Sachaca District
Arequipa, Peru
The Sachaca District is most famous for the Mirador de Sachaca, a 5-story tower that offers panoramic views of the city and the snow-capped El Misti volcano. The neighborhood’s food is another highlight: Sachaca has earned a reputation for its picanterías, traditional restaurants serving local dishes to the strains of live Creole music.
The Basics
Travelers can visit the SachacaDistrict as part of a countryside tour of Arequipa, which lets you swap the busy Historic Center of Arequipa for quaint villages and rolling hills. In addition to stopping at the Mirador de Sachaca lookout, most tours also visit the 18th-century Sabandía Mill (El Molino de Sabandía) and Founder’s Mansion (La Mansión del Fundador), a grand colonial home once owned by Arequipa’s founder, Garcí Manuel de Carbajal. Lunch and hotel pickup and drop-off are generally included.
Things to Know Before You Go
The SachacaDistrict is a great place to escape the busy center of Arequipa.
Arrive in Sachaca hungry to enjoy some of the city’s best traditional restaurants.
Wear comfortable shoes if you plan to explore the lively neighborhood on foot.
How to Get There
From Plaza de Armas in the center of Arequipa Old Town, the SachacaDistrict is a 15-minute drive. On foot, the journey takes around 1.5 hours and traverses a few notable districts. Most visitors find that visiting as part of a guided tour is the most convenient and cost-effective way to explore the neighborhood.
When to Get There
Undoubtedly the best time to visit SachacaDistrict is just before sunset on a clear day. After watching day turn to night at the lookout point, you can enjoy Peruvian dishes and live music at a Sachaca restaurant.
The Mighty El Misti Volcano
On a clear day, Mirador de Sachaca provides some of the best views of El Misti, the volcano that’s responsible for the white-stone architecture of Arequipa Old Town. If you’re a thrill seeker with a penchant for trekking, you can ascend to the summit of El Misti during a guided tour that usually takes two days. A good level of fitness is required for the arduous climb to the 19,110-foot (5,825-meter) peak.
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