Arequipa Department · Peru
Where to stay in Arequipa
Arequipa is a city in Arequipa Department, Peru, home to about 1,008,000 people.
- Best months
- all year
- Nearest airport
- AQP7 km · Rodríguez Ballón International Airport
- Currency
- PENNuevo sol
- Time zone
- America/Lima
- Language
- Aymara, Quechua, Spanish
About
About Arequipa
Arequipa is a city in southern Peru and the capital of Arequipa Province and the Department of Arequipa. With a projected population of 1,195,700 in 2025, it is the country's second most populous city after Lima.
The city is part of the so-called "Southern Peru Tourist Corridor", together with Nazca, Puno and Cusco. In contrast to these other cities, Arequipa is an example of the Spanish and mestizo culture developed in Peru. There are no Inca artifacts or ruins in the city. In the winter it is warmer than in the summer. It is nicknamed the 'white city' (la ciudad blanca, in Spanish), because many of the buildings in the area are built of sillar, a white stone. This rock was quarried from the many volcanoes that surround the city, including the towering El Misti.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Arequipa
See
Many of the almost 250 colonial buildings named as Human Heritage by UNESCO, are close to the main square. Some have been turned into banks, stores, restaurants and private residences. Churches are among the most beautiful buildings preserved. They are all Catholic and you can visit them but always with a respectful eye towards the people there who may be worshiping. Most of the population still practices the Catholic religion. La Compañía de Jesús, San Francisco, La Merced and the Cathedral are some of the most famous. A good place to watch the sunset in Arequipa is from any of the third floor restaurants on the main square.
- Plaza de Armas
- Cathedral Basilica of Arequipa
- San Camilo Market
- Museo Santuarios Andinos
- Monasterio de Santa Catalina
- Convento de Santa Teresa
- Puente Bolognesi
- Puente Fierro
- Molino de Sabandía
- Mansión del Fundador
- Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús de Arequipa
- Casa del Moral
Do
- Free Walking Tour (Downtown Arequipa)
- Exquisito Perú
- Horse Pa Enrique Tours
- Ventura Travel
- Perou Voyage Tour Operator
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Arequipa
8 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Casa de Avila | 0.6 km | |
| Chikan Hotel Arequipa | 0.7 km | |
| Hostal Carmen | 0.9 km | |
| Hostal Lluvia de Oro | 0.5 km | |
| Hotel Virreinal AQP | 0.5 km | |
| La Posada de Ugarte | 0.3 km | |
| Las Torres de Ugarte | 0.4 km | |
| Orkkowasi | 0.6 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Arequipa
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Arequipa are all year. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 22 °C; February is the wettest, with about 41 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Arequipa: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (AQP), about 7.3 km from the city centre in a straight line; General Jorge Fernandez Maldon Airport (ILQ, 146 km) is also within reach.
Getting around
The city has an urban area that can be explored on foot. The historical center is a 5-block area around the main square and it's very easy to visit following one of the many maps available at the hotels or any information office. Some ancient districts like Yanahuara and Cayma are also within walking distance. If you want to take a taxi, you should take a "safe one". Rules to recognize them: they have signs on the roof. The more common the sign, the bigger the company and the safer the taxi. Another tip is to take one that has just set down a passenger.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
AQP · Rodríguez Ballón International Airport
ILQ · General Jorge Fernandez Maldon Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Arequipa
Eat
Arequipa features some of the most varied and flavorful cuisines in the country. Meals are robust with soups as one of their main dishes. Local food is usually served at lunch time but you can also find it in locals for tourists during dinner time. The better restaurants are near the Plaza San Francisco. Spicy food is very popular. Locals use rocoto (Capsicum pubescens) to provide the hot taste to their foods. This flavour is different than the spiciness in Indian or Mexican cuisine. One dish made with this ingredient is rocoto relleno con pastel de papa, a large stuffed pepper with potato pie.
Drink
Most bars and clubs for tourists are on Calle San Francisco, uphill from the main square. Many have happy hour specials until 22:00. Moreover, there is an area of the city called Calle Dolores, with discothèques, karaoke bars, and salsa ball rooms usually attended by locals but usually safe enough for travelers. A taxi is needed to get there. The most popular Peruvian alcohol product is Pisco. Arequipa is the cradle for the Acholado type, a Pisco derived from a blend of several grapes. Locals drink it pure, in little sips. Chilcano is another way to drink it, Pisco with white soda. And of course, the Pisco Sour, which is a must for any visitor. A famous local alcoholic product is Anis Najar.
Stay safe
Don't flaunt your valuables or your money; there are occasional robberies reported. Do not walk alone after 23:00 in the downtown area! All the usual advice given for Peru applies here as well. When taking standard precautions, Arequipa is a safe city, and like most of the other major Peruvian cities, there is always a fairly large police presence. In the downtown area, there is a fairly large presence of tourist police, wearing white shirts. Ask them for help. The most common form of crime involving tourists is when a foreigner takes a no-name cab and a robbery occurs. To be safe, don't just hail any old cab that passes by.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Arequipa: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Arequipa?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Arequipa are all year. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 22 °C; February is the wettest, with about 41 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Arequipa?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (AQP), about 7.3 km from the city centre in a straight line; General Jorge Fernandez Maldon Airport (ILQ, 146 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Arequipa?
Nuevo sol (PEN).
Nearby
Destinations near Arequipa
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.