Diego & Steven
Things To Do
Santa Catalina Monastery
A city-within-a-city. This cloistered convent dates from colonial Arequipa and it is still in use nowadays! It is open daily for a cultural tour (~90 min).
Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa
A beautiful cathedral with a astounding architectural style—check out the white rhyolite. It features the largest organ in South America (made in Belgium in 1854) and a unique pulpit.
La Mansión del Fundador
Travel to the rural areas of Arequipa in a half-day guided tour where you can see historical places such as "La Mansión del Fundador" (Founder's Mansion) and "El Molino de Sabandía" (Sabandía's mill, still operational!)—these are amongst our favorite places in the city!
Salar de Salinas
This is a beautiful stop outside Arequipa. You can visit the salt flats in Arequipa, where you can see your reflection in a crystalline salt lake with flamingos! On the way there you can find alpacas, vicuñas, and llamas!
Kao Thai and Peruvian Cuisine
Our favorite restaurant in Arequipa. If you want to try a tasting menu or just excellent Peruvian-Thai fusion cuisine, check it out!
Las Casitas, A Belmond Hotel, Colca Canyon
If you want to visit places in Arequipa (but outside the city), we recommend traveling to indulge your mind and senses in the Colca Valley! Las Casitas Belmond is an amazing place to rest and relax. Bonus: you get to meet the cute alpaca pet from the picture!
Colca Lodge Spa & Hot Springs
This is another great option if you decide to spend a few nights in the Colca Valley. Relax near the river and enjoy the natural hot springs—try "El Huayruro", our favorite cocktail at their restaurant!
Visit Machu Picchu
You've probably heard of Machu Picchu. If you want to expand your trip, we highly recommend visiting Machu Picchu (1 day). You must buy Machu Picchu entry tickets in advance. You also need to get train tickets to Aguas Calientes (little town that connects to Machu Picchu). Do not hire a Machu Picchu guide in advance, as prices will be many times higher! By law, all visitors must have a guide before getting in Machu Picchu and if you don't have one you will be immediately assigned one at the entrance for a fair price. - Train tickets from Cusco to Aguas Calientes: choose from Inca Rail, Peru Rail, and the Belmond Hiram Bingham train. Buy the tickets in advance. - Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu: buses depart every 10 min starting at 5:30 am, get the tickets the day of travel in Aguas Calientes. Alternatively, you can buy an Incarail package, which includes pick-up from your hotel in Cusco, train, entry, and guide. These packages are usually discounted! A link is included below.
Visit Cusco
In addition to Machu Picchu, we recommend visiting other archeological sites in Cusco (Cusco us 1-h flight away from Arequipa). Below is a 4-night itinerary: - Day 1: Flight to Cusco, tour the main square/markets—Cusco is at a high elevation and you must adjust to the altitude, take it slow the first day! (You can buy "sorojchi" pills at most pharmacies, take one before landing in Cusco). - Day 2: Tour Sacsayhuaman, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara, Qenqo, and the Eucalyptus Forest. - Day 3: Sacred Valley Tour to visit Chinchero, Maras, Moray, Ollantaytambo, and Pisaq. - Day 4: Travel/tour to Machu Picchu in the morning and return to Cusco in the afternoon. - Day 5: Flight to Arequipa. For hotels, we recommend "Wyndham Costa del Sol Cusco", "Hotel Encantada Casa Boutique", and "Quechua Hotel Cusco". Reservations via Booking.com are cheaper (Quechua Hotel charges a 5% fee for credit/debit card payments). We have tour service recommendations and are happy to share them—just let us know!