Things to do in Arequipa
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2 Day Colca Canyon Trek from Arequipa: Condor Cross & SangalleA two-day trek from Arequipa that descends into Colca Canyon with an English or Spanish-speaking guide, meals, and transport back to the city. You walk from the Condor Cross viewpoint down to the Sangalle oasis, spending a night in the canyon before the return climb. The itinerary combines the cultural stops around Chivay with the physical trek itself, so a single departure covers both the region and the interior landscape.Is it for me?This trek suits experienced walkers who are comfortable with steep descents and high-altitude climbs and who want to spend a night inside the canyon rather than turn around the same day. If you have limited trekking experience or prefer a shorter day hike, a single-day Colca visit from Arequipa might fit better.
Arequipa: Chili River White Water Rafting with PickupYou’ll get picked up in Arequipa and join local guides for a white water rafting adventure on the Chili River—expect laughs, splashes, and scenic views just 20 minutes from town. All gear’s provided, plus snacks after paddling. It’s beginner-friendly but never boring—and you might find yourself grinning long after you dry off.
Colca Canyon day tour: Andean condors and wildlifeA full-day tour of Colca Canyon in the Andes with a live guide in English or Spanish, including hotel pickup, breakfast, lunch and stops to see alpacas, vicuñas and Andean foxes. You'll spend an hour at the Condor Cross viewpoint looking for condors nesting nearby, and drive to 4,900 meters for views across the mountain range. National Park entrance and hot springs entry are separate.Is it for me?This is a shared group tour with a set schedule and fixed stops, which is what keeps the full Colca Canyon experience—the high-altitude views, the wildlife, and a full hour at Condor Cross—inside a single day without you arranging the transport, timing or meals yourself.
Buenos Aires: Night Sky Observatory & Planetarium TourYou’ll sip coffee under chilly Buenos Aires skies while peering through professional telescopes at Saturn’s rings and distant galaxies. With local guides helping translate and explain each sighting, you’ll also get hands-on with real meteorites and lose yourself in an immersive 4K dome show. It’s a night that leaves you feeling both tiny and strangely connected.
Colca Canyon Flights: 2-Day Condor Views & Thermal BathsYou spend two days moving through the high Andes, from volcano viewpoints at 4,910 meters to the Colca Canyon rim where Andean Condors hunt. You stay one night in a lodge in Coporaque village, learn to cook a traditional meal, and walk the canyon edge before returning to Arequipa by afternoon. Transport, guide, breakfast, and accommodation are all arranged—you just show up at your hotel.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Colca Canyon and the Andean Condor without arranging transport, accommodation, or guides yourself—the fixed itinerary and small group size mean you move at a pace that lets you actually absorb the altitude and the views instead of rushing between stops.
Chili River rafting near Arequipa: Class II–III rapids with pickupChili River rafting near Arequipa is a half-day activity on class II–III rapids with a certified local guide, full safety equipment, and round-trip pickup from central Arequipa. The river sits minutes from the city yet runs through volcanic landscapes and deep canyon walls, with photo stops and swimming built into the route. Children from age 8 are welcome; guides speak English, Spanish, Portuguese and French.Is it for me?Most Arequipa rafting requires a long drive to the put-in and back. This one starts minutes from the city, so you spend three hours on the river instead of half the day in a van, and the pickup means you don't negotiate transport or timing yourself.
Arequipa & Andes: Rock Climbing Day Trip by Chili RiverYou’ll start your day with hotel pickup in Arequipa before heading out to climb beside the Chili River in Charcani Valley. With all gear included (even snacks), local guides help you find your footing whether you’re new or experienced. Expect laughter, some nerves, and views you might remember long after you’re back in town.
2-Day Colca Canyon Trek from Arequipa: Condors & Hot SpringsA 2-day guided trek through Colca Canyon starting from Arequipa, with 6 hours of trekking on day one down to the village of Sangalle and 3 hours climbing out on day two. You stay overnight in a rustic lodge, bathe in natural hot springs in Yanque, and watch condors soar above the canyon walls. Lunch and dinner are included; the trek requires moderate fitness and some prior hiking experience.Is it for me?This is a shared-group trek with a guide leading the route and handling logistics, so you focus on hiking and soaking rather than navigation or camp setup. Choose it if you want the full canyon experience — the deepest point and the climb out — with other hikers and the structure of a fixed schedule, rather than going solo or hiring a private guide.
Arequipa: Hands-On Peruvian Cooking Class & Two-Course MealYou'll prepare and cook a two-course Peruvian meal under instruction in a garden kitchen, choosing from three menus and learning techniques you can replicate at home. The class includes all ingredients, refreshments, and lunch with other travelers. Groups cap at twelve, and the instructors adjust to your skill level and any dietary needs you mention at booking.Is it for me?This works well if you want to learn a skill you'll actually use, not just taste food someone else prepared. The hands-on format and small group size mean you get real instruction and time to ask questions, and you leave with a recipe and the confidence to cook it again.
