Yanahuara Viewpoint

Yanahuara is an old district on the far side of the Chili from central Arequipa, and its plaza ends in a mirador: a row of arches built in white sillar, each framing a view across the city to El Misti, the near-perfect volcanic cone at 5,822 metres that stands behind Arequipa, with Chachani and Pichu Pichu alongside. The arches carry carved quotations from Arequipeño writers and politicians about the city, in a tradition of local pride that Arequipa is well known for. The plaza behind has the church of San Juan Bautista with a carved sillar facade, and the surrounding streets are quiet and residential with old houses and small restaurants. It is a fifteen-minute walk from the Plaza de Armas across the bridge, and it is at its best in the late afternoon when the volcanoes are clear and the stone takes the light.

What you actually see

• The arches - sillar frames aligned on El Misti across the city.
• The carved quotations - Arequipeño writers inscribed in the stone.
• The volcanoes - Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu on the skyline.
• The plaza - the church of San Juan Bautista and the old district around it.

When to go

Year-round; late afternoon for light on the volcanoes. Thirty to sixty minutes. Morning cloud sometimes hides Misti entirely.

Honest expectations

Small - the mirador is a single row of arches. Crowded with tour groups mid-morning. Cloud can hide the volcanoes. Vendors and photo touts work the plaza.

Nearby

Central Arequipa is across the bridge; the Sabandía mill is south-east of the city.