Monasterio de Santa Catalina
Monasterio de Santa Catalina
4.7
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Considered a masterpiece of colonial architecture, this monastery is a large complex of rooms, picturesque plazas, ornate fountains and a maze of narrow, cobblestone streets.
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C$23.13
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.7
7,652 reviews
Excellent
5,467
Very good
1,835
Average
278
Poor
50
Terrible
22
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Bernard J
Brussels, Belgium2 contributions
Dec 2024 • Couples
Our visit to Santa Catalina Monastery was a truly unforgettable experience. The service was exceptional from start to finish. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, offering insightful stories about the monastery's history and significance. The monastery itself was stunning, with its colorful courtyards, peaceful atmosphere, and well-preserved art. The staff was friendly and accommodating, ensuring we had a comfortable and informative experience. I highly recommend this site for anyone visiting Arequipa – it's a perfect blend of history, beauty, and spirituality.
Written December 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ekkkk
Lincoln, UK191 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
This place is amazing, set right in the center of Arequipa. From the outside you go through some large gates and then there is this whole city inside, it is so vast, it was really hard to fully take everything in. The design and feel of the whole place was amazing. You can then walk through the little city to get to the church and climb the steps to see inside. This was a really magical experience to see all the history and imagine what it would have been like to live there.
Written December 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WorldTravelerCO
Denver, CO969 contributions
The Santa Catalina Monastery in Arequipa was founded in 1579 and built from white volcanic stone. Originally, the monastery was a cloister for nuns from wealthy Spanish families. It operated under a strict vow of silence and seclusion for nearly 400 years. Wandering around here is like going back in time. It's not only beautiful but peaceful. One of the most memorable stops during our time in Peru.
Written July 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RuthyGlasgow
Glasgow904 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
We were on a private tour and the tickets were already organised. Shared a guide who was quite knowledgeable and afterwards we could go around on our own. I loved the tranquility of it all and the information on the new nuns/recruits on what they had to do and where they lived. The stories of the wealthy who put their first born girl to be wed then the next daughter to be a nun? These wealthy families paid for them to be there. You viewed the nun's cells and then after a year if they took their vows then they were moved into the other part with bigger cloister. Viewed the ingenious way that the water flowed into stone basins for them to do their washing with the plugs made of potato? Then the pool in which the servants on return from visiting family had to bathe in it to purify themselves before they could enter back in the monastery! Very pretty streets within and it would have been a village in its own rights with their communal kitchen. Very interesting and peaceful and it has a little cafe for coffee cake etc. Definitely worth a visit.
Written June 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JEAN-CLAUDE G
Chalon-sur-Saone, France161,515 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
Interesting to see that there are explanatory signs in French. The painting of the different areas allows to better understand the functioning of this convent. I also enjoyed washing it. Inside this convent, I saw no sisters. Nice visit and very interesting
Automatically translated
Written June 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Musicians Mum
1,330 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
Map in English ,provided at the entry. Not necessary to have a guide.
Coffee shop. Clean toilets
I had anticipated exploration solo on what should have been a free day in our tour. Unfortunately (partly because I had sleep deprivation following the all night bus journey) participated in two visits prior to arriving here and then the tour leader hired a guide (extra sol to the guide).
So did not get a break in the coffee shop or relaxing stroll exploring.
Amazing architecture. Absolute must see.(but at your own pace)
Sprawling.
Cost 45 sol to enter.
Coffee shop. Clean toilets
I had anticipated exploration solo on what should have been a free day in our tour. Unfortunately (partly because I had sleep deprivation following the all night bus journey) participated in two visits prior to arriving here and then the tour leader hired a guide (extra sol to the guide).
So did not get a break in the coffee shop or relaxing stroll exploring.
Amazing architecture. Absolute must see.(but at your own pace)
Sprawling.
Cost 45 sol to enter.
Written April 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eric L
Jura, France798 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
What a wonderful convent!
A real jewel in the heart of Arequipa.
Visit not to be missed under any circumstances for anyone interested in religious history, architectural history, the history of Peru and its Hispanic past.
It is best to take a tour with a guide to have as many explanations as possible.
