Essence of Arequipa

Upon arrival, reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Arequipa, well known as the White City and stands out for its ashlar architecture and its surroundings surrounded by imposing volcanoes, which give it a unique character.

Pick up to head towards the sillar quarries, the emblematic material of Arequipa’s architecture. Along the way, a stop is made at a volcano viewpoint with views of Misti, Chachani, and Picchu Picchu. The journey continues to the quarries, where the impressive rock formations can be observed along with the traditional extraction techniques. Afterwards, a visit to the Culebrillas quarry includes a short walk to appreciate petroglyphs. The presence of apachetas (stone cairns) will also be observed, where their symbolism is explained and there is an opportunity to build one.

Overnight in Arequipa.

In our activity we will observe wonderful landscapes of the city, surrounded by the Chachani, Misti and Picchu Picchu volcanoes; then we will continue with the district of Yanahuara where we will observe one of the main viewpoints of the city. We will continue the tour to the historic center to visit the convent of Santa Catalina, highlighting the cloisters and colonial architecture. To end the day, we will visit the Plaza de Armas, which is a Historical Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, and the Jesuit Church of the Company, highlighting its neoclassical style and colonial paintings.

Overnight in Arequipa.

We will be picked up and then we will go to the Salinas Lagoon. On route, we will pass through Chiguata, where we will have views of the volcanoes, and we will cross high Andean landscapes where queñual forests stand out. We will continue the route until we reach the Salinas lagoon, this impressive salt flat surrounded by snow-capped mountains and volcanoes. It is surrounded by open peat bogs known as bofedales and serves for grazing native camelids, such as vicuñas and llamas. We will be able to take pictures in the water mirrors. In addition, we can visit the mini volcano of Lojen and the natural pools in the area.

Overnight in Arequipa.

Free day to enjoy optional activities at your own pace and take in your final moments in the city. We suggest leaving your belongings in the hotel’s storage area so you can explore Arequipa with ease.

At the scheduled time, you will be transferred to the airport to board your return flight home.