Travel to Arequipa

classic Spanish colonial architecture

Set in the south of Peru, about half way between Lago Titicaca and the Pacific coastline, Arequipa is the second largest city in the country, with a population of just over a million people.

The city sits at an altitude of 2328m/7638’, in a valley which connects the low-lying coastal plains with the Andes Mountains. It lies alongside the Rio Chili and is encircled to the east by a dramatic trio of snow-capped volcanoes, El Misti, Pichu Pichu and Chachani.

Arequipa was founded by Spanish settlers under the command of Marquis Francisco Pizarro on the 15th of August 1540.

The historic old quarter of the city (which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994) contains an extensive network of cobbled streets, lined by a very impressive collection of colonial architecture. These buildings were built using white sillar stone, leading to the city’s nickname of La Ciudad Blanca.

Highlights include ornate churches, extensive historic convents and a number of museums contained within fabulous baroque mansions.

The area also includes some interesting activities, including volcano hiking, mountain-biking and white-water rafting.

Arequipa is typically used as a starting point from which to head out to Colca Canyon, a very scenic mountainous area to the east, which is especially renowned for its pretty villages and magnificent Andean condors.

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 fabulous luxury train service running on the Arequipa to Puno (Lago Titicaca) to Cusco route.

Where to stay

The best hotels in Cusco are those which are located in restored historic buildings on or close to the main Plaza de Armas.

The most elegant option is the boutique Cirqa, with the Katari at Plaza de Armas probably being the best in the middle of the price range.

Of course the luxury train service Belmond Andean Explorer Arequipa to Cusco is a superb option to use in combination with the above hotels.

usually visited in between Lima and Cusco