Hopping off the overnight bus from Cusco to Arequipa on a slow-moving Sunday, I dropped my bag off at my hostel. With my camera at the ready, I set off exploring one of Peru's most distinct colonial heritage city's.

Nicknamed 'Cuidad Blanca' (White City), whether you fancy taking a stroll exploring cultural sites and architecture, braving a trek up impressive Misti, pondering markets, spending an afternoon with alpacas, hiking the Colca Canyon, or simply not doing a whole lot, Arequipa will spoil you with a little of everything.

Views over volcanoes

Glued to my camera, I wandered the streets endlessly soaking up my surroundings, around corners, down cobbled roads and through bustling markets.

Arequipa, much a bustling city with chaotic Peruvian traffic, for moments as the sun sets, the city takes a moment to wind down as it shines golden through to dusty shades of pink. With a luring aura and distinct charm, you're bound to spend a few days if not more exploring Peru's most irresistible city.

Plaza de Armas

What to do in Arequipa

My favourite part of hanging around Arequipa was peering out into the square during golden hour. There's something special about watching your days end into dusk, a reminder that every day has the opportunity to end beautifully no matter what.

Here are a few things I'd recommend you check out whilst in Arequipa.

The Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena

This beautiful monastery found its place at the heart of Arequipa. A city-within-a-city, I was modestly surprised at the scale and size of the Santa Catalina de Siena. Once shut off to the world, the convent opened its doors to the public in the 1970s.

You'll need at least a couple of hours to explore inside and guided tours are available upon request.

The cost: Adult tickets are 40 Soles.

How to get there: The entrance is located on Santa Catalina opposite Calle Ugarte, two blocks up from Plaza de Armas.

To read more about it, check out this post.

Steps in the monastery

Take a stroll to Mirador de Yanahuara

Around a 30 minute stroll from Plaza de Armas, beneath the volcanic stoned arches is a wonderful view of the city and surrounding volcanoes.

You can chill out for a little while here and maybe even bump into a walking tour to listen in for a moment or two.

If you still have it in you to walk a little further, then why not head to the next mirador.

Mirador de Yanahuara

Mirador Carmen Alto Chilina

Another 30 minutes away from town is this mirador. With a modest 3 soles entry (or free if you get there when there's no guard standing around), you'll get this view.

Heading back, you can either walk or take a 10-minute taxi into town.

Mirador Carmen Alto

Chill with Alpacas for the Afternoon

If you love smily and furry animals then head to Mundo Alpaca. One of my highlights of Arequipa, I wandered in and was offered a free private guided tour. You also get to feed the alpacas with their favourite treats!

The tour is really interesting and not only explains the process of using alpaca wool but that of llamas and vicunas too. I was surprised to hear that much of the wool of vicunas is sent to Italy to be processed and the finalised garment is sent back to Peru with a hefty price tag!

The cost: Free!

How to get there: Alameda San Lazaro 101, Arequipa 04001

Soooo cute!!

Plaza de Armas

There's no question Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa is the main attraction. For a couple of hours each day, the cathedral opens its doors to the public to wander inside for free. If you're in shorts and a tank top (men and women), you'll be stopped at the door. So it's a good idea to bring a shawl to cover up or wear longer clothing if you'd like to have a peek inside.

A friend lent me her shawl :)

Opposite the cathedral you can climb the stairs for a better view of the square.

Looking out onto the Plaza

At sunset, you can even climb to the rooftops and enjoy stunning views as the sun goes down in Arequipa. The top of Arequipa Suites Plaza has these stunning views.

Rooftop sunsets in Arequipa

Opposite the Cathedral on the other side of the square is also the tourist office. If you're looking to do any treks, hikes or get bus time tables for the Colca Canyon, this is the place to stop by.

Hike the Colca Canyon

One of the deepest canyons in the world, the Colca Canyon has become one of the star attractions for visiting Arequipa. You can go solo or with a tour group, just be sure to bring sunscreen!

