Arequipa
Framed at 2,335 metres by the snow-dusted cone of Volcán Misti, UNESCO-listed Arequipa pairs its white sillar stone Monasterio de Santa Catalina, the Ice Maiden Juanita, and wood-fired picanterías with Andean condors in the Colca Canyon.
Quick decisions
- How many days? Spend 3 to 4 days to explore the UNESCO historic centre, Monasterio de Santa Catalina, Yanahuara, and the Ruta del Sillar quarries, plus a 1- or 2-day excursion into the Colca Canyon.
- Where should I stay? Choose the UNESCO Centro Histórico or pedestrianised Barrio de San Lázaro for restored sillar-stone mansions within five blocks of Plaza de Armas, or stay across the river in quiet Yanahuara.
- Do I need a car? You do not need a car; the historic centre and Yanahuara are walkable, Uber and licensed taxis handle short hops, and guided minibuses or tourist coaches run daily to Colca Canyon and the Ruta del Sillar.
- Best for: Andean Mestizo Baroque architecture in white volcanic stone, cloistered sixteenth-century convents, wood-fired regional cuisine, altitude acclimatisation, and watching Andean condors over Colca Canyon.
- Before you go: At 2,335 metres above sea level, Arequipa is the ideal place to acclimatise for 2 to 3 days before crossing the 4,910-metre Patapampa pass to Colca Canyon or travelling onward to Cusco.
- Getting around: Walk everywhere between Plaza de Armas, Santa Catalina, San Lázaro, and Yanahuara, and book licensed tours for the Añashuayco quarries, Laguna de Salinas, and Colca Canyon.
- Continue your trip: Pair Arequipa with the Inca capital of Cusco, the high Andean valley of La Paz, or the Chilean capital Santiago.
Overview
Cradled at 2,335 metres above sea level in the sun-drenched Chili River Valley beneath the symmetrical 5,822-metre cone of Volcán Misti and the 6,057-metre glacier ridge of Chachani, Arequipa is universally known across Peru as La Ciudad Blanca (The White City). Founded by Spanish conquistador Garcí Manuel de Carbajal on 15 August 1540, the city was built from luminous white and rose-pink volcanic ignimbrite stone (sillar) quarried from the surrounding canyons. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, its historic centre brings together the 20,000-square-metre cloistered citadel of the Monasterio de Santa Catalina (1579), the Mestizo Baroque carvings of La Compañía, the Inca Ice Maiden Juanita, and Peru's proudest wood-fired picantería tradition, while 160 kilometres north plunges the 3,270-metre-deep Colca Canyon.
Getting there
Where to stay
Stay inside an eighteenth-century vaulted sillar mansion in the Centro Histórico or adjacent Barrio de San Lázaro, or choose a leafy boutique hotel across the Chili River in Yanahuara.
Things to do
Lose yourself inside the Monasterio de Santa Catalina, admire the Plaza de Armas and La Compañía Church, visit Mummy Juanita at Museo Santuarios Andinos, watch sunset at Mirador de Yanahuara, and travel to Cruz del Cóndor in the Colca Canyon.
Food and drink
Sit down at midday in a heritage-recognised picantería for rocoto relleno with pastel de papa, rich chupe de camarones, purple corn chicha de guiñapo, and cinnamon-dusted queso helado.
Culture
Carved into the portals of churches and patrician mansions, Arequipa's Arquitectura Mestiza fuses Spanish Baroque arches with Andean pumas, cantuta blossoms, and tropical vines.
Weather by month
Arequipa is warmest in October, with average highs around 23°C, and coldest in July, when nights drop to about 7°C. February is the wettest month, with rain on about 6 days. For mild weather with fewer rainy days, aim for May, June, July, August, September and October.
| Month | Low | Range | High | Rain | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11°C | 22°C | 35 mm | 5 d | |
| Feb | 11°C | 22°C | 42 mm | 6 d | |
| Mar | 11°C | 22°C | 28 mm | 4 d | |
| Apr | 10°C | 22°C | 7 mm | 1 d | |
| May | 8°C | 23°C | 0 mm | 0 d | |
| Jun | 7°C | 22°C | 0 mm | 0 d | |
| Jul | 7°C | 22°C | 0 mm | 0 d | |
| Aug | 7°C | 23°C | 0 mm | 0 d | |
| Sep | 9°C | 23°C | 0 mm | 0 d | |
| Oct | 9°C | 23°C | 0 mm | 0 d | |
| Nov | 9°C | 23°C | 7 mm | 1 d | |
| Dec | 10°C | 22°C | 14 mm | 2 d |
Averages of daily values from 2015 to 2024. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm of rain. Source: Open-Meteo · Compare destinations by month.
