Arequipa City Tour Including St Catherine Monastery

Following pickup at your hotel in Arequipa, set out to explore what is known as the White City (Ciudad Blanca) aboard an air-conditioned coach. Stop first at the St Lazarus quarter, where Arequipa was founded. Walk down lovely streets lined with flowers and historic homes. At the Carmen Alto viewpoint, stop for views and photo ops of the surrounding farmland, framed by the Pichu Pichu, Cachani and Misti volcanoes. See the Andalusian-style church and buildings in the Yanahuara colonial district. The white buildings here are made from sillar, a volcanic rock, giving the White City its nickname. Stop at another popular viewpoint, El Mirador de Yanahuara. Continue to the Monastery of St Catherine, a Dominican religious site that was closed to the public for over 4 centuries. Walk through the nunnery's peaceful plazas, narrow alleyways and lush gardens. Visit the Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa in the Plaza de Armas, dating from the 16th century. Learn about the history of the structure from your guide, then stop by cloisters at the Church of the Society of Jesus (Iglesia de los Jesuita). At the conclusion of your 3.5-hour city tour, return to your hotel for drop-off.