Walking Arequipa Street by Street

Walking Arequipa

The historic centre of Arequipa is compact and built of white sillar, so most of it can be covered on foot in a day with stops. At about 2,335 m, the main walking challenge is the thin air, not the distance. Prices are in Peruvian soles (S/).

Joining a walking tour

Tip-based free tours set off every day from the Plaza de Armas. Departure times vary by operator, so check the time when you book or ask at your hotel. Paid guided walks are also sold on platforms such as GuruWalk and Civitatis, including a food walk through the Mercado San Camilo. A guide is useful for the stories behind the churches and the colonial houses.

A loop of the old centre

Link these stops in a ring around the plaza:

  1. Plaza de Armas and the cathedral on its north side
  2. Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, a short walk away
  3. Casa Tristán del Pozo, at San Francisco 108, a colonial house with free exhibition space
  4. Santa Catalina Monastery, at Santa Catalina 301, S/50 for adults and about an hour with a guide
  5. Mercado San Camilo, for juice, bread and cheese
  6. Calle Mercaderes, the shopping street

Around Ugarte 403, look for the Casa de la Moneda, now part of the Casa Andina Premium hotel. It is a colonial house dated about 1794. It worked as a mint only from 1836 to 1841.

From San Lázaro to Yanahuara

This is a longer walk of about 2 to 3 km each way. Start in the narrow lanes of Barrio de San Lázaro, cross the Chili River by the Puente Grau, which opened in 1888 after works that ran from 1884, and climb to the Plaza de Yanahuara. The final stretch is a moderate climb, noticeable at this altitude, so go slowly. At the top you reach the arcade viewpoint with carved verses and a view of El Misti and Chachani, and vendors sell queso helado on the plaza. Take a taxi back if your legs are tired.

Timing your day

  • Santa Catalina opens daily 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and stays open until 8:00 PM on Tuesday and Wednesday, which makes those evenings a useful end to a walk.
  • The cathedral museum is open Monday to Saturday.
  • Allow a half day for the centre loop with stops, and add the Yanahuara walk in the late afternoon.

Street sense

  • UV is very high. Wear a hat and sunglasses, and put on sunscreen.
  • Carry water and drink often.
  • Keep phones and bags close in crowds, particularly in the market.
  • Take hotel-booked or radio taxis rather than hailing one on the street. Fake taxi drivers have robbed travellers at bus terminals.
  • Protests are sometimes held in the city. If one is announced, ask your hotel which roads are blocked.

More to read: Sightseeing in Arequipa covers each stop in detail, and the historic centre guide gives the background. Book a guide through Arequipa walking tours on GetYourGuide , and check opening hours on the monastery’s own site . Safety information is on the UK government Peru page .