Cirqa

genuinely authentic and high quality

Set one block west of the Plaza de Armas in the centre of Arequipa, Cirqa is a seriously high quality boutique hotel, one of the finest in the country and a genuine treat.

The hotel is contained within a restored parador, dating back to 1540 and substantially extended in 1883. The buildings are constructed of the typical white sillar stone and feature a wealth of original features, including grand arches, columns and vaulted ceilings.

The property is centred around a number of small courtyards, with a cosy salón and dining room. From some areas there are glancing views of the nearby cathedral and the distant snow-capped volcano El Misti.

Cirqa is a member of Relais & Chateau.

The hotel offers a full concierge service and facilities including a heated plunge pool and a small spa.

Rooms

Guest accommodation is in 11 gorgeous suite rooms arranged around two patios, each one individually styled.

Activities

Cirqua provides access to a good range of activities in the local area …

• city tours
• dining out
• hiking
• mountain-biking
• white-water rafting
• condor viewing

Arequipa is usually accessed by air from the capital, Lima. Most guests spend 2-3 nights in the area, before continuing by luxury train or road transfer up to Lago Titicaca or Cusco in the Inca Highlands.

Seasonality

The best time to visit Arequipa is generally considered to be during the Apr-Nov dry season.

The city enjoys a surprisingly constant year round climate, with peak daytime temperatures typically around 23C/73F and nighttime temperatures around 7C/45F.

The main seasonal feature is the Dec-Mar rainy season. Although this only amounts to around 25mm/1” per month, humidities are greatly increased and there can be extensive fogs, which can severely detract from sightseeing in the surrounding mountains.

The best time for white-water rafting is also during the dry season, with operations often closing down during the Dec-Mar high water period.

On the 15th August each year the city has a major festival celebrating Arequipa’s founder, Garcí Manuel de Carbajal, making it a busy but exciting time to visit.

Getting there

Arequipa can be easily accessed by internal flights into the local Rodríguez Ballón Airport, which has regular flight connections with Lima, Cusco and Juliaca (Lago Titicaca).

The Colca Canyon is usually connected by guided overland transfer, with onward connections to Lago Titicaca and Cusco.

There is also a luxury train service running on the Arequipa to Titicaca to Cusco route.

a great stop on a longer exploration of southern Peru