Arequipa is Peru’s second city — a colonial centre built from white volcanic stone (sillar) beneath the snow-capped cone of El Misti. At 2,335 metres, it sits low enough to avoid the altitude difficulties of Cusco but high enough to be a gateway to some of the world’s deepest canyons and most dramatic Andean landscapes. This guide covers the best tours in and from Arequipa, with prices and practical detail.
Colca Canyon Day Tours from Arequipa
The Colca Canyon is approximately twice as deep as the Grand Canyon — reaching 3,270 metres at its deepest point — and is one of the most spectacular natural features in South America. The standard day tour from Arequipa covers the 4-hour drive to the canyon rim, a stop at the Cruz del Condor viewpoint, time in the village of Chivay, and a return to Arequipa in the evening.
Cruz del Condor is the headline. Andean condors — the largest flying birds by wingspan in the world, at up to 3.2 metres tip to tip — use the thermal updrafts rising from the canyon to gain altitude without effort. From the viewpoint on the canyon rim, they often pass within metres of where you’re standing. The best sightings occur between 9am and 11am when thermals build.
Colca Canyon day tours from Arequipa cost from approximately $25–40 USD per person in a shared group. This typically includes transport, a guide, and the entrance fee to the Colca Valley tourism zone (approximately $23 USD). Lunch in Chivay is usually charged separately — around $8–12 USD at a local restaurant.
The drive itself is an attraction: you cross the Reserva Nacional de Salinas y Aguada Blanca at over 4,000 metres, passing herds of wild vicuñas, flamingos on the Laguna de Salinas, and llamas and alpacas on the high puna grassland. Many day tours stop at Mirador de los Volcanes for views of six volcanoes from a single vantage point.
Colca Canyon 2-Day Tours
The 2-day tour adds a full canyon trekking day — descending approximately 1,200 metres to the canyon floor, crossing the river, and climbing back up the far side. The overnight stop is at Sangalle oasis (also called the Oasis), where several small guesthouses cluster around natural swimming pools on the canyon floor.
Physically, the 2-day Colca trek is demanding. The descent alone takes 3–4 hours on steep zig-zagging trails, and the return climb requires another 3 hours. Mules are available for hire at the bottom (approximately $15–20 USD for the return climb) for those who need assistance.
2-day Colca Canyon tours from Arequipa cost from approximately $50–80 USD per person all-inclusive: transport, guide, canyon entry, accommodation at the oasis, and meals. The extra cost over the day trip is genuinely worth it — the canyon at dawn from the oasis, before the day-trippers arrive at the rim, is one of the quieter experiences in Peru.
Arequipa City Tours
Arequipa’s centro histórico is one of the most beautiful in Peru. The entire historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built almost entirely from white sillar — a porous volcanic rock cut from the deposits around El Misti that glows amber in late afternoon light.
The best city tours cover:
Santa Catalina Monastery — a 16th-century convent covering two hectares in the city centre, essentially a city within a city. Nuns lived in complete seclusion here until 1970. The complex includes 200-metre ochre and blue painted streets, individual cell houses, communal laundry areas, and a kitchen that has barely changed since the colonial period. Entry costs approximately $15 USD; guided tours of the monastery run approximately $20–25 USD including entry.
The main Cathedral faces the Plaza de Armas. Its facade spans the entire south side of the square and contains relics of the first bishop of Arequipa. Interior entry is free; a small museum of religious artefacts costs approximately $2 USD.
Juanita the Ice Maiden at the Andean Sanctuaries Museum (UCSS) — the mummified remains of a young girl sacrificed on the volcano Ampato around 1450 AD, preserved at high altitude for 500 years before being discovered in 1995. One of the most significant pre-Columbian discoveries in South America. Entry approximately $12 USD.
Half-day Arequipa city tours cost from $20–30 USD per person in small groups. Private city tours run from $40 USD. Most tours combine the Santa Catalina Monastery with the Cathedral and a walk through the Plaza de Armas, finishing at a rooftop viewpoint bar overlooking the city.
El Misti Volcano Tours
El Misti (5,822 metres) is the iconic stratovolcano visible from almost every point in Arequipa. Guided treks to the summit are offered year-round, but this is a serious mountaineering objective — you’re ascending over 3,000 metres of vertical gain from the trailhead, camping at a high camp around 4,600–5,000 metres, and summiting in pre-dawn darkness to catch sunrise.
Most operators use a 2-day format: day one drives to the trailhead and hikes to high camp (4–5 hours), day two is a 4am summit push (5–7 hours), followed by descent and return to Arequipa. A third day option allows more time at high camp for acclimatisation.
El Misti guided 2-day tours cost from $80–120 USD per person including transport, guide, camping equipment, and food. Condition: you should have at least 2–3 days acclimatising in Arequipa (at 2,335m) before attempting this. Prior experience at altitude — Cusco, Rainbow Mountain, or similar — is strongly recommended.
Laguna de Salinas Day Trips
The Laguna de Salinas sits at 4,300 metres on the high-altitude plateau southeast of Arequipa. In the wet season (November–March), the lake fills with water and attracts thousands of flamingos — three of the six species of flamingo found in South America, including the James’s flamingo. In the dry season, the lake evaporates to a white salt flat.
Laguna de Salinas day trips typically combine with El Misti or another Arequipa excursion, as the drive passes the volcano base. Standalone tours cost from $30–45 USD per person. Flamingo numbers are highest December–February.
Practical Booking Notes
Arequipa’s altitude of 2,335 metres is manageable for most travellers without a lengthy acclimatisation period. One evening of rest on arrival is usually enough for city tours and the Colca Canyon day trip. For the Colca trek or El Misti, allow 2 full days in the city first.
Tour operators in Arequipa are clustered on and around Calle Santa Catalina and Calle Jerusalén, one block from the Plaza de Armas. Most agencies offer similar prices; the difference is usually group size (smaller is better for canyon tours) and guide quality. Book through GetYourGuide for verified reviews and free cancellation on most options.