Guided Attractions in and Around Arequipa
Attractions sorted by distance from the centre
Most attraction tours out of Arequipa are short loops through the countryside or long days into the high Andes. They are listed here from nearest to farthest. Entry fees are usually paid on top of the tour price, mostly in cash, so carry small notes in soles (S/).
Countryside stops: Sabandía and Huasacache
The Molino de Sabandía is a working stone mill about 8 km from the centre, dated 1621, with grounds and animals. A taxi costs about S/15 each way and entry is about S/10 to S/12. Posted hours run from 9:00 to 17:00 or 18:00, so go in the morning to be safe.
The Mansión del Fundador sits at Huasacache, about 9 km out, and a taxi round trip with waiting comes to about S/20. It was the house of Garci Manuel de Carbajal, the city’s founder, and it is now a museum owned by a bank. Hours are quoted as 9:00 to 17:00. Ask at the door for the current ticket price. The two stops pair well into a half-day campiña tour.
The sillar route
Arequipa’s white stone is volcanic rock called sillar, and the Ruta del Sillar visits the quarries where it is cut by hand. The route runs through the Cerro Colorado district and takes about 4 hours round trip with transport. Entry to the Anashuayco quarry is about S/5, and the Culebrillas canyon, with its carved rock figures, is about S/5 more. Gates are said to be open from about 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Culebrillas involves a rough walk, so wear shoes with grip.
A day on the Salinas plateau
The Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve is a 4x4 trip of roughly 3 hours each way. The main stop is Laguna de Salinas at about 4,300 m, a shallow salt lake listed under the Ramsar convention.
- Vicuñas are seen reliably along the road.
- Andean and James’s flamingos come and go with the rains. Water mirrors show mainly from January to March, and counts have ranged from under 1,000 birds to about 21,000.
- The lake is for looking at, not for swimming, boating or bathing.
- It is cold, windy and thin-aired, so dress in layers and carry water.
Colca in a single day
The full-day Colca tour is the most popular attraction trip and the hardest on the body. Pickup is around 3:00 to 3:30 AM, breakfast is near Chivay, Cruz del Cóndor is reached around 8:30 to 9:30 AM, and the return to Arequipa is around 5 to 6 PM. The road crosses a pass at about 4,800 m. The Colca tourist ticket, the boleto turístico, costs S/70 for foreign adults and is excluded from most group tours. Read the full day-by-day detail on the day trips page .
When the monastery stays open late
Santa Catalina keeps its doors open until 8:00 PM on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the last entry at 7:00 PM. The evening opening suits travellers who spend the day at Sabandía or on the sillar route and still want the monastery. Adult tickets are S/50.
Tips for choosing a tour
- Ask what is included: transport, a guide, entry fees and meals are often priced separately.
- Book the Colca day only after at least one night in Arequipa.
- Protests and landslides in the wet season, roughly December to March, can change routes, so confirm the day before.
More options: Sightseeing in Arequipa covers the churches and viewpoints, and the Colca Canyon place guide covers the valley. Compare tour operators through sillar and countryside tours on GetYourGuide . Reserve information is available from Wikipedia’s page on the reserve , and ticket details for the valley sit on the Colca tourist ticket site .