Arequipa: Río Chili Rafting Class III & IV RapidsYou get picked up from your Arequipa hotel, driven to the Río Chili put-in, and spend an hour paddling Class II-IV rapids through a canyon section 20 minutes outside the city. All gear is provided, a professional guide leads the trip, and you're back at your hotel within three hours. No experience needed, and the timing leaves your afternoon open.Is it for me?Book this if you want a real whitewater experience without losing a full day to travel and logistics — the 20-minute drive and three-hour total time mean you can fit it into a shorter schedule while still getting an hour of actual paddling.
Arequipa: Salinas & Aguada Blanca Reserve with Volcanos & Hot SpringsYou start before dawn at a viewpoint overlooking three volcanos, eat breakfast in a mountain village, then spend the day in the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve watching vicuñas and flamingos among salt flats and water mirrors. A soak in natural hot springs rounds out the afternoon before your return to the city. Hotel pickup and a guide are included, so you don't arrange transport or worry about timing.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the three volcanos that frame Arequipa, cross a salt flat and soak in hot springs without arranging your own transport or worrying about altitude — the early start and breakfast stop are what make the full day possible at that elevation.
Chaqchao Chocolate Making Workshop: Bean-to-bar in ArequipaYou roast cacao beans, grind them by hand using a traditional stone mortar, brew the ancient Aztec chocolate drink, taste five different chocolates to spot the difference between commercial and artisan, and make your own chocolate bar with Andean grains to take home. The 2.5-hour class runs at 11am or 2:45pm and includes all equipment and ingredients; you just need to confirm your preferred time when you book.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand where chocolate actually comes from and leave with something you made yourself — the hands-on roasting and grinding is what makes the tasting part make sense, and the 2.5-hour length is what fits all of it into one morning or afternoon without rushing.
Arequipa: Historic Center Walking Tour & Pisco TastingYou 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.Is it for me?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.
Arequipa Food Tour: Market Tasting & Ancestral Cooking ClassYou’ll taste more than 14 flavors across Arequipa—from San Camilo Market fruits to hands-on ocopa making with locals. Learn about ancestral cooking methods, try dishes like alpaca and rocoto relleno, and end with queso helado while gazing at Misti volcano. Expect laughter, unexpected textures, and a real sense of place that lingers after you leave.
Colca Canyon Arequipa: Condor & Thermal Pools Full DayYou leave Arequipa at 3am and climb to Patapampa's 4,900-meter viewpoint before sunrise, then move through the Colca Valley stopping at traditional towns, pre-Inca terraces, and the Cruz del Cóndor to watch Andean condors soar above the canyon. Breakfast, lunch, and thermal spring entry are included, with a guide managing all timing and transport so you arrive back by evening without arranging logistics yourself.Is it for me?This tour works for travelers who want to see the Colca Canyon, condor viewpoint, and thermal pools in a single day without arranging transport, guides, or meals—the early 3am start and high altitude are what make all ten stops possible before evening return.
Arequipa Walking Tour: Historic Centre & Alpaca TextilesYou walk through Arequipa's downtown with a local guide, starting at Plaza de Armas and moving through the UNESCO-listed historic centre. You visit Mundo Alpaca to see how alpaca textiles are made with natural dyes, taste Peruvian chocolate and tea during a break, pass through the oldest colonial neighborhood, and finish on a rooftop watching the sunset over the city and volcanoes. Snacks are included, and the whole tour takes a half-day.Is it for me?Right for anyone spending an afternoon in Arequipa who wants to understand the city's history and culture without arranging transport or a separate guide—the walking pace and local knowledge handle both at once.
Salinas: Private Day Trip with Salt Flat Picnic & Volcano ViewsYou’ll share coffee with locals in Chiguata before climbing through ancient terraces to reach Salinas’ wild salt flats. Walk beside flamingos and lagoons at 4,300m, then settle into a picnic lunch surrounded by volcanoes—a moment you’ll feel more than see. Private guide, transportation, entrance fees, drinks, and vegetarian or vegan options are all included for a quietly unforgettable day.
Colca Canyon: Full Day Tour with Breakfast & GuideYou’ll travel through remote Peruvian valleys on this Colca Canyon day trip from Arequipa, sharing breakfast with your group and watching Andean condors soar at Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint. Expect early pickup, a local guide who knows every curve in the road, and glimpses of ancient terraces before heading back tired but a little changed by all that space.
Arequipa Historic Center Walking Tour: Small Group HistoryA small group walking tour through Arequipa's historic center led by a professional guide in English or Spanish, covering the Plaza de Armas, La Compañía Church, San Camilo Market, Mundo Alpaca and the old neighborhoods where the city began. The tour runs 2 to 3 hours on foot through the city center, with entrance fees included; you stay on the ground instead of riding through, so the details of the streets and buildings stay visible. A guide tip at the end supports the upkeep of the sites you visit.Is it for me?Book this if you want a walking introduction to Arequipa's architecture and history on your first day—the small group and slow pace let you absorb details, while the guide navigates entrances and routes so you focus on what you're seeing.
Private Colca Canyon Day Tour from Arequipa: Walk to Condor CrossYou’ll travel from Arequipa to Colca Canyon with a local guide, sharing an Andean breakfast in Chivay before gazing into the canyon at Antahuilque. Join a Pachamama ritual at Cruz del Cóndor, soak in volcanic hot springs near Maca, and sample local dishes for lunch — all with stories and laughter along the way.
