Walking Tour Arequipa

1.- INTRODUCTION

Popularly known as the White City, Arequipa is one of the largest cities in Peru but at the same time is one of the most captivating because it is quite popular thanks to its colonial architecture and its great historical heritage that has surpassed even the legacy of time allowing all travelers who venture to make the Walking Tour Arequipa to enjoy an unparalleled landscape. Located in the south of the country, Arequipa is a special destination for walking experiences, since the combination of cobblestone streets and the imposing Misti volcano in the background make for a unique experience. There is no doubt that for those passionate about history, culture and even architecture, the experience of the Walking Tour Arequipa will be an anecdote to tell for a lifetime.

2.- Why Arequipa is perfect for walking experiences?

It is important to understand that the city of Arequipa can be considered as a compact center that is to say that it has accessibility in a general way so the exploration on foot in the various experiences or activities is ideal not only to know the aesthetic beauty that the city may have but also to immerse yourself in history by visiting some of the most important tourist destinations as is the case of the monastery of Santa Catalina, the main square and of course the cathedral of Arequipa. Each of the streets have a narrow appearance, however, the white facades that stand out at first glance are all built especially with ashlar, which is an element that belongs to volcanic rock and in many ways creates a calm and relaxing atmosphere for those who like slow and comforting walks.

3.- What to expect from the Walking Tour Arequipa?

The walking adventure in the white city allows you to visit some of the most emblematic and important places of the city where you can gain knowledge about the vast history, architecture and of course traditions of the city of Arequipa to understand why it is considered unique. Throughout the experience you will have the opportunity to enjoy talks and anecdotes about local guides who will help you interpret each of the spaces, panoramas and even streets that are said to be full of life. On the other hand you also have the opportunity to delight the visit to colonial churches, local markets, old mansions and the spectacular historic center of the city where you can appreciate to this day even the legacy of multiple cultures with the passage of time came to form the city of Arequipa as we know it today.

4.- BEFORE YOU START: PRACTICAL INFORMATION

It can be assured that the experience of the Walking Tour Arequipa is unparalleled because when you go into the city in a natural way you can get to know special places that have no vehicular access, some of these tips will help you feel more comfortable and safe:

5.- The best time to enjoy it

The city of Arequipa has a pleasant climate most of the year and has mild temperatures, of course there is an ideal time to better enjoy the adventure of visiting the city on foot and this occurs essentially between the months of March to May and September to November. It is the time of the year when you can feel cool and quite pleasant temperatures and also allows the day to be ideal thanks to the clear skies that can be enjoyed during the tour in the morning or late afternoon.

6.- Duration of the experience

An estimate of duration is undoubtedly between 2 to 3 hours as it will depend on the route you choose, there are also routes that have several stops due to the attractions that are considered in these cases can even be extended and last up to 4 hours taking into account that the experience is more complete, there are also options to make strategic stops in some places where you can enjoy more about the culture and taste some of the traditional desserts that are regularly part of the street food that is in the city.

7.- Recommendations of what to bring

• Remember that the experience essentially involves walking throughout the city, so it is important that you wear comfortable shoes since many of the streets are cobblestone and in some cases there are some unevenness.
• You will be exposed to the sun for this reason it is important to protect yourself, consider sunglasses, sunscreen, hat or cap.
• It is important to stay hydrated at all times for this reason to always carry a considerable ration of water for the whole experience, remember that the climate is dry and with the presence of the sun you could feel it at any time.
• The Walking Tour Arequipa has been specially designed to immerse people into the culture and history of the city, just as it happens in the Arequipa City Tour, for this reason you can not miss the opportunity to always carry your camera because it will be the ideal time to capture the best photos of the incredible architectural beauty as well as the breathtaking scenery to visit.
• If you opt for the evening experience take into consideration that at night it can be quite cold, it is best to always carry a light jacket that you can easily put on or take off, it will be useful to combat the cold.

8.- Safety tips

• Being a tourist city it is quite safe, however it is always important to be careful and avoid carrying a lot of valuables, it is always best to carry little cash and nothing too flashy.
• Remember that the streets in some areas are quite narrow so the sidewalk is not very wide and considering the local traffic it is always important to be attentive when walking down the street.
• Arequipa is 2335 meters above sea level so the presence of ultraviolet rays can affect the skin in a significant way, it is important that when you go out on the streets you can always have protection against the sun.
• Respecting the local rules are always very important since Arequipa is a city that has a fairly extensive cultural history, by integrating into their norms and customs you can enjoy the experience in a more intimate way.
• Transportation in the city is quite simple, however avoid at all costs to use street cabs as in many cases they are informal or simply charge very exaggerated amounts, we always recommend using applications such as InDriver or Uber.

9.- WORLDWIDE IMPORTANCE

“Many people are unaware that the historic center of the city of Arequipa has been recognized as a world heritage site thanks to UNESCO, it was determined because it contains incredible buildings of colonial origin that make it unique in its kind being one of the places that excel in this type of construction and even more that are kept in perfect condition.”

