Short on time in southern Peru? 2 days in Arequipa is enough to see what makes the White City special: volcanic stone quarries in the morning, Misti volcano viewpoints in the afternoon, and Andean condors soaring over Colca Canyon the next day. Using the three Turismo Liberty tours in this guide, the whole plan costs from $54 per person ($12 + $15 + $27), with hotel pickup in the historic center and a professional guide on every outing.
Already have dates? Message us on WhatsApp +51 959 175 901 and we’ll confirm availability for all three tours within minutes. Below you’ll find the hour-by-hour itinerary, the real total cost (including the entrance fees most guides leave out), which order to do the days in, and what to pack.
🗺️ The 2-Day Arequipa Plan: Price, What’s Included & Pickup
This itinerary combines three regular Turismo Liberty tours whose schedules fit together with no overlap. Here’s the full picture before we get into the details:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tours included | Sillar Route & Culebrillas ($12) + Countryside City Tour ($15) + Colca Canyon Full Day ($27) |
| Total price | From $54 per person (children on the Colca Full Day: $22) |
| Duration | 2 full days (Day 1: two half-day city tours · Day 2: Colca Canyon day trip) |
| Pickup | Hotels in Arequipa’s historic center |
| What’s included | Tourist transportation, professional guide, hotel pickup, plus breakfast in Chivay on the Colca day |
| What’s NOT included | Colca Valley entrance ticket, hot springs, lunches, and countryside entrance fees (e.g. Carmen Alto viewpoint) |
| Difficulty | Easy on Day 1 · Moderate on Day 2 (max altitude 4,900 m / 16,076 ft) |
🏛️ Is 2 Days in Arequipa Enough?
For the highlights, yes. Arequipa’s historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and much of its character comes from sillar, the white volcanic stone the city is built from. Seeing where that stone is quarried at Añashuayco and then seeing it carved into the Yanahuara viewpoint arches on the same day ties the whole trip together.
What two days won’t cover is everything at a relaxed pace: Salinas Lagoon, Pillones Waterfall, or an overnight in Colca fall outside the plan. For the full menu of options, see our guide to things to do in Arequipa: 20 must-do activities.
🗓️ Hour-by-Hour Itinerary for Your 48 Hours
- Day 1 · 8:30 AM — Sillar Route & Culebrillas: hotel pickup and a drive to the Añashuayco Quarry, where stonecutters still carve sillar by hand, then the Culebrillas gorge and its petroglyphs. Back in town around 11:30 AM.
- Day 1 · noon — Lunch at a picantería: free time to try rocoto relleno or shrimp chowder. Traditional picanterías only serve lunch; here’s what to eat in Arequipa and where.
- Day 1 · 1:50 PM — Countryside City Tour: Yanahuara viewpoint framed by Misti volcano, Carmen Alto viewpoint, the Incalpaca mini-zoo (alpacas, llamas and vicuñas), the Founder’s Mansion, and Sabandía Mill. Drop-off near the Plaza de Armas around 5:30 PM.
- Day 1 · evening — Light dinner and an early night: tomorrow’s pickup is before dawn.
- Day 2 · 2:30–3:00 AM — Colca Canyon Full Day pickup: drive to Chivay (about 3 hours) and a traditional Andean breakfast.
- Day 2 · morning — Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint: the main stop, timed for the morning thermals condors ride.
- Day 2 · midday — Yanque, Maca & Chacapi Hot Springs: colonial villages, 17th-century churches, and 38–45 °C thermal pools, followed by lunch.
- Day 2 · afternoon — Volcanoes Viewpoint (4,900 m) and return: views of Ampato, Sabancaya, Misti and Chachani, alpacas at the Toccra wetlands and vicuñas in the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve. Back in Arequipa around 6:00 PM.
🔄 Colca on Day 1 or Day 2? The Order Matters
If you’re flying in from Lima or anywhere on the coast, save Colca Canyon for day two. Arequipa sits at 2,335 m (7,660 ft), and the Full Day climbs to 4,900 m (16,076 ft) at the Volcanoes Viewpoint. A night in the city before that climb lowers your risk of altitude sickness. Coming from Puno or Cusco? You’re already acclimatized, so you can swap the days.
