Location: Arequipa
Top Things to do in Arequipa
Countries
Top 10 Museums in Arequipa, Arequipa Region
In Peru's second-most populous city, aka "The White City," stunning colonial buildings made of pearly sillar stone vie for attention with the surrounding volcanoes and snow-capped peaks of the western Andes. Founded in 1540, it's a smorgasbord of mansions and museums. The top attraction, 215,000-square-foot Santa Catalina Monastery, is like its own city within a city, complete with fountains and cobblestone streets. Arequipa is the favorite base for visiting Colca Canyon and its massive condors.
Restaurants in Arequipa
1. Museo Puriqruna
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
2. Monasterio de Santa Catalina
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,511 reviews
Considered a masterpiece of colonial architecture, this monastery is a large complex of rooms, picturesque plazas, ornate fountains and a maze of narrow, cobblestone streets.
Reviewed By Mihamarko - Zagreb, Croatia
Beautiful monastery in Arequipa where we spent 2-3 hours just gazing at the architecture and taking in all the history and trying to understand the lives of people inside the monastery.
3. Monasterio de la Recoleta
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 177 reviews
This 17th century convent has been rebuilt several times due to earthquake damage. Now a museum, its rooms contain mummies, masks and souvenirs collected on missionary travels.
Reviewed By P4239YHmariap - London, United Kingdom
Our guide suggested we visited here on our free afternoon and it was a really great way to spend a couple of hours. Very quiet, we had most galleries and the church to ourselves. Lots of interesting and unusual things on display, definitely worth going to.
4. Museo Santuarios Andinos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,548 reviews
This museum’s main attraction is Juanita, whose ritually sacrificed and frozen body was unearthed in a volcanic explosion. This young girl’s miraculously preserved DNA has provided priceless insight into the Inca civilization.
Reviewed By jdb49er
I visited the museum today and took the guided tour, I ended up doubling the amount I was going to tip the guide because she was so informative about the ice maiden Juanita and the other sacrificial children. The collection is small but fascinating how it all links together. I'm not much of a museum person but I highly recommend this one, especially if you plan to trek the Colca canyon.
5. Museo de la Catedral de Arequipa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,085 reviews
In the heart of Arequipa in the Museum of the Cathedral, valuable pieces of art and culture, which reflect the beauty of its Catholic faith, shine for Peru and the world. Monday to Saturday of 10 – 17 hours, all year.En el Corazón de Arequipa en el Museo de la Catedral, brillan para el Perú y el mundo piezas valiosas de arte y cultura, que reflejan la belleza de su fe católica. Horario: Lunes a sábado de 10 am – 5 pm.
Reviewed By beno_tl943 - Germany, null
As part of the plaza de armas, the cathedral is a great place to see the architecture and techniques of the Spaniards
6. Tristan del Pozo (Continental Bank Exhibition Gallery)
7. Museo de Arte Virreinal
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 324 reviews
The Santa Teresa y San Jose’s Carmelitas Descalzas’s Monastery, from Arequipa, was founded in 1710, and since then remains in life, hosting a Community of Contemplative Nuns. In its more than 300 years of existence, the Monastery has been treasuring paintings, sculptures, furniture, metalwork, decorative arts, textiles, beautiful murals and objects of daily use from different periods, origins and artistic styles. In 2005, the Community of nuns decided to open a part of the monastery as Museum of Viceregal Art, exhibiting hundreds of objects of its valuable collection in 13 spaces of the old Cloister of the Offices. The Museum is thematic in most of its Exhibition Halls and is also a living museum, since several of the objects and environments are still used as they were more than 3 centuries ago.
Reviewed By Expoblana
I thoroughly enjoyed this gorgeous colonial building and the wonderful art. The museum is world-class and my guide was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Highly recommend a visit!
8. Casa Museo Villalobos
9. Casa Museo Mario Vargas Llosa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 104 reviews
Reviewed By Q9577GYkevind
Perhaps the best thing we did in Arequipa. The museum exceeded all our expectations with it's set-up and the use of technology to take us into the mind and life of a great writer. It's inspirational to see how much one man has accomplished. The guided tour was handled with such care. An under-rated gem recommended for all in Arequipa.
10. Museo del BCRP - Sede Arequipa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
The Museum of the Central Bank - Branch of Arequipa, in the Goyeneche House , adjacent to the Bustamante house , has a collection that is exhibited and consists of 41 pieces of archeology, between ceramics and metallurgy , and 36 art works, including painting and sculpture.
