.)
The Blueprint Travelers Hiking Staples
Besides the Colca Canyon Other Tours Outside of Arequipa, Peru
There are a few other sites and tours that can be visited from Arequipa including:
- Volcan Misti
- Reserva Nacional de Salinas
- Canteras de Sillar
These tours can be coordinated at different tourism agencies throughout the historical center of the city.
