Arequipa travel guide
Arequipa is a city of volcanic sillar stone at the foot of the Misti volcano, with a historic centre declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At about 2,300 m above sea level and with clear skies much of the year, it brings together colonial architecture, the Santa Catalina Monastery and a cuisine of its own. It is also the gateway to the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the world, and usually fills the Andean stretch between Lima, Cusco and Puno.
Season by month
When to travel- High season
- Shoulder season
- Low season
What to do in Arequipa
- The historic centre and Plaza de Armas approx. 3 h Sillar streets and arcades; best on foot, in the soft afternoon light.
- The Santa Catalina Monastery approx. 2 h A convent complex in sillar, visited with a guide and without rushing.
- The Sillar Route approx. 4 h The Añashuayco quarries, where the city's stone comes from; it combines with the Colca.
- The Colca Canyon and Cruz del Cóndor A night in Chivay avoids the return-trip day; condors are best early.
- The Juanita mummy museum approx. 2 h The Andean sanctuaries museum, with the mummy found on the Ampato volcano.
- The three volcanoes The Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu can be seen from the city on a clear day.
- Hot springs near Chivay approx. 2 h A quiet close after the early start at the viewpoint, suited to small groups.
Where to eat in Arequipa
- Arequipeña cuisine approx. 2 h A cuisine with its own identity; lunch is best without a tight schedule.
Who to offer it to
When to go
The dry season, roughly April to November, is the most stable for the city, the viewpoints and the Colca. From December to March the rains arrive, mainly in the canyon and the high zones. Condors are best seen first thing in the morning, and nights are cool because of the altitude.
How many days
Two or three nights are enough for the city, the Santa Catalina Monastery and the museum of the Juanita mummy; adding the Colca means at least one more night in Chivay. It is best to acclimatise in Arequipa before climbing to the canyon, which sits considerably higher than the city.
What not to miss
The sillar historic centre and the Santa Catalina Monastery; the Sillar Route to the Añashuayco quarries; the museum that holds the Juanita mummy; and, in the Colca, the Cruz del Cóndor after crossing the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve. From the city you can see the Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu volcanoes.
What to offer and why
Two nights in the city and one in the Colca make a complete programme: Arequipa for its architecture and its table, the canyon for the landscape and the condors. It works as an altitude step between the coast and Cusco or Puno, and as an urban pause between two mountain stretches.
When to book
Lodging places in the Colca are limited, so always check availability in advance, especially in the dry season, and secure them early. Air operations to Arequipa should be checked by season. The Colca is fixed when the itinerary is built, not along the way.
Practical and operational
The Colca means a long road day with passes above 4,000 m, and Chivay is above 3,500 m: hydration, a gentle pace and warm clothing for the early start. Condors are best seen first thing, so the departure for the viewpoint is very early.
How we arrange it
We coordinate the city visit and the Colca excursion with local operators and establishments. We design the pace around the altitude: the city first, the canyon afterwards, with a night in Chivay and an early start for the Cruz del Cóndor. We warn the client about passes above 4,000 m and the long road days.
Circuits
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Hotels
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Booking & policies
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