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Santa Catalina Monastery (Monasterio de Santa Catalina) Tours
14 Reviews

Among the oldest structures in Arequipa, the historically significant Monastery of St. Catherine (Monasterio de Santa Catalina) covers an area of 15,615 square feet (20,000 square meters). The convent harbors a complete city with parks, houses, plazas, chapels, and a cemetery, offering visitors a meditative break from the busy historic center of Arequipa.
The Basics
Travelers can explore Santa Catalina Monastery independently or as part of a guided tour, which provides an easy way for first-time visitors to orient themselves in the sprawling complex. Walking tours that also cover the entire historic center of Arequipa give visitors access to parts of the Old Town that are unreachable by coach or car, while express sightseeing tours by shared or private vehicle are a popular choice for visitors with limited time in the White City (La Ciudad Blanca).
Things to Know Before You Go
- Santa Catalina Monastery is mostly open-air, so be sure to wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water.
- The cloister is still inhabited by nuns, so be mindful of noise and dress appropriately during your time at the monastery.
- You can hire a personal guide at the entrance of the monastery for a small fee.
How to Get There
Located on a street of the same name, Santa Catalina Monastery is a 5- to 10-minute walk from Plaza de Armas and easily recognizable due to its burnt-orange walls made from sillar, a white volcanic rock that dominates the architecture of Arequipa.
When to Get There
The monastery is open daily from around 9am to 5pm, with last entry one hour before closing time. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when the convent remains open until 7:30pm, nuns takes visitors on a tour of the cloisters by candlelight, just as they would have done hundreds of years ago.
The Highlights of Santa Catalina Monastery
If you’re exploring Santa Catalina Monastery alone and want to avoid getting lost in the labyrinthine cloisters, aim to focus on the three main cloisters. Inhale the fragrant scent of the Orange Cloister, named for the orange trees that represent eternal life; imagine taking a 4-year vow of silence in the novice cloister; and peek into the Profundis Room, where portraits of deceased nuns line the walls.
Address: Santa Catalina, Arequipa, Peru
Admission: Varies
Admission Tickets (1)

Monasterio de Santa Catalina Admission Ticket
116
Discover one of the most important architectural works in Peru at the Monastery of Santa Catalina in Arequipa. This 400-year-old complex is like a ‘city inside a city,’ with many streets, cells, and structures within its walls. Learn about the fusion of Spanish and Inca culture that is preserved in this structure and in Peru as you wander the corridors of this beautiful property.
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From
US$ 14.50
From
US$ 14.50
20 Tours and Activities to Experience Santa Catalina Monastery (Monasterio de Santa Catalina)
Did you know?You can reserve your spot today and pay when you're ready.
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Did you know?
You can reserve your spot today and pay when you're ready.Learn more
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Monasterio de Santa Catalina Admission Ticket
116
Discover one of the most important architectural works in Peru at the Monastery of Santa Catalina in Arequipa. This 400-year-old complex is like a ‘city inside a city,’ with many streets, cells, and structures within its walls. Learn about the fusion of Spanish and Inca culture that is preserved in this structure and in Peru as you wander the corridors of this beautiful property.
…More
From
US$ 14.50
From
US$ 14.50

A 3-hour Guided Food Tour with 5 Iconic Restaurants of Arequipa
50
We are the first foodie tour of Arequipa with experience guiding groups in Lima Peru. Our tour takes you to the most iconic restaurants of Arequipa to taste different plates while you also get to know the history of what you are eating.
We tell you the story of Peru and Arequipa through its food and drinks.
You get all this for a very affordable price, that includes all the food, 3 drinks and a dessert! We believe this to be a very good value for your money, as you will end the tour completely satisfied! After the tour, your guide will be happy to recommend chic and superb places to go enjoy some drinks, live music, or whatever tickles your fancy!
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From
US$ 66.67
From
US$ 66.67
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Arequipa, Historic and Colonial City and Santa Catalina Monastery
18
Explore Arequipa's many historical sights and attractions on a half-day sightseeing tour of the city. A knowedgable and expert guide will take you via air-conditioned coah to spectacular viewpoints like the Mirador de Yanahuara, and lead you through some of Arequipa's most exquisite colonial districts—including Yanaahuara and St Lazarus. Visit the Monastery of St Catherine, which was closed to the public for almost 400 hundreds years.
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From
US$ 47.30
From
US$ 47.30
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Private Arequipa City Tour: Juanita Museum, Santa Catalina and Colonial Suburbs
1
Check out the architectural and historical highlights in the colonial city of Arequipa during this 5-hour private city tour. Receive personalized attention from your guide as you explore this Peruvian town also known as “The White City,” thanks to its wealth of white-hued structures. Among the landmarks you’ll see are the Monastery of Santa Catalina, the Juanita Mummy Museum and the colonial suburbs of Cayma, Yanahuara and Sabandia. Your Arequipa sightseeing excursion also includes a private guide and vehicle, lunch, all entrance fees and round-trip hotel transport.
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From
US$ 192.31
From
US$ 192.31
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
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City Tour in Arequipa
See Arequipa through a local lens on this Arequipa sightseeing tour. Along with a guide, head to top sites such as the Cathedral of Arequipa, Monastery of Santa Catalina, and Museum of Andean Sanctuaries. Not only is this tour a great introduction to the city for first-time visitors, but it's also a chance to chat with a local guide about everyday life in the beautiful colonial city.
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From
US$ 75.00
From
US$ 75.00

