What places to visit in Arequipa City?

Index

1.- The Main Square of Arequipa

The Main Square of Arequipa receives daily hundreds of Arequipa residents and travelers from various parts of Peru and the world. A busy square, surrounded by palm trees and in its center a beautiful bronze fountain of 3 plates that houses a sculpture of a 16th century soldier called “Tuturutu”, who, according to history, watched over the beautiful city of Arequipa.

The Plaza de Armas is not only a place to rest and appreciate the beautiful city with its impressive Misti volcano, but it is also used for festivals, concerts, among other cultural and traditional events.

This square is a fundamental and important part of the historical and cultural heritage of the city of Arequipa, around it you will find buildings built with ignimbrite (a stone of volcanic origin) as the Cathedral of Arequipa, also known as the Cathedral of the Assumption and the Municipality of the City of Arequipa.

Giant Belgian organ of the Cathedral Museum of Arequipa.

4.- Viewpoint of Yanahuara

The viewpoint of Yanahuara is a tourist attraction that you can not miss on your visit to the city of Arequipa. The famous viewpoint offers an unparalleled view of the most famous volcanoes in the region, the Misti, Pichu Pichu and Chachami.

The viewpoint of Yanahuara is formed by arches of volcanic stone called “sillar”, so it has a whitish color. Another peculiarity of these arches, in addition to its color, is that they have engraved inscriptions, which refer to thoughts of important Arequipa characters.

If you want to visit the Mirador de Yanahuara, we suggest that you visit it both day and night. During the day you can appreciate the city of Arequipa in all its splendor and also have a view of the Misti, Pichu Pichu and Chachami volcanoes, but yes, the skies must be clear and the weather sunny. At night, the city lights look magnificent and it seems that you have the stars at your feet, perfect for a moment of reflection or a romantic date.

Also the sunset looks beautiful, worthy of a photo for your social networks, for this I suggest you visit the Mirador de Yanahuara from 5:00 pm.

Near the Mirador de Yanahuara you can find ice cream cheese stands (typical dessert of Arequipa), which is considered the richest ice cream in the world by Taste Atlas in the 2023 edition and the third best dessert in the world by the United ranking. One more pride! You can also find this Arequipa dessert in several local markets and in stalls near the Main Square of Arequipa.

Also, near the Mirador de Yanahuara you can find a beautiful square full of palm trees and a colonial church, called San Juan de Yanahuara, as well as many traditional restaurants and picanterias.

There is no cost or admission time since it is located on the public road. Totally free of charge.

How to get to the Mirador de Yanahuara?

On foot

From the main square of Arequipa to the Mirador de Yanahuara you will have to walk about 20 minutes approximately, for this you will have to cross the famous Grau Bridge.

By cab

From the main square of Arequipa to the Mirador de Yanahuara the cab will charge you S/. 5 soles ( USD 1.20 dollars) approximately.

By bus

You can take a bus from the Plaza de Armas to the Mirador de Yanahuara for S/. 1 sol ( USD 0.20) per person per way.

Arequipa Cathedral Bell Tower