Santa Catalina Monastery

Possibly the hughlight of my visit to Arequipa. I was blown away by the scale of the place, the stories shared on the info panels (in both EN and ES), and learning more about cloisters (who knew the sisters had spousal love for Jesus?) A must visit, just make sure you set aside a good amount of time if you wish to visit every open cell.

Visiting the Santa Catalina Monastery is like stepping back in time. The colorful walls, quiet courtyards, and narrow streets create a peaceful atmosphere that feels worlds away from the city. Every corner tells a story, and the mix of history, art, and architecture makes it a truly unique experience. A must-see place if you visit Arequipa — perfect for wandering, taking photos, and enjoying a calm moment surrounded by beauty and history. 🌺📸

An amazing citadel, so well preserved and maintained it's unreal. Sometimes I had to remind myself I was not inside a replica at some amusement park but in a real monastery that's full of history. Entrance is S/45, then for an extra S/10 you can get a one-hour guided tour. We did just that and had the amazing Diana all to ourselves. Otherwise you can scan the QR codes along the way and read the information for free. One of my best historical site visits ever!

A very beautiful and very old monastery that gives you an interesting view of the life of the nuns. Many of the old cells seem like the nun living in it might return any minute. The fruit garden was one of my favorite places in the vast, colorful and beautifully decorated edifice. There is free wifi and a guide you can download if you don't want to take a tour guide which you'd have to pay extra.

Go on Tuesday or Wednesday evening to see the ancient lamps and fireplaces lit. It’s open till 8:30pm Tuesday and Wednesday to give a better idea of what it was like to live there in centuries past. Beautiful and well conserved nunnery established in 1579 but most of the buildings are from the 1800s because earlier constructions didn’t withstand Arequipa’s earthquakes. I highly recommend hiring one of the guides at the entrance because they are very knowledgeable and there aren’t enough panels and plaques that explain all the history. Panels are all in Spanish and English but the guides speak many more languages. I heard guides speaking French, German & Italian. Part of the entrance fee supports the current nuns who live in part of the nunnery. There is a café & gift shop of things made by the nuns and purchases support them.

Completely worth the cost of admission. I went here with my wife and 3 year old. They both enjoyed their visit. The site was bigger than most monasteries I have visited in the past. It was packed with fascinating information. It makes a great contrast with other Peruvian religious sites and gives you a fuller picture. One thing to note, it might not be the best place do go if you have a use a wheelchair or a stroller. Take your time when visiting and drink plenty of water.

A beautiful place, a city within a city. The monastery is in very good condition, and the guides provide professional service in several languages. Regular admission is 45 soles, but on the 10th of each month, it's 15 soles. The only thing is that it's not recommended for wheelchair users or strollers (no ramps available)

45 soles per person to enter. Although I found this to be quite pricey the Convent had plenty of information and we actually spent a few hours here as there was so much to learn about. You can pay 10 soles for a tour guide per person or download their app for free which explains each room. It really was fascinating and worth the visit here.