Arequipa for Families with Children

Planning Arequipa with children

Arequipa is a good city for families who keep the days short. Most of what suits children is flat, free or cheap, and close to the centre. At about 2,335 m, the city is high enough that small children tire faster and feel the sun more, so plan one main outing a day and a rest in the afternoon. Prices are in Peruvian soles (S/).

Meeting alpacas at Mundo Alpaca

Mundo Alpaca, run by the Michell company at Alameda San Lázaro 101, is free to enter. Live alpacas and llamas stand in the yard, craftspeople show weaving, and a shop sits at the end. Posted hours run from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM every day, though it is worth checking on a Sunday. It is one of the easiest stops with children, because the animals are close and nobody has to walk far.

The mill and the founder’s house

The Molino de Sabandía is a working mill from 1621 with open grounds and animals, about 8 km from the centre. A taxi is about S/15 and entry is about S/10 to S/12. The Mansión del Fundador, about 9 km out at Huasacache, is a museum in the house of the city’s founder. Together they make a relaxed half day with room to run around.

Queso helado and the Yanahuara viewpoint

Yanahuara is across the Chili River, and its plaza has stone arches with a view of El Misti and Chachani. Entry is free and the paving is flat. Children usually enjoy the frozen dessert called queso helado, sold by vendors around the plaza and made with cream, milk, cinnamon and coconut. It is a short outing.

Santa Catalina with younger visitors

Under-sevens enter the Santa Catalina monastery free, and foreign children aged 7 to 18 pay S/30. The lanes and courtyards are colourful and easy to wander, and a guided tour takes about an hour. Photos are fine without flash. Hours are daily 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a later close on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Altitude, age and the things to skip

  • Skip the 3:00 AM Colca day trip with small children, and skip the Patapampa pass at about 4,800 m until everyone has had several days at height.
  • Older children who want Colca are better served by the two-day, one-night version, after at least a full day in Arequipa.
  • Volcano walks on Misti or Chachani are for experienced adults with licensed guides, and they are not family outings.
  • Rafting operators on the Chili River advise against it for children under 8 and for non-swimmers.
  • The ZooMundo animal park at Paucarpata has welfare concerns, so it is better left off the list.

Sun, food and getting about

  • UV is very high, so give everyone a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
  • Picantería lunches come with a daily soup. Ask about spice before ordering for children, since rocoto relleno is a stuffed hot pepper.
  • Use hotel-booked taxis and confirm the fare before you leave.
  • Protests in the south occasionally block roads, so ask your hotel before any trip out of town.

More ideas: Group activities in Arequipa has options for bigger parties, and Sightseeing in Arequipa covers the main squares. See also the Arequipa place guide . Browse family-friendly tours on GetYourGuide , and read the Santa Catalina visitor information before you set out.