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10.- Starting Point: Plaza de Armas

The Arequipa Walking Tour starts in the main square of the city where the history, culture and architecture is centered, marking a perfect start for an investment in the city. This main square is surrounded by many colonial buildings in addition to the imposing presence that gives the basilica cathedral of Arequipa. It is like watching local people and tourists mingle constantly to enjoy the urban landscape and the culture that emanates from the city. The main square also known as Plaza de Armas has been considered the center of social and political life that is inside Arequipa since its founding in 1540, although originally the place was to be used for the market and daily activities time was transforming this place as the epicenter that we know today of the white city and naturally during colonial times many of the public and religious events were held in this place so the importance was growing progressively over the years.

It should also be noted that in this main square you can find the cathedral basilica of Arequipa that to this day is one of the largest architectural emblems of the city, its construction has a neoclassical style and a facade that imposes presence, this building has certainly witnessed how history and culture are mixed with the passage of time since its construction was carried out in the seventeenth century. It is also possible to visualize many other colonial buildings that contain their own history in each case, among these we can highlight the municipal palace, the house of morals and other buildings of equal importance.

11.- Section 1: Historic Center (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

The walking experience in the city then takes us to the historic center where you can appreciate the conservation and architectural richness that remains in the city over time. Here you can appreciate some of the main monuments that have stood out in the city and in history starting with the monastery of Santa Catalina, listed as one of the most emblematic places that contains the city of Arequipa, this religious construction of colonial origin was built in the XVI century and to this day is considered one of the best preserved in all of Latin America, Its purpose was mainly intended to house nuns of the nobility who chose to live in strict seclusion and remained that way for centuries, however today it is fortunately considered a museum which can be accessed without complications.

It also highlights the presence of the company of Jesus considered one of the architectural jewels that contains the city, inside the church you can see the golden chapel which is one of its main attractions as you can see how it is decorated with fine golden details in addition to baroque style ornaments that easily reveal how and how much was the wealth that existed during the colonial era. We cannot leave aside the presence of the house of the moral that has been praised for a long time by the great door that has floral decorations, this construction contains one of the most important and beautiful galleries of the whole city in addition each one of the patios presents columns and gardens that offer an air of serenity to all the visitors that can visit it.

12.- Section 2: San Lázaro District

Our adventure then takes us on a journey into the past as you can also get to know the district of San Lazaro which is known as the oldest neighborhood that contains the white city, remarkably distinguishable from other places containing star and cobblestone streets that easily give the feeling of the past. Many are unaware that San Lazaro is the specific place where the city of Arequipa was founded and as such contains the most traditional set of houses in the entire city and even contains the church of San Lazaro which gives the opportunity to learn more about the original religious architecture that the city had, this visit allows travelers to have a remarkable comparison between the original buildings and the modifications that originated with the passage of time.

13.- Section 3: Yanahuara Lookout

The adventure finally takes us to the hills that are quite close to the city of Arequipa where the viewpoint of Yanahuara awaits us to give us one of the best views you can get of the city and its surroundings. These panoramic views not only reflect the importance of the city but also the proximity and importance of the surrounding volcanoes such as Misti. Another attraction is that in the viewpoint you can appreciate the presence of a church, quite picturesque that also stands out for the amazing and beautiful colonial architecture, of course on the other hand is already quite famous the space of the stone arches that are part of the viewpoint, what many do not know is that each of the arches have been decorated with inscriptions of Peruvian writers which adds a literary sense to the experience of the Arequipa Walking Tour.

14.- FAQs ABOUT WALKING TOURS IN AREQUIPA

• Is Arequipa’s altitude a problem for walking tours?

Arequipa is located 2335 m above sea level so for many people who are not used to places with these heights may feel some discomfort, however for more than 90% of visitors who come to know the city of Arequipa does not represent a problem.

• How safe is it to walk around Arequipa as a tourist?

Arequipa in general is a very safe city for tourists and travelers from all over the world, however this occurs mainly in the historic center and other tourist areas since there is often a police presence. However, like many of the cities of the world, the remote places can represent a danger for this reason it is always better to be accompanied by someone who knows the city.

• What should I wear for a walking tour in Arequipa?

The Walking Tour Arequipa is an experience that is essentially done in a physical way for this reason comfortable and light clothing will be essential to enjoy it properly, remember that the weather can be sunny and dry so consider breathable clothing options and preferably cotton with comfortable pants.

• Can I do this walking tour with children?

Yes, the experience molds each of the participants as it is done gradually so children will not have any inconvenience in enjoying this adventure, another alternative is that you can also schedule the Arequipa City Tour if you feel that children are not suitable for walking.

• Do I need a guide for walking around Arequipa?

It is not really something mandatory but it is highly recommended because one of the ways to learn more about the tradition and history that contains the city is certainly to have the presence of a person who can interpret for you the events that occurred in the past as well as the presence of the colonial buildings that we have until today.

Immersing yourself on foot in the history and culture of a city often represents the best alternative to enjoy an unforgettable experience and we know that is exactly what you are looking for your next adventure in 2025. Auri Peru has created thousands of adventures for world travelers with the intention of making it not just a vacation memory but a life story, contact us now and let us create a similar adventure just for you.

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”