The scenery is spectacular and with a guide, you'll learn more about the biodiversity.

For more details on cost and transport, you can check out this post.

Views from above

If you’re feeling daring…

Hike the active volcano Misti. To be warned, hiking Misti is not for the faint of heart. It's a tough hike. One that I really did consider but decided against it this time due to the dangers involved and still considering myself a novice hiker at the time.

Misti towers over Arequipa at over 5800 metres. Acclimatisation to altitude is necessary for this one. A two-day hike, where you camp one night on the volcano, if you get to the top, you'll have fun skiing back down to the bottom.

Wander the Markets of Arequipa

Fresh smoothie shakes for breakfast were the norm. I love markets and my flimsy stomach often means I need to cook on my travels, especially after a period of eating out every day.

Mercado San Camilo is one of the best markets I've been to. Exotic fruits lined across rows of fresh juice stalls, fresh meats hanging aimlessly, pretty much any kind of potato you could ever want, colourful veggies and lunch stands where you can give your tastebuds a tingle from the local cuisine.

How to get there: The market has several entrances, the main one being on Calle San Camilo.

Fresh fruit!

Visit Ruta de Sillar

If I only had one more day in Arequipa...

I had booked a flight from Lima to Santiago so had to leave. But if I'm ever back I wouldn't miss Ruta de Sillar. About a 40-minute bus ride from Arequipa, it's worth a visit to see where the quarried rock sillar (volcanic stone) used to build cities in Peru came from.

The site isn't very touristy at the moment and I only found out about it the morning I was due to leave. If you're in the area, let me know what you think of your visit!

Claustros de la Compania

If you're wandering around town, you'll probably more than likely walk past or ponder into Claustro de la Compañía unknowingly.

Converted into shops, coffee shops and restaurants, the rooftop is a great place to chill with a drink on a cool summers night. The architecture and stonework are exquisite.

Claustro de la Compañía

Just Walk Around with a Camera in Hand

Casa Tristan del Pozo, an art gallery has one of the most beautiful banks inside. Perfect stop off for a few photos...

Fundo El Fierro, one of the city's primary craft markets has amazing views of the surrounding volcanoes, not to mention it used to be a former prison.

Casa Goteneche, a beautiful place to observe the colonial architecture in Peru.

These are just a few of the highlights. There's more I'm sure!

Couldn't help but stop here!

Mi Kcao Coffee

I really love finding a cute coffee shop where ever I go and Mi Kcao is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon latte. The organic hot chocolate is rich and divine!

The service is so friendly that they even gave me a blanket to keep me warm to make me feel right at home.

Where to Stay in Arequipa

I stayed at Limbo Jump hostel in the girls' dorm. Really clean and with lockers to leave my belongings for a night whilst I hiked the Colca Canyon, it was great for convenience and a fully equipped kitchen.

Other recommendations:

Many people I met stayed at Wild Rover. If you're looking for the party vibe, this is the place to be.

For a place closer to town, La Puerta del Sol is located in the historic centre and is great for a clean and cheap place to crash for a couple of nights.

Where to Eat in Arequipa

I did cook a lot in Arequipa given the abundance of fresh ingredients available from the market. Admittedly when I came back from my hike in the Colca Canyon, I had little motivation to whip up a culinary delight and opted for some of the best burgers in town at AQP Burger.

If you're looking for something a little healthier then El Buda Profano may be right up your street. Vegan and sushi may not be used in a sentence too often, it was so good I went there twice!!

Getting to Arequipa

I took an overnight bus from Cusco with Cruz del Sur. They were safe, efficient and easy to book online.

If you're time-sensitive, there are some pretty good flying options.

Planning a trip or fancy a freebie? These are some websites and services I love:

Booking.com: For the best hotel deals! 🏝

World Nomads: Travel insurance on the go 🌎

Airbnb: For the best apartment deals!🏡

Affiliate links above!

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• The Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena 

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