Leave the centre behind for Arequipa’s countryside. Traditional districts and viewpoints with Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu on the horizon, an alpaca factory with its own mini-zoo, and two colonial landmarks out among the terraced fields: the Founder’s Mansion and the 1785 Sabandia water mill. Four hours by panoramic bus with a local guide.
The tour leaves from our office on Calle San Agustin 104, Cercado, half a block from the Plaza de Armas. Please arrive 10 minutes before departure. There is no hotel pickup on this tour. If you are staying outside the historic centre, tell us when you book and we will help you plan the short ride in.
Prices may differ on public holidays, Fiestas Patrias, Christmas, New Year and Holy Week. Write to us for a quote on those dates.
Suitable for all ages.
Three, and all of them are optional – you only pay if you want to go in. S/ 5 at the Carmen Alto viewpoint, S/ 17 at the Founder’s Mansion (S/ 12 for children) and S/ 10 at the Sabandia Mill (S/ 5 for children), so around S/ 32 for an adult who does all three. Cash in soles at each door; none of them take cards.
Completely different ground. This one goes out of the centre by bus: the Yanahuara and Carmen Alto viewpoints for the volcanoes, the Incalpaca alpaca factory, and two colonial landmarks in the countryside – the Founder’s Mansion and the Sabandia mill. Our city tour is a walking route through the historic centre and its churches. They share no stops, so plenty of travellers do the countryside in the morning and the centre in the afternoon.
Light. Four hours, mostly on the bus between stops with short walks at each one. The mill and the mansion involve uneven ground and a few steps, but nothing sustained. Arequipa sits at 2,335 m, low enough that altitude is rarely an issue.
No. The panoramic bus leaves from our office on Calle San Agustin 104, half a block from the Plaza de Armas, at 9:00 or 14:00. Arrive about ten minutes early. If you are staying outside the centre the ride in is short and inexpensive – tell us where you are and we will point you the right way.
Sun protection above all. Arequipa is famous for its clear skies and the UV at this altitude is strong even on cool mornings, so a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are worth more than a jacket. Add water, comfortable shoes and cash in soles for the optional entrance fees.
