Monasterio de Santa Catalina (Historical Building)
Location: Santa Catalina 301 Arequipa, Peru
Phone: 51-54-229-798
Description: Like a city within a city, the astounding Monasterio de Santa Catalina is probably one of the best architectural sites in Arequipa. With architecture reminiscent of Andalusia Spain, the convent contains a hundred houses, 60 streets, a main square, church, and cemetery. The painting gallery houses more than 400 paintings from the Cusqueña SchoolDuring the 17th and 18th centuries hundreds of nuns lived here, in addition to the daughters of wealthy families. Some of the convent's highlights include the Orange Tree Cloister, with painted arches; Calle Toledo, an expansive boulevard that ends in a communal lavandería, where the nuns wash their clothes; and the rooms of Sor Ana, a 17th century nun who the Vatican has placed on the fast track to becoming a saint. Mass is held daily at 7:30 a.m.
Open: From 9am to 4 pm daily
Price: 35.00 soles, guides work for a tip
Museo Santuarios Andinos (Museum, Historical Building)
Location: La Merced 110 Arequipa, Peru
Phone: 51-54-215-013
Description: This museum, dedicated to high-altitude archaeology and its pioneer Johan Reinhard, is most famous for housing the mummified remains of 13-year-old Juanita. In addition to Juanita, the museum is home to 18 other mummies discovered atop volcanoes in Peru, Argentina, and Chile. The entrance fee includes a mandatory one-hour tour that features a National Geographic documentary.
Open: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sunday 9am to 3pm
Price: General $4, students $1.50
Toro Muerto petroglyphs (Culture Tour)
Location: Arequipa, Peru
Description: Stretching 200 meters wide for about 2 kilometers 165 km west of Arequipa, the impressive Toro Muerto petroglyphs is one of the largest collections of petroglyph drawings in the world. Figures of animals, birds and people carved into volcanic rock in the vast valley. Though the roots of the drawings have not been confirmed, most historians agree that they were likely created by the Huari culture between 500 and 1200 AD. The site is often visited in conjunction with a trip to the Valley of the Volcanoes 100 km away. Guided tours leave from Arequipa, or you can make the trip yourself, but leave plenty of time when taking public transportation. Buses to Corire depart from Arequipa (3 hours), from where you can either walk to the site (about 1 ½ hours), or ask to be let off 2 km outside the town at the start of a dirt road with a sign that leads to the petroglyphs.
La Compañia (Historical Building)
Location: Thomas Álvarez and General Morán, Arequipa, Peru
Phone: 51-54-212-141
Description: Founded by Jesuits in 1573, La Compañiais a large church composed of three naves and a cupola. This Arequipa attraction is best known for its elaborately carved stone mestizo entrance and the Chapel of San Ignacio de Loyola. Inside is a delicately carved-cedar main altar accentuated by a gold leaf covering. Adorning the chapel’s walls are works from the Mannerist master Bernardo Bitti. In the sacristy located nearby, the gigantic murals of jungle plants and animals recall an earlier period when missionaries were sent into the depths of the Amazon to seek out native converts. Craft markets now inhabit the Jesuits’ less significant cloisters, which are located further down on General Moran Street.
Price Description: $2
Open: M-F 9am-12:30pm & 3-6pm. Sat 11:30am-12:30 p.m & 3-6pm, Sun 9am-12:30pm & 5-6pm
Dining Vegetarian
Gomal Natura Center: Melgar 101B Cercado (at Jurusalen) T; 054-212913 Open: 7am-10pm daily
Govinda: Jerusalén 420, ercado T; 054-285540 Open: unavail Hare Krishna. Menu Turistico, a 4 course meal for 15. Fresh and organic or locally grown. Expect it to take an hour as one person is preparing each part of your meal from scratch
Lakshmivan: Jerusalen 408, Cercado T: 054-228768 Open: unavail.
Mandala: Jerusalén 207, Cercado T: 054-229974 Open: unavail BLD. At lunch time, the menú ejecutivo, including a small salad, a soup, a yogurt, a main dish, a dessert and a drink costs only 5 soles.
Nitay Gourange Vegetarian Rest: Between Calle Rivero & Jerusalem Menu of the day 4 soles (soup, main dish + natural drink.)
Restaurant Vegetariano De Su Hua-Wang: Calle Moral 205 T: unavail Open: Closed Sun Chinese
Restaurant Vegetariano Pizzería Donde Giovanni: Puente Bolognesi 141, La Primera Cuadra T: unavail. Mon-Sat 8am-9:30pm
Sumacc Café Restaurant Vegetariano: Calle Jerusalén 307, Cercado