Arequipa on the map
Every place we cover in Arequipa. Tap a category or pin to explore.
In-depth Arequipa guides
Browse the guides grouped by topic: sights, neighbourhoods, food, transport, day trips and trip planning.
Sights, Landmarks & Parks
Key monuments, viewpoints, museums and nature trails.
- 12 Best Things to Do in Arequipa: Santa Catalina, Juanita, Sillar & Colca CanyonDiscover the 12 best things to do in Arequipa, Peru: explore the Monasterio de Santa Catalina, see Mummy Juanita, taste picantería classics, and visit Colca Canyon.
- 3 Days in Arequipa Itinerary: White City, Santa Catalina, Sillar & Colca CanyonPlan the perfect 3 days in Arequipa, Peru: explore Plaza de Armas, Santa Catalina, and Juanita on Day 1, the Ruta del Sillar and Yanahuara on Day 2, and Colca Canyon on Day 3.
- Monasterio de Santa Catalina & Barrio de San Lázaro Guide, ArequipaExplore the 20,000-square-metre walled citadel of the Monasterio de Santa Catalina (1579) in Arequipa, and walk the white volcanic-stone alleys of Barrio de San Lázaro.
- Plaza de Armas, Basílica Catedral & Iglesia de la Compañía Guide, ArequipaExplore the architectural heart of Arequipa on the Plaza de Armas: tour the 107-metre Basílica Catedral and its roof, and see the 1698 Mestizo Baroque Iglesia de la Compañía.
- Museo Santuarios Andinos (Mummy Juanita) & Colonial Sillar Mansions GuideVisit the Museo Santuarios Andinos in Arequipa to see the Inca Ice Maiden Juanita discovered at 6,288 metres on Nevado Ampato, and tour Casa del Moral and Santa Teresa.
- Mirador de Yanahuara, Carmen Alto & Chilina Valley Guide, ArequipaCross the Chili River in Arequipa to frame Volcán Misti through the nine sillar arches of Mirador de Yanahuara, overlook the pre-Inca terraces of Carmen Alto, and visit Sabandía Mill.
- Laguna de Salinas (4,300 m), Volcán Misti (5,822 m) & Chachani (6,057 m) GuideExplore the high-Andean volcanoes and salt flats northeast of Arequipa: visit flamingo-filled Laguna de Salinas in Salinas y Aguada Blanca Reserve, or climb Misti and Chachani.
Neighbourhoods & Where to Stay
Districts, historic quarters and the best bases for your stay.
- Arequipa: UNESCO White City, Sillar Architecture & Colca CanyonPlan your visit to Arequipa, Peru: explore the UNESCO-listed white sillar historic centre, Monasterio de Santa Catalina, Mummy Juanita, and the Colca Canyon.
- Best Time to Visit Arequipa: 300 Sunny Days, Dry Season & August FestivalMonth-by-month weather guide to Arequipa using official 1991-2020 SENAMHI normals: compare the crystal-clear April-November dry season, August festivities, and summer.
- Where to Stay in Arequipa: UNESCO Centro Histórico, San Lázaro & YanahuaraCompare the best areas to stay in Arequipa, Peru: vaulted sillar mansions in the UNESCO Centro Histórico and Barrio de San Lázaro, or quiet garden hotels in Yanahuara.
Food & Drink
Local dishes, markets, cafés and dining districts.
- What to Eat in Arequipa: Rocoto Relleno, Chupe de Camarones & Queso HeladoExplore Arequipa's UNESCO-worthy picantería cuisine: taste oven-baked rocoto relleno with pastel de papa, river-prawn chupe de camarones, adobo, and queso helado.
- Mercado San Camilo (1881) & Traditional Picanterías Guide, ArequipaExplore Arequipa's culinary landmarks: visit the 1881 Eiffel-roofed Mercado San Camilo for highland fruit juices and queso helado, and dine at heritage picanterías.
Getting Around & Arrival
Airport transfers, public transit, passes and driving rules.
Day Trips & Excursions
Easy half-day and full-day trips from the city.
- Ruta del Sillar Guide: Añashuayco Quarries & Culebrillas Slot Canyon, ArequipaExplore the Ruta del Sillar 14 km northwest of Arequipa: watch master stonecutters split white volcanic rock in the Añashuayco Quarries and walk the pink slot canyon of Culebrillas.
- Colca Canyon, Cruz del Cóndor & Chivay Guide: Condors, Terraces & Hot SpringsPlan a 1- or 2-day trip from Arequipa to the Colca Canyon (UNESCO Global Geopark): watch Andean condors at Cruz del Cóndor, cross the 4,910 m Patapampa pass, and soak in thermal baths.
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