Arequipa city tour: Santa Catalina Monastery and colonial center

A 16th-century monastery that still holds the shape of colonial life

This is a guided city tour of Arequipa covering the historic center and Santa Catalina Monastery, with a certified guide in English or Spanish, transport between stops, and entry tickets included. The route moves through Plaza de Yanahuara and its San Juan Bautista Church, the Plaza de Armas with the Cathedral, the Church of the Company of Jesus and its Cloisters, and ends at Santa Catalina—a working convent from the 1500s. The tour runs three hours and suits all fitness levels; infants sit on an adult's lap.

Step-by-step itinerary

Arequipa city tour and monastery visit

• Visit Mirador de Carmen Alto viewpoint
• Go to Plaza de Yanahuara and San Juan Bautista Church
• Explore Plaza de Armas and Cathedral history
• Visit Church of the Company of Jesus and cloisters
• Tour Monastery of Santa Catalina

The Experience

Start at the Mirador de Carmen Alto, where the three volcanoes that surround Arequipa—Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu—come into view above the Chili River valley and its Pre-Inca terraces. From there the guide moves through the city's colonial core: Plaza de Yanahuara's ashlar-built viewpoint and San Juan Bautista Church, then the Plaza de Armas with its bronze fountain and the Cathedral's detailed history. The route includes the Church of the Company of Jesus, where carved wooden altarpieces covered in gold leaf line the interior, and the Cloisters of the Society of Jesus—the only building that has remained unchanged since colonial times.

The tour ends at Santa Catalina Monastery, a 16th-century complex that once housed hundreds of nuns and stands as one of the city's architectural jewels. The certified guide explains the history and significance of each stop; transport between them is included, as are all entry tickets. The pace is built for three hours of walking and looking, manageable for all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Certified guide in English or Spanish.
• transport between all stops.
• entry tickets to the Mirador de Carmen Alto, Plaza de Armas Cathedral, Church of the Company of Jesus, Cloisters of the Society of Jesus, and Santa Catalina Monastery.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by PERUVIAN CULTURE TRAVEL

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guide explaining the colonial architecture and indigenous heritage at each stop; choose the self-guided version if you prefer to explore independently and set your own pace.

Top questions

What are the three volcanoes you can see from the Mirador de Carmen Alto?

Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu surround Arequipa and are visible from the viewpoint at the start of the tour, rising above the Chili River valley.

Is Santa Catalina Monastery still in use, or is it only a museum?

Santa Catalina is a working convent, not a museum—it has housed nuns since the 16th century and remains an active religious community within the complex.

What's inside the Church of the Company of Jesus that makes it worth the stop?

The church holds carved wooden altarpieces covered in gold leaf and a dome; the attached Cloisters are the only colonial-era building in the city that has kept its original form.

Does the tour include lunch or time to eat?

The tour itself does not include lunch; it covers three hours of walking and stops, so you may want to plan a meal before or after.

What language does the guide speak?

The certified guide speaks English or Spanish—you choose your preference when you book.

How do you get to the starting point, or does the tour pick you up?

Transport is included in the tour, and pickup is arranged as part of your booking.