Arequipa Private City Tour: San Camilo Market & Santa Teresa

Three hours walking the narrow streets and plazas where Arequipa's pale volcanic stone tells four centuries of history

A private guided tour of Arequipa's historic center covers the San Lazaro district, the Compañía Church, Plaza de Armas, San Camilo Market and Santa Teresa Monastery over three hours with hotel pickup and a bilingual guide. Entry to the church dome and monastery are included, and the dress code for churches requires knees covered. Children from age 5 are welcome, though infants must sit on an adult's lap.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Cotahuasi Canyon22m
2. La Compañía Church15m · entry included
3. Plaza de Armas20m
4. San Camilo Market35m

Explore Arequipa's historic sites and market

• Visit San Lazaro district
• Tour Compañia Church
• See Plaza de Armas
• Explore San Camilo Market
• Visit Santa Teresa convent

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel and heads to the San Lazaro district, five blocks from Plaza de Armas. This neighborhood of narrow streets, small squares and large colonial houses is the oldest part of Arequipa and shows what the city looked like before modern expansion. Your guide walks you through the passages and explains how the pale sillar stone, a local volcanic rock, became the material that earned Arequipa its nickname, the White City.

From there you move to the Compañía Church, built by the Jesuits starting in 1650 after an earthquake destroyed an earlier structure. The dome admission is included, and inside you'll see about 66 paintings from the Cusco school, works by artists like Bernardo Bitti and Diego de la Puente. The church sits on Plaza de Armas, where you stop to see the bronze fountain and the three stone portals (the Portal del Cabildo, Portal de las Delicias and Portal del Regocijo) that frame the square alongside the Cathedral.

The San Camilo Market is next, a working market designed by the French engineer Gustave Eiffel and recognized as a Monumental Heritage site for its civil architecture. You walk through the stalls and see the variety of local products (produce, textiles, prepared foods) that move through a daily market that has operated this way for generations. Finally, you visit the Santa Teresa Monastery, founded in 1710 and only recently opened to the public. The nuns who live there have collected over three centuries of religious art, sculptures, furniture and frescoes that fill the rooms, and admission is included in the tour price.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• admission to the dome in the Compañía Church.
• admission to Santa Teresa Monastery.
• a professional bilingual guide in Spanish and English for the full three hours.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 09:00 and 14:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by LimaTours

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want a guide who speaks English or Spanish and can move at your own pace through the historic center in three hours rather than commit to a full day.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 10 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What is the San Camilo Market and why is it worth visiting on this tour?

San Camilo Market is a working market in Arequipa designed by French engineer Gustave Eiffel and recognized as a Monumental Heritage site for its architectural significance. The tour includes a walk through the stalls to see local products and understand how the market functions as part of daily life in the city.

Can I visit the Compañía Church and Santa Teresa Monastery on this tour?

Yes, admission to both is included. The Compañía Church has a dome you can enter and holds about 66 paintings from the Cusco school of artists. Santa Teresa Monastery, founded in 1710, displays religious art, sculptures, furniture and frescoes collected over more than 300 years.

What should I wear to visit the churches on this tour?

Pants, long shorts or skirts that cover the knees are required for entry to the churches. If your clothing does not meet this dress code, you will not be permitted to enter.