Arequipa Countryside Guided Tour: Sabandia Mill and Founder's Mansion

from $200

Duration

3 hours

Type

Guided, Private

Difficulty

Easy

Reviews

(3)

4.47 /5

Arequipa Countryside, Sabandia Mill & Founder's Mansion

Discover the historical and architectural heritage of Arequipa’s rural outskirts on this 3.5-hour guided tour.

Key Landmarks Visited:

La Mansión del Fundador: A 16th-century colonial manor house built from volcanic sillar stone, featuring original European furnishings and a private chapel.
Sabandía Mill: A fully functional hydraulic mill dating back to 1621, surrounded by ancient terraces and gardens.
Paucarpata & Carmen Alto: Scenic viewpoints offering panoramic vistas of the Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu volcanoes.

Logistics: This tour includes pickup and drop-off from centrally located hotels in Arequipa. Participants travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with a certified bilingual guide (English/Spanish).

Inclusions

Hotel pickup and drop-off
01 bottle of water per person
Entry or admission fee

Exclusions

Personal expenses
Tip or gratuity
Food & drinks

Tour Plan

Arequipa countryside - Valley of Chilina
Our Countryside, Sabandía Mill, and Founder’s Mansion tour begins with pickup from your hotel located in downtown 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 colors of the countryside from its grand viewpoint. Here, you will have wonderful views of wide green fields and the Chili River.

Paucarpata
We will visit Paucarpata, which has terraces and viewpoints offering spectacular panoramic views of the Arequipa countryside and the imposing Misti volcano.

Founder's Mansion
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 kilometers 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 colorful gardens. During the tour, you will observe rooms adorned with canvases, ceramics, and furniture brought from Europe.

Sabandía Mill
Just 9 kilometers 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 center to drop you off at your hotel.

Itinerary

Expand All

Arequipa countryside - Valley of Chilina

Our Countryside, Sabandía Mill, and Founder’s Mansion tour begins with pickup from your hotel located in downtown 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 colors of the countryside from its grand viewpoint. Here, you will have wonderful views of wide green fields and the Chili River.

Paucarpata

We will visit Paucarpata, which has terraces and viewpoints offering spectacular panoramic views of the Arequipa countryside and the imposing Misti volcano.

Founder's Mansion

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 kilometers 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 colorful gardens. During the tour, you will observe rooms adorned with canvases, ceramics, and furniture brought from Europe.

Sabandía Mill

Just 9 kilometers 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 center to drop you off at your hotel.

Meeting / Pickup

Pick-up only: Customers must be picked up from selected pick-up locations.

Know Before You Go

Infants must sit on your lap
Passport required

What to Bring

Sunglasses
Hat
Sunscreen
Cash for personal expenses

Please Note

Not wheelchair accessible
Not stroller accessible
Not suitable for pets
No public transportation nearby
Infant seats unavailable
You should bring hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, money for personal expenses
Pick up from centrally located Arequipa hotels

Cancellation Policy

We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if booking is cancelled 1 day or less before the event
We will charge a cancellation fee of 0% if booking is cancelled 1000 days or less before the event

Destinations

Arequipa

Language

English, Spanish

Operator

Tangol Tours

Reviews

4.47/5

Wonderful

3 verified reviews

Location (4.67/5)

Amenities (4.33/5)

Services (4.67/5)

Price (4.67/5)

Rooms (4/5)

3 Comments

Mary Lee-Wong February 15, 2024
4.6
- Location
- Amenities
- Services
- Price
- Rooms
Exploring the Sabandía Mill and the founder’s mansion was a refreshing break from our busy business schedule, with its peaceful countryside charm; however, we wished the tour offered more time at the mill to fully soak in its history.
Susan Smith April 26, 2024
4.6
- Location
- Amenities
- Services
- Price
- Rooms
Wandering through the stunning countryside was a delightful escape, especially when I reached the charming mill and the historic mansion. The transportation was smooth, which made the journey all the more enjoyable, although I wish there had been a bit more time to explore the grounds. Overall, it was a relaxing experience that offered a nice glimpse into the region’s rich heritage.
Adventurer June 20, 2024
4.2
- Location
- Amenities
- Services
- Price
- Rooms
We had a wonderful time exploring the picturesque Sabandía Mill and the charming founder’s mansion during our afternoon in Arequipa. The countryside views from the van were breathtaking, though we wished the ride could have been a bit longer to take it all in. Overall, it was a refreshing experience that gave us a glimpse into the region’s history while enjoying the beautiful landscapes.