Private Guided City Tour Arequipa
1
Explore Peru’s second biggest city, Arequipa on a private half-day guided tour. Discover the “White City,” named after its white buildings made from sillar stone of the nearby volcanoes, and how Arequipa became very prosperous during Spanish colonial times. Visit key landmarks such as the Plaza de Armas and Santa Catalina Monastery and get a panoramic at the three volcanoes that surround the city.
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From
US$ 100.00
From
US$ 100.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Private Arequipa Walking City Tour - All included
Explore the ‘White City’ of Arequipa on a private 3-hour walking tour. Learn about the rich history of the city and its beautiful architecture from your informative guide. Visit famous landmarks such as the Santa Catalina Monastery, the house of Tristan del Pozo, and the Plaza de Armas with the impressive ‘El Misti’ volcano serving as your backdrop for the day.
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From
US$ 63.00
From
US$ 63.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Private Arequipa Walking City Tour with Juanita Museum - All Included
1
With striking baroque architecture and buildings made of white volcanic stone, Arequipa ranks among the prettiest cities in Peru—but exploring without a guide means missing out its hidden secrets. On this tour, stroll through the side streets and colorful cloisters with your guide, and see the best of Arequipa on foot. Visit attractions including the Santa Catalina monastery and the Andean Santuarios museum, with entry fees included.
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From
US$ 85.00
From
US$ 85.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Walking Tour Arequipa Including Santa Catalina Monastery
2
Get in touch with Peru’s colonial heritage during this 3-hour guided walking tour of Arequipa. Stroll the streets of the country’s second-biggest city, admiring the unique ashlar-clad (white volcanic rock) buildings of its UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic center. As you wander you’ll tour the oldest neighborhood in the city, see Arequipa’s first church, play around with some llamas and alpacas and sample some potatoes, one of Peru’s most typical snacks. A guide, hotel pickup and food tasting are all included.
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From
US$ 48.00
From
US$ 48.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

City Tour, Santa Catalina in Arequipa + Lunch
Enjoy with family and friends our beautiful white city, Arequipa.
Tour the amazing Monastery of Santa Catalina, a place full of culture and history. The intrusive cells, the small streets, cloisters full of colorful flowers and the walls painted in fresh dyes.
We will visit the Plaza de Armas, one of the most beautiful in Peru, the Jesuit Church of the Company, which on its beautiful facade announces the so-called mestizo architecture, its cloisters and dome.
You will also visit other charming places like Casona Tristan del Pozo, Plaza San Francisco that surround the cataloged as Rome of America. Arequipa, white city known in part for its architecture of Sillar, white volcanic stone.
Do not miss the history of Arequipa without visiting the main architecture of the historic center of the city.
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From
US$ 82.06
From
US$ 82.06

City Tour in Arequipa, Historic Center and Viewpoints around
This tour will allow you to know professionally the different places that comprise the historic center of the city, as well as the main viewpoints that surround the city of Arequipa. Having a pleasant walk time and at the same time cultural information of the city of Arequipa.
Start in the historic center, taking a walk on the main places of free entry with colonial architecture.
After that we went in a private car with a guide on board to the main viewpoints of Arequipa, with a good view and with a lot of history, to know a little more details about the surroundings and also the news in which the White city of Arequipa is located .
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From
US$ 63.59
From
US$ 63.59