In addition, you will take plenty of eyes with the beautiful colors of the buildings, as well as those of flowers, green spaces, etc...
You will be able to take beautiful photos against the backdrop of the Andean mountains, especially the snow-covered volcanoes.
A little advice for the visit: First take the guided tour, then after the guided tour you can stay as long as you want to take beautiful photos.
A real jewel in the heart of Arequipa.
Visit not to be missed under any circumstances for anyone interested in religious history, architectural history, the history of Peru and its Hispanic past.
It is best to take a tour with a guide to have as many explanations as possible.
In addition, you will take plenty of eyes with the beautiful colors of the buildings, as well as those of flowers, green spaces, etc...
You will be able to take beautiful photos against the backdrop of the Andean mountains, especially the snow-covered volcanoes.
A little advice for the visit: First take the guided tour, then after the guided tour you can stay as long as you want to take beautiful photos.
Automatically translated
Written November 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sightseer57073348977
26 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
The expectations were not very high and were exceeded. The monastery is a city within another city. Interesting to do with Guide to understand the history and architecture of the place. Currently only 15 nuns live in the place where it has already lived 500 people.
Automatically translated
Written July 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ksenia E
Miami Beach, FL173 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
I downloaded the application, translated the information myself, added more from the Internet, it turned out to be an audio guide, we walked with it, refused to impose a guide, they said that we were from Russia and did not understand English, they showed the application, they said that we ourselves would walk with this application. I don’t like the imposition of a guide, especially if you have your own information. It took about 1.5 hours.
Written June 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
M007
Belfort, France178 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
Santa Catalina Convent is a must during a visit to Arequipa. Very extensive (several hectares) it takes a good half day (or more) for the visit. Very well maintained and always occupied this place exudes despite visitors a great serenity. The view of the city from roof terrace is worth a visit. To see
Automatically translated
Written June 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VALERIA
Arequipa Region, Peru
hola erica, todavia no tuve la oportunidad de ir pero me podrias decir que dulces son los que venden en el monasterio?
Written June 1, 2020
No tengo ni idea. Mi visita fue cultural y no me preocupe por los dulces, tampoco los podĂa traer en el viaje de regreso. Pero te podrĂa asegurar que en una belleza como es el Monasterio tendrán el mejor dulce que te puedas imaginar
Written June 2, 2020
La cafeterĂa del monasterio se encuentra en algĂşn otro lugar de la ciudad?
Written July 30, 2018
Hello. How do we have a guided tour? There is no information on their website. Also, do guided tours only leave on certain times? Or if we can hire guides inside, is there availability at any time of the day? Thank you.
Written October 23, 2017
Sorry I took so long to answer. Our tour was booked via Peru Best Tours. Diana there is extremely helpful. Check them out on facebook. They can customise the tour to your needs.
Written January 9, 2018
Cuál es el precio de la entrada? Está cerca a la plaza?
Written September 26, 2017
La entrada no es barata, pero son los 40 soles mejor empleados de todo mi viaje por PerĂş. El monasterio es una autĂ©ntica joya. Aconsejo que tambiĂ©n se contrate a una guĂa, me costĂł 20 soles.
Written June 1, 2020
Un guĂa para el recorrido está incluĂdo en la entrada al monasterio? si no es asĂ alrededor de cuánto cuesta? gracias.
Written June 19, 2017
El guĂa no es incluido en el precio de entrada. Un guĂa vale 20 Soles.Creo que es un buen idea tomar un guĂa por informaciones sobre el monasterio.
Written June 24, 2017
Are photographs allowed throughout the monastery, or are there any limitations?
Written October 11, 2016
Javier V
Arequipa, Peru
La Ăşnica limitaciĂłn para tomar fotografĂas es el uso de flash a los lienzos
Written April 6, 2017
Hi,
I have heard that you can do a night tour which is worth it. How can one book it?
thank you
Written April 11, 2016
Javier V
Arequipa, Peru
Estimada Luisa
Los dĂas Martes y MiĂ©rcoles el Monasterio atiende hasta las 8:00 pm, los demás dĂas hasta las 5:00 pm, no es necesario hacer reserva, la esperamos
Written April 6, 2017
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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