Arequipa Volcano: Stunning View at Yanahuara Viewpoint

The most prominent feature that surrounds the landscape of Arequipa is undoubtedly the range of volcanoes; The Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu. Millions of travelers flock to Arequipa each year to observe these magnificent natural structures. The most popular Arequipa volcano viewpoint is without a doubt the Yanahuara Viewpoint and with good reason.

Yanahuara Viewpoint
2 km from the Historical Centre of Arequipa, lies Yanahuara Viewpoint. It was built using white ashlar in which the words of local poets are engraved. From this spot, you can observe the volcanoes Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu. This area is most definitely the best place to view the Arequipa Volcanoes from.

The weather from the viewpoint is generally mild, with an average of 15ºC (temperatures sometimes reaching 22ºC and dropping to 5.5ºC). Rain is usually only present in the months of January and February and the other 330 days of the year are generally sunny. The viewpoint is open from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm.

If you decide to take the walk to this stunning viewpoint, I guarantee you won’t forget it. Along your journey you will see more of colonial Arequipa and you will cross the Rio Chili, finally finishing your walk at the Yanahuara Viewpoint. A beautiful sight to behold and one that takes the breath of first timer visitors away without fail!

The Misti Volcano
The Misti Volcano lies 20 kilometres north west of Arequipa (5,825 meters above sea level) which is visible from almost every part of The White City of Arequipa.

The passive weather of Arequipa allows a climb of the Arequipa volcano without too many difficulties. When visitors finish their ascent of the Misti Volcano, they are rewarded with a panoramic view of the city and other smaller volcanoes: Chachani and Pichu Pichu.

The expedition lasts 2 days, with an average of 12 hours of walking to the summit, spending the night at 4,610 meters above sea level. Therefore, it is necessary to be in suitable physical condition to undertake the ascent. Conditions such as asthma have proven problematic in the past for tourists. The descent will be faster, taking about 4 hours. The best time of year to hike an Arequipa Volcano is between July and November, when the temperatures are higher.

Other Volcanoes
While El Misti is the most popular of the Arequipa volcanoes, there are still many other impressive volcanoes surrounding Arequipa. These include :

Coropuna (Dormant)
This is Peru’s highest volcano at 6,425 metres and it has been active for almost 5 million years. The Coropuna holds the world’s oldest irrigation system, put in place hundreds of years ago by the Incas. This Volcano is also hope to the world’s second largest tropical ice cap. However, as a result of global warming it is estimated that the ice cap will have melted by 2045.

Ampato (Extinct)
After Coropuna, this is Peru’s second largest volcano, peaking at 6,288 metres. Ampato is a part of the north-south chain of three volcanoes; Hualca Hualca and Sabancaya. This was the resting place of one of the most famous girls of Arequipa’s history, ‘Juanita the Ice Maiden.’ This young girl, believed to have been between 12-15 was supposedly killed as a sacrifice to the Gods during the reign of the Inca Empire. Since discovered in 1995, her body has been preserved in Museo Santuarios Andinos, a museum dedicated to her sacrifice.

Be sure to stay safe while exploring the volcanoes of Arequipa and most of all, have a great time!