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Santa Catalina Monastery

We compared all 11 options — our verdict, the best value and who each one is really for.

4.6 11 experiences from US$ 68 ✓Free cancellation on most experiences

The verdict

Our pick
Walking Tour Arequipa: Santa Catalina Monastery with Guide
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Top rated
Arequipa City Tour with Santa Catalina Monastery
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Private experiences (3)

Private Arequipa City & Santa Catalina Monastery Tour
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Private Arequipa City & Santa Catalina Monastery Tour★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (2)3h–4hA private tour of Arequipa's colonial landmarks and Santa Catalina Monastery with a professional guide in English or Spanish, lasting three to four hours. You choose the start time, and the monastery entrance fee is included—unlike standard group tours. The guide stays with you throughout, answering questions at your own pace.Is it for me?If you speak English or Spanish fluently, a private guide means you set the pace and ask questions without waiting for a group to catch up—the three to four hours stretch or compress based on what holds your attention at each stop.Free cancellationfromUS$ 57View ›
Private Arequipa City Tour: Juanita Mummy and Santa Catalina
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Private Arequipa City Tour: Juanita Mummy and Santa Catalina★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (1)5hA private city tour of Arequipa with a professional guide and driver takes you through the White City's major sites in five hours. You visit Santa Catalina Monastery, built in 1579 with white volcanic rock and designed in colonial style; the Museum of Andean Sanctuaries, where the Juanita Mummy is preserved; and the colonial suburbs of Cayma, Sabandia and Yanahuara for views of the city and its volcanoes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as is lunch at a local Picanteria restaurant. A minimum of two people per booking is required.Is it for me?The five-hour pace keeps the major sites—monastery, mummy museum and colonial views—inside a single morning or afternoon without rushing between them. Your guide handles the route and timing, so you move through Arequipa without managing transport or entry logistics yourself.Free cancellationfromUS$ 192View ›
Arequipa Private City Tour: Santa Catalina Monastery & Yanahuara
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Arequipa Private City Tour: Santa Catalina Monastery & Yanahuara3hA private half-day tour of Arequipa with a bilingual guide, starting at the Main Square and moving through the Cathedral, Santa Catalina Monastery (a 1579 religious citadel still in use), and the baroque Church of the Compañía before climbing to the districts of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto for panoramic views of the countryside. Hotel pickup and monastery admission are included; the tour runs three hours and suits families with children from age 5 onward.Is it for me?This is a private tour, so the pace and stops are yours alone rather than shared with other travelers—useful if you want to linger at the monastery or ask questions without keeping a group waiting. The bilingual guide speaks both Spanish and English, which matters if you're more comfortable in one language or want to move between them as the day unfolds.Free cancellationfromUS$ 100View ›

2 to 5 hours (5)

Arequipa City Tour and Santa Catalina Monastery with Guide
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Arequipa City Tour and Santa Catalina Monastery with Guide★★★★★★★★★★ 3.00 (1)3h 30mA half-day guided tour of Arequipa picks you up from your hotel and moves through four stops: Carmen Alto viewpoint overlooking the Chili river valley and the Misti and Chachani volcanoes; Yanahuara, a 19th-century district with its own viewpoint; the Company Church, a World Heritage Site begun in 1590; and Santa Catalina Monastery, a 16th-century convent built by ashlar stone. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese or French, and monastery admission is included.Is it for me?Book this if you want a guided group tour with fixed stops at Carmen Alto and Yanahuara viewpoints plus the Company of Jesus basilica, rather than piecing together your own Arequipa itinerary.Free cancellationfromUS$ 72View ›
Arequipa City Tour: Santa Catalina Monastery & Plaza de Armas
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Arequipa City Tour: Santa Catalina Monastery & Plaza de Armas★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (1)3hThis guided city tour of Arequipa covers the Santa Catalina Monastery, the Plaza de Armas cathedral, and the city's colonial architecture in three hours, with hotel pickup and entrance tickets included. The route moves on foot through the historic center, led by a professional guide in English or Spanish. Suitable for all fitness levels; minimum age 12.Is it for me?The three-hour pace on foot through the historic center works best if you want to move steadily through the main sites without a rushed schedule—the guide has time to explain the architecture and history at each stop, and you're not racing between monuments. If you prefer a slower, more leisurely exploration or a longer deep dive into fewer places, a private guide or a half-day option might suit you better.Free cancellationfromUS$ 72View ›
Arequipa city tour: Santa Catalina Monastery and colonial center
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Arequipa city tour: Santa Catalina Monastery and colonial center3hThis 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.Is it for me?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.Free cancellationInfants freefromUS$ 95View ›
Arequipa city tour: Santa Catalina Monastery and viewpoints
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Arequipa city tour: Santa Catalina Monastery and viewpoints3h–4hThis city tour of Arequipa covers the historic center, the Santa Catalina Monastery, and two viewpoints overlooking the city and its volcanoes, with a professional guide in English or Spanish, all entry tickets, and private transport to each stop. The tour runs three to four hours and includes no extra charges—guide, entry and transport are settled before you start.Is it for me?Pick this tour if you want a guide explaining colonial architecture and the monastery as you walk, with both viewpoints and the historic center covered in one morning or afternoon session.Free cancellationfromUS$ 77View ›
Arequipa City Tour and Santa Catalina: 4-hour Guided Walk
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Arequipa City Tour and Santa Catalina: 4-hour Guided Walk4hA half-day guided tour of Arequipa's historic center and Santa Catalina Monastery, a 1579 medieval convent still inhabited by nuns, includes entry fees, a professional guide in English or Spanish, and round-trip hotel pickup. The tour visits the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, La Compañía Church with its baroque murals, and three districts with views of Misti Volcano; the order of stops may vary.Is it for me?Choose the shared tour if you're joining other travelers, or book the private option if your group prefers to explore Arequipa's colonial center and Santa Catalina Monastery on your own schedule.Free cancellationLikely to sell outKids −29%fromUS$ 102View ›

Frequently asked questions

Can I book with free cancellation?

Yes: 10 of the 11 options offer free cancellation, so you can book now and confirm your plans later.

How long do these experiences last?

Most options last between 2 and 5 hours.

Which one is the travelers' favorite?

Walking Tour Arequipa: Santa Catalina Monastery with Guide is the travelers' favorite, rated 4.20 out of 5 across 10 reviews.

Are private options available?

Yes, 3 private experiences are available if you prefer a closed group.

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