Arequipa

Arequipa translates to ‘stay awhile’ and people have been doing just that for 10,000 years.

AREQUIPA, PERU

ARRANGEMENTS

Hotel
Made reservation directly with Los Tambos through their website. All went well.

Tours
We did a self guided tour around Arequipa and to see a bit of the countryside we took a green bus tour (green was recommended).

FOOD & DRINK IN AREQUIPA

BREAKFAST
At the hotel was ample, so much so we asked for less the following morning. There is a variety of items to choose from and eggs are cooked to order.

DINNER
On a recommendation we went to che Carlitos Argentino Grill, a 10 minute walk down and across the river from the main square. The atmosphere was more formal than expected. It is popular with locals who enjoy large plates of food with the emphasis on grilled meat (that’s why the name). Main dishes ranged from $8 – $10 USD.

For light lunches, snack and drinks there are plenty of places to choose from. Peruvians seem to like their sweets so cake and pastry shops are plentiful.

For picnic lunches also see Mercado Central below.

PLACES TO GO IN AQEQUIPA

Santa Catalina Monastery is Arequipa’s main visitor attraction. It is a large complex with much to see and can take up a good part of your visiting day.

Casa del Moral is a lovely manor house built in the eighteenth century showing furniture and items from Arequipa’s colonial period. A guide is there to make the walk through more interesting.

Arequipa Mercado Central (Central Market) A fascinating place only five blocks from Plaza de Armas. It is a whole block under cover offering daily items: fruits and vegetables, a stunning array of potatoes (southern Peru is the birthplace of the potato), cheeses, meats and much more all the way to hats and frog skeletons (used to flavour soups). Do more than look, buy something.

The streets and shops of Arequipa. We do suggest taking some time away from the cloisters, museums and colonial mansions and simply walk around Arequipa and admire it’s beauty. It is known as the White City because many of the colonial buildings are built of sillar, a white volcanic stone which could be lavishly carved. As evening comes join local families in one of Peru’s most beautiful main squares as they stroll together, stopping to talk with friends and watch children play. Do what the locals do, get off the expensive tourist streets and do some shopping down narrow streets which can seem busier than they were during the day. Go into one of the many bake shops, point to something and then take it to the street and taste what you bought. Remembering to leave the churches and museums and be part of today’s Arequipa may just become a favourite memory. We think you will like it.

Get out of town. Catch a tour bus (green recommended) and see where people live and work outside of the city.

TO & FROM AREQUIPA

From Nazca by Cruz del Sur bus. Trip length approximately 9 hours (we did it on an overnight bus).

From Arequipa to Puno by Cruz del Sur bus. Trip length approximately 6 hours.