Get to know Arequipa with our local guide Caroline, who will not fail to put a smile on your face! She speaks Spanish, English and German and is happy to adapt to your preferences.
To start this tour, please wait for Caroline at your hotel lobby or meet her at the beautiful main square (Plaza de Armas) of Arequipa if you are staying away from the city center. You can choose to start either at 9 in the morning or at 2 in the afternoon, depending on your preferences and other plans you’ve made. You can easily choose the preferred time during the booking process.
Together, you will make your way to the city center. While walking through the city, Caroline will illustrate what life here was like before the Spaniards arrived, and talk to you about the Spanish invasion. You will surely get to understand Peruvian history better during this tour.
Of course, as this is a City Tour, architecture fans will not be disappointed. Appreciate the facades of Arequipa’s churches (Cathedral, Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús) that merge two different cultures into one.
Later on, you will visit a local market (San Camilo), where you will learn about the daily life of the Mistianos (locals that were born under the Misti volcano). Caroline herself is one of these people! At the market, you will get to know better the fusion of cultures, languages, regions and beliefs that marks the city of Arequipa. You will also have time to drink a smoothie or buy some typical energy bars here.
As the cherry on the cake, you will also have stunning views of the volcanoes (Chachani and El Misti) from different parts of the city. The tour will end again at the Plaza de Armas.
Quote from Caroline: “Please join me on this exquisite tour …. hugs from Arequipaaaaa…”
Please note: If you want to, Caroline can also leave you at the Santa Catalina monastery at the end of the tour so that you can visit it following the Walking Tour. However, she is not allowed to guide in here. Instead, you would have to hire an official guide from the monastery. Just pay the fee directly at the entrance. Also, this would only be possible if you do the tour in the morning, because the monastery closes at 5 pm and you won’t have time to visit it after the afternoon tour.
After having explored Arequipa and having properly acclimatized to the altitude, you will most probably want to head out to the Colca Canyon to enjoy nature for a while. Feel free to have a look at our Multi-Day Tours to The Colca Canyon to find the right experience for you.
On this tour, you will not only support the people’s economy, but visiting the San Camilo market with a local guide will also give you a broad understanding of local products, gastronomy, and idiosyncrasy. Here you’ll find a mixture of products from the coast, the valleys, and the highlands. As well as stalls where locals perform alternative healing and mystical practices.
Furthermore, on this tour, you will experience Arequipa on foot so you won’t generate emissions.
Not really, just make sure you come prepared for the sun and you’ll be all good. Should you feel bad because of the altitude or any other reason, Caroline will be there to take good care of you.
This tour starts at the main square (Plaza de Armas) of Arequipa, which is within a walkable distance from most hotels in the city. You will easily reach it on foot. Of course, you can always ask at the reception of your hotel to call a taxi for you if you wish so, or if you are staying a bit outside of the city center.
Yes, this excursion is private. If there is already a group in the morning or afternoon, you can choose the other slot available on you chosen date.
No, but if you want, Caroline can leave you at the Santa Catalina monastery at the end of the tour. Here, you would have to pay an entrance fee. But Caroline cannot guide you inside of the monastery. You would have to book one of the official guides there.
This is because the Walking Tour with Caroline is usually done in a very spontaneous way! Caroline is flexible and very relaxed. If you walk around and realize, you want to go to a specific place, or there is an event going on, you will go there! Nothing is fixed here, but will be adapted to your preferences. So, feel free to communicate your wishes to Caroline! 🙂
For questions about booking a tour, prices, preparation for your trip, health and safety or other themes, please check our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you can’t find your question & answer, email us and we’ll add it!
Our dear guide Caroline was born under the Misti volcano – Arequipa, but spent many years in Europe, mainly England, France and Germany. She used to be a squash player and coach and has adopted a bit of an English humour during her time abroad.
In 2008, she started working in tourism and then became a tourist guide for the City of Arequipa and the Colca Valley. And she went through quite a transformation until getting to this point.
Caroline once said: “To be honest, I used to be an introvert. I didn’t like institutions and learning. But the world goes round and round, and now I am very passionate about what I do… I love guiding !! I believe we should give and take, preserve our surroundings and take care of our vulnerable habitat by looking at it, but not touching it.”