What does a 2-day Arequipa trip really cost?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Sillar Route & Culebrillas | $12 |
| Countryside City Tour | $15 |
| Colca Canyon Full Day | $27 |
| Colca Valley entrance ticket | S/70 foreigners · S/40 Latin Americans |
| Chacapi Hot Springs (optional) | S/15 |
| Lunches, countryside entrances, hotel | On your own |
⚖️ DIY, Separate Tours, or a Package?
| Option | From | What you see | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY (no tours) | Entrance fees and taxis only | Historic center and Yanahuara; Colca by public bus in one day is very hard | Travelers skipping Colca |
| This guide’s plan (3 tours) | $54 | Sillar, countryside and Colca Canyon | Most travelers with 2 days |
| Colca Canyon 2 Days / 1 Night | $59 | Colca without the 3 AM start, overnight in the valley | Condors over city sights |
| Arequipa Unstoppable 3D/2N | $139 | City + Colca with hotel included | Travelers who can add a day |
Still deciding on Colca? Our honest comparison of the Colca Canyon 1-day vs 2-day tour breaks down the trade-offs. With nearly a week, the Arequipa 5-day itinerary adds Salinas Lagoon and Pillones Waterfall.
🌤️ Best Time of Year for This Itinerary
| Months | Weather | For this plan |
|---|---|---|
| April–October | Dry season, clear skies, cold mornings in Colca | ✅ Best window |
| March & November | Shoulder season, occasional rain | ✅ Recommended, fewer crowds |
| December–February | Rainy season in the highlands | ⚠️ Doable — pack rain gear |
🎒 What to Pack for 2 Days in Arequipa
- Layers: Arequipa is warm at noon, but Colca at 5 AM drops below freezing in the dry season.
- Swimsuit and towel for Chacapi Hot Springs.
- Cash in soles for the Colca ticket, hot springs, countryside entrances and picanterías.
- Passport: the Colca ticket price depends on nationality.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat: high-altitude sun burns fast.
- Comfortable sneakers for the Culebrillas gorge and Cruz del Cóndor paths.
- Water and a sweet snack for the high stretch at the Volcanoes Viewpoint.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions: 2 Days in Arequipa
With Turismo Liberty, the three tours in this plan add up to $54 per person: Sillar Route ($12), Countryside City Tour ($15) and Colca Canyon Full Day ($27). Add the Colca Valley ticket (S/70 for foreign visitors), the hot springs (S/15) and your meals.
All three include hotel pickup in the historic center, tourist transportation and a professional guide. The Colca Canyon Full Day also includes breakfast in Chivay. Lunches, the Colca ticket, hot springs and countryside entrance fees are not included.
All depart from Arequipa with pickup at hotels in the historic center: the Sillar Route at 8:30 AM, the Countryside City Tour at 1:50 PM, and the Colca Full Day between 2:30 and 3:00 AM.
For the highlights, yes: sillar quarries, the countryside with Misti views, and Colca Canyon. With 3 or more days you can add Pillones Waterfall or Salinas Lagoon and see Colca at a slower pace.
If you only have two days, yes. The Full Day covers Cruz del Cóndor, Yanque, Maca, Chacapi Hot Springs and the Volcanoes Viewpoint, returning to Arequipa around 6:00 PM. It’s a long day; if you can add a night, the Colca 2 Days / 1 Night from $59 is more relaxed.
You may feel it at the Volcanoes Viewpoint, 4,900 m (16,076 ft). That’s why we suggest doing Colca on day two if you arrive from the coast, staying hydrated, eating light the night before, and telling your guide if you feel unwell.
Planned well, 2 days in Arequipa lets you see the stone that named the White City, the countryside beneath Misti, and condors in flight over one of the world’s deepest canyons. Turismo Liberty coordinates all three tours for $54 per person, with hotel pickup and a guide on every outing.
Ready for your 48 hours in Arequipa?
Sillar Route + Countryside City Tour + Colca Canyon Full Day from $54 per person, with hotel pickup and a professional guide. Daily departures, confirmation in minutes, no middlemen.
