Our Arequipa Countryside, Sabandía Mill, and Founder’s Mansion tour begins with pickup from your hotel located in city centre Arequipa, and we will head towards the beautiful and extensive Arequipa countryside, where onions and garlic are cultivated.
We will visit the Valley of Chilina to admire the vibrant colours of the countryside from its grand viewpoint. Here, you will have wonderful views of wide green fields and the Chilli River.
We will visit Paucarpata, which has terraces and viewpoints offering spectacular panoramic views of the Arequipa countryside and the imposing Misti volcano.
We will continue the tour by visiting the Founder’s Mansion, a traditional sillar manor house built in the 16th century by the founder of Arequipa, Garcí Manuel de Carbajal. Located 20 kilometres from the Plaza de Armas and near the Socabaya River, its colonial-era style remains intact, as does its original decor.
The mansion has been occupied by various prominent figures such as doctors, bishops, generals, and priests. It features a small chapel, a beautiful main patio, and colourful gardens. During the tour, you will observe rooms adorned with canvases, ceramics, and furniture brought from Europe.
Just 9 kilometres from the city, you will find the Sabandía Mill, an architectural gem dating back to 1621 made of sillar, and which still operates to this day! Surrounded by beautiful and spacious gardens, with local trees and plants like cacti and succulents.
Master stonemason Don Francisco Flores was responsible for constructing this interesting site, and today it is one of the most important historical monuments in Arequipa.
At the end of the tour, we will return to the city centre to drop you off at your hotel.