Arequipa: Historic Center Walking Tour & Pisco Tasting

Arequipa's Baroque Churches & Pisco: A Walking Tasting in the Historic Center

You walk Arequipa's colonial center from the Plaza de Armas through baroque churches and a working market, learning the city's earthquake history and architectural details along the way. The tour ends with a guided pisco tasting and local dessert sampling. It's a half-day experience that covers the main historic sites without requiring separate tickets or transport arrangements.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Plaza de Armas25m
2. La Compañía Church10m
3. San Camilo Market30m

Walking tour and tasting in Arequipa

• Visit traditional Arequipa neighborhood
• Pass Santa Catalina Convent and artisan center
• Meet at Plaza de Armas and learn history
• See La Compañía Church and cloisters
• Explore San Camilo Market
• Visit former Jesuit cloisters
• Taste Pisco, local fruits, and Frozen Cheese

The experience

There's something about standing in a plaza surrounded by 400 years of stone that makes you want to know the story. Arequipa's Plaza de Armas does that: the Cathedral faces you, the Compañía Church rises to your left with its gold-leaf altars catching the light, and your guide begins explaining how earthquakes have reshaped this city again and again. You're not just looking at buildings. You're learning why they're still standing, and that changes how you see them.

The walking tour moves through the neighborhoods where Spanish settlers first arrived, past the Santa Catalina Convent and its narrow street, then into San Camilo Market: one of Peru's most varied markets, where you'll see regional tubers, meats, and fruits piled high and vendors calling out prices. It's crowded and real, not staged. After that, you head to the former Jesuit cloisters, the best example of religious viceroyal architecture in the city, where the quiet courtyards let you breathe for a moment before the final part of the day.

Then comes the pisco tasting. Your guide walks you through Peru's national distillate: how it's made, the regional variations, what to look for in the glass. You taste it straight, and it's sharp and clear. Alongside that, you try local fruits and Arequipa's emblematic dessert, Frozen Cheese, which is nothing like what the name suggests. It's sweet, creamy, and sits on your tongue longer than you'd expect. The whole experience takes 4 to 5 hours, and it's offered in Spanish and English (French is possible with advance notice).

You'll need moderate fitness for the walking (there are stairs and uneven streets), and it's not suitable if you have spinal issues, are pregnant, or have cardiovascular concerns. Strollers work for infants and small children, and service animals are welcome. Public transport is nearby if you need it afterward.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided walking tour through Arequipa's historic center, entry to La Compañía Church and the Jesuit cloisters, a visit to San Camilo Market, a pisco tasting with explanation of Peru's national distillate, local fruit samples, and Arequipa's emblematic Frozen Cheese dessert. The tour is conducted in Spanish or English.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 13:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 49 years) · Senior (50 to 65 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Evaristravel Agencia de turismo

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand Arequipa's colonial architecture and earthquake history without arranging separate guides, tickets, or transport between sites: the walking route connects everything, and the pisco tasting at the end gives you a reason to sit down and process what you've learned.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Arequipa tasting tour?

The tour takes 4 to 5 hours total, including the walking portion and the pisco tasting at the end.

What's included in the pisco tasting?

The tasting includes pisco samples, local fruits, and Arequipa's traditional Frozen Cheese dessert, plus explanation of how pisco is made.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Infants and small children can use a stroller. The walking involves stairs and uneven streets, so older children should be comfortable with moderate activity.

What should I know about fitness requirements?

You'll need at least moderate fitness for the walking. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health.

Which landmarks does the tour visit?

The tour includes the Plaza de Armas, La Compañía Church, Santa Catalina Convent, San Camilo Market, and the Jesuit cloisters.

Do I need to buy separate tickets for the churches?

Entry fees are included in the tour price.

Is public transport available nearby?

Yes, public transportation options are available near the tour locations if you need them.