Monastery of Santa Catalina, Historic center and viewpoints of Arequipa.
1
With this tour we will be able to know both the history of Arequipa from its beginnings, the constructions of the Historic center of Arequipa, Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the surrounding viewpoints as well as one of the most representative centers such as the Monastery of Santa Catalina, come and know this tour on foot walking and enjoying the city as well as by car to get to know the closest viewpoints of the city with beautiful landscapes and beautiful archeology stories. This tour is offered privately and is guided on board in your preferred language so you have a full day knowing a lot about the history of Arequipa.
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From
US$ 128.21
From
US$ 128.21

Santa Catalina Monastery Tour
1
The Tour of the Santa Catalina Monastery is an experience to tour the so-called "City within the City", since the distinctive features of this place is its isolation from the city despite being in the center of it, also having an art gallery and colorful streets inside. With the passage of time, the Monastery of Santa Catalina has forged a history rich in religious, artistic and cultural details since colonial times.
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From
US$ 54.49
From
US$ 54.49

City Tour in Arequipa, Santa Catalina and viewpoints
This tour is a complete visit to the city, knowing a lot of its architecture, culture, the historic center, then you visit some incredible landscapes where you can also appreciate the beauty of the fields and green areas that Arequipa has, it ends up having a pleasant moment, besides knowing one of the important attractions of Arequipa such as the Monastery of Santa Catalina.
This tour makes it special that it does not have any extra expense on your part, it includes all income and permanent assistance, complete tour of Arequipa.
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From
US$ 76.93
From
US$ 76.93

Arequipa Walking Tour and Santa Catalina Monastery
Through this tour they will learn about the history, culture, legends and peculiar data of the city.
You will discover the importance it had in colonial times and until today becoming one of the most important tourist destinations in Peru -
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From
US$ 44.00
From
US$ 44.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Perú tour in 10 days starting upon arrival to Arequipa quiet city
if you start your trip in Arequipa (2335 m.a.s.l.) you will have the chance to have a gradual acclimatization.
You will enjoy a quiet city full of architecture surrounded by mountains and villages as in Colca valley with live culture, history and landscapes full of nature.
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From
US$ 2,179.49
From
US$ 2,179.49
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Arequipa Private City Tour Including Santa Catalina Monastery
The route begins in Arequipa´s Main Square, one of the most beautiful squares in Peru. Facing this square is the imposing Cathedral, built in the 17th century. From there, continue to the Monastery of Santa Catalina, a cloister and small religious citadel built in 1579, still in use to this date. Then, visit the Church of the Compañia de Jesus (1590). Considered a classic example of local baroque architecture, it houses an exceptional collection of paintings and murals. Lastly, visit the districts of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto for a panoramic view of the Arequipa countryside. At the end, take a transfer back to the hotel.
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From
US$ 105.00
From
US$ 105.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Private Tour to Santa Catalina Convent and Sabandía Mill
You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Santa Catalina Convent, built in 1579, which is an enclosed religious town that remains in use to this day. You will continue to Sabandia, famous for its colonial mill that dates from the XVII Century, where formerly the grains were ground that soon were distributed in all the South of Peru. Fascinating villages with stepped terraces dating from pre-inca time, will be seen on the way.
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From
US$ 95.00
From
US$ 95.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Arequipa City Tour & Santa Catalina Monastery
The route begins in Arequipa´s Main Square, one of the most beautiful squares in Peru. Facing this square is the imposing Cathedral, built in the 17th century. From there, continue to the Monastery of Santa Catalina, a cloister and small religious citadel built in 1579, still in use to this date. Then, visit the Church of the Compañia de Jesus (1590). Considered a classic example of local baroque architecture, it houses an exceptional collection of paintings and murals. Lastly, visit the districts of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto for a panoramic view of the Arequipa countryside. At the end, take a transfer back to the hotel.
…More
From
US$ 56.42
From
US$ 56.42
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

City Tour Arequipa & Santa Catalina Monastery
We invite you to discover the beautiful town of Arequipa, with the SIGHTSEEING TOUR & SANTA CATALINA MONASTERY tour. Stroll through the old 'forbidden city' of Santa Catalina, meet the Jesuit church and enjoy the majestic views of the Misti volcano. Do not miss it!
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From
US$ 86.53
From
US$ 86.53
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Extension To Arequipa
Surrounded by the desert and high mountains, Arequipa is a beautiful city with amazing convents, temples and colonial mansions, declared Cultural Humanity Heritage by UNESCO. Just 3 hours from the impressive Colca Valley where we will find beautiful landscapes surrounded by platforms, snow-capped mountains and volcanoes; llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, vizcachas and the Colca river.
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From
US$ 439.00
Price varies by group size
From
US$ 439.00
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More
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