Walking City Tour Arequipa: Santa Catalina Monastery & Market

Three centuries of cloisters, courtyards and colonial art in one morning walk

A guided walking tour of Arequipa begins at San Camilo Market and moves through the city center to the Plaza de Armas, the Church and Cloister of La Compañía de Jesús, and the Santa Catalina Monastery. The guide provides entry to both the Saint Ignacio Cupola and the monastery itself, and walks with you through each stop over three hours. Suitable for all fitness levels; live guide in English or Spanish.

Step-by-step itinerary

Walking tour of Arequipa highlights

• Visit San Camilo Market
• Walk to Arequipa Main Square
• Tour La Compañía Church and Cloister
• Explore Santa Catalina Monastery

The Experience

The tour starts at San Camilo Market, declared Historical Heritage in 1987, where vendors sell groceries, flowers, clothes and regional products at low cost. The market shows the daily rhythm of the city—color, activity, and the flavors that move through Arequipa. From there you walk toward the city center, moving through the streets to the Plaza de Armas, where your guide explains the history of one of Peru's most beautiful main squares.

The Church and Cloister of La Compañía de Jesús comes next. The cloister wraps around four sides with semi-archways of heavy pilasters, each decorated with carved reliefs of grapes, papayas, shells, cantutas and roses. Inside the church sits the Cupola of Saint Ignacio—a chapel so refined it stands as an example of colonial Arequipean art. Your guide has your entry arranged, so you move straight in.

The walk ends at the Santa Catalina Monastery, a monument that holds more than three centuries of history within its walls. The complex functions as a city within the city, with its own streets, courtyards and rooms. Your guide assists with entry and then departs, leaving you to move through the monastery at your own pace. The whole tour runs three hours.

What’s included

• Professional English or Spanish-language guide.
• entrance to the Saint Ignacio Cupola.
• entrance to the Santa Catalina Monastery.
• permanent assistance throughout the tour.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Giardino Tour Operator

Is this one for you?The three-hour walk moves at a steady pace through the city center and involves climbing into colonial buildings and navigating the monastery's courtyards and passages—choose this tour if you're comfortable with sustained walking and want a guide to unlock the history and art at each stop rather than exploring on your own.

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Top questions

What will I see inside the Church of La Compañía de Jesús?

The Church of La Compañía de Jesús features a cloister with four sides of semi-archways decorated with carved reliefs of grapes, papayas, shells, cantutas and roses. The main draw is the Cupola of Saint Ignacio, a chapel considered a masterpiece of colonial Arequipean art, and your guide's entry is included.

How much time do I have to explore the Santa Catalina Monastery?

The Santa Catalina Monastery is the final stop on the tour. Your guide assists with entry and then departs, so you can move through the complex at your own pace. The entire tour takes three hours from start to finish.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not in great physical shape?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. It involves walking through the city center and visiting several sites, but the pace and stops are built to be manageable for a range of abilities.

What language is the guide available in?

The guide is available in English or Spanish, and you can choose your preferred language when you book.