Arequipa, day trip to the “White City”

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I tell you today what activities you can do in the beautiful city of Arequipa on a quick one-day visit to the also called "White City".

Continuing with my brief, but beautiful trip Peru, where I visited again Lima and Cusco, I arrived on a flight from JetSmart to the south of the country to a new city, that I didn't know and I didn't have a clear picture of what to expect and everything was much better than I ever expected.

Arequipa, Known as the "White City" for its imposing ashlar buildings, It surprised me from start to finish., its rich culture and delicious gastronomy (don't stop trying it). If you only have one day to explore this Peruvian gem, don't worry, There are many things to do and you will surely like them..

What to do and visit in Arequipa?

Thanks to the support of DMC Peru Agency, Who do I recommend for your trips to the Peru and other destinations, I visited this beautiful city and was able to learn about its history and gastronomy in a short time..

To start with the information, I share with you a video I made on YouTube so you can get to know this city even better and some of the activities I did:

It is important to clarify that there are many more things to do and everything will depend on your tastes or expectations., but for my time this is what I did in this beautiful city.

General recommendations

To organize a visit we must always know where we are going and basic recommendations for the visit, here I leave you some.

Transport:

• To move around the historic center, it is best to do it on foot. The city is quite compact and the main attractions are close to each other.
• Security is very good, but avoid leaving the main tourist areas, for anything, It is better to avoid problems that harm our trip..
• If you want to visit the viewpoints or the Colca Valley, you can take a taxi or a bus (public transportation). Taxis are relatively cheap and allow you to get to your destination quickly. Buses are a cheaper option, but they may take a little longer to arrive.
• You can also rent a bicycle to explore the city at your own pace. There are several places where bicycles are rented., so you won't have any problems finding one.

Climate:

• The weather in Arequipa is generally dry and sunny. Temperatures during the day range between 20 and 25 Celsius degrees, while at night they can go down to 10 Celsius degrees. They say we live in an eternal spring, since the weather is generally always the same and there are not so many extreme temperature changes during the year.
• I recommend you wear light and comfortable clothing., but also a jacket or coat for the night.
• Don't forget to bring sunscreen, hat and sunglasses, since the sun is very strong and even more 2.300 masl.

Itinerary for one day in Arequipa

Let's go with my recommendations, Yes there are more things to do, but this is what I experienced:

Tomorrow:

• Start your day visiting the Plaza de Armas, There is no waste and it is beautiful. Admire the Cathedral Basilica of Arequipa, with its ashlar façade and twin towers.
• Next, go to the Monastery of Santa Catalina, a 16th century convent converted into a museum. Tour its cloisters, cells and gardens.
• I also recommend visiting the Andean Sanctuaries Museum – MUSA to meet Juanita, I loved that visit, his story is incredible.
• For lunch, Try some of the typical dishes of Arequipa in a restaurant in the historic center. I personally ate at the San Camilo market, everything clean and rich.

Afternoon:

• In the afternoon, Visit the Yanahuara and Carmen Alto viewpoints to enjoy panoramic views of the city and the Misti volcano. The Misti volcano is active and it is beautiful to see it from every angle of the city.
• If you have time left, You can visit the Municipal Archaeological Museum to learn about the history and culture of Arequipa since pre-Hispanic times.
• for dinner, enjoy a delicious pisco sour, the traditional Peruvian liquor, in a bar in the historic center.

Evening:

• If you like nightlife, Arequipa has a wide variety of bars and clubs to choose from. You can also attend a traditional Peruvian music show at one of the city's peñas.
• There are several pages that inform about activities that take place in various areas of the city..

Meal:

The gastronomy of Arequipa is one of the richest and most varied in Peru. Don't miss the opportunity to try some of their typical dishes, What:

• stuffed rocoto
• Picanto
• Arequipa marinade
• frozen cheese

At the market I ate a dish that had stuffed rocoto, potato and lamb pie, brutal and they were just 20 soles.

Additional Tips

• Ojo, Arequipa is 2.300 meters above sea level, so if you come from sea level, take it easy and walk slowly until you fully acclimatize to this difference in altitude.
• If you have more time, you can visit the Colca Valley, a deep canyon with impressive landscapes where you can see condors in their natural habitat, I didn't have time to go, since it does take some 3 hours from Arequipa, but they say it's worth every penny.
• You can also take an excursion to the Misti volcano and other volcanoes in the area.
• Bring sunscreen, hat and sunglasses.
• Please note that museum admission prices may vary.
• If you travel in high season (from June to August), I recommend you book your accommodation in advance.
  • There are many hotels of various categories and prices.

I hope this brief guide helps you enjoy Arequipa, which perhaps is not very well known, but it has many incredible attractions and is worth visiting if you have the time.

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