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Major city · Peru

Arequipa

Give Arequipa 2–3 nights: one full day for the Santa Catalina convent and the centre, one for Colca Canyon, and a half-day buffer for altitude and buses.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
PEN
Best months
Apr–Nov (dry, clear); May–Sep coolest nights
avoid Jan–Mar (rain, cloudy volcano views)
Airport
AQP
Nights
2–3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
  • South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
  • South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
  • South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
  • Peru ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Peru's migration authority (Migraciones) or a Peruvian consulate; keep the entry record you receive, as hotels may ask for it.
  • Peru ↗Machu Picchu entry is by timed ticket for a named circuit, with daily caps; in high season tickets sell out weeks or months ahead. Buy tickets only from the official Ministry of Culture seller or a licensed agency.
  • Peru ↗The classic Inca Trail needs a permit booked through a licensed operator, often months ahead; the trail closes every February for maintenance.
  • Peru ↗Altitude sickness is common above 2,500 m: ascend gradually, rest on day one, and ask a doctor before travel if you have heart or lung conditions.

Arequipa sits at 2,380 m under three volcanoes — El Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu — and is Peru's second city, built largely from white sillar stone. It is a colonial centre with no Inca ruins, a base for Colca Canyon condor trips, and a useful stop between Lima, Cusco and the southern coast. Two nights covers the centre; three lets you add Colca without rushing.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Arequipa, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeS/5–10
  • Street or quick mealMenu del día (set lunch)S/12–25
  • Beerdraught / bottleS/10–18S/8–12
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi in the centreS/4–7
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personPEN 35
  • Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomPEN 180
  • High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomPEN 350

A day, not counting the bed: Budget PEN 120 · Mid PEN 220 · High PEN 400

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Santa Catalina MonasterySillar architecture and Plaza de ArmasColca Canyon condorsRocoto relleno and picanteríasEl Misti volcano
Airports
AQP Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (8.5 km north of the centre in Cerro Colorado; taxi to Plaza de Armas about S/25, 25–35 min)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Arequipa: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

21°C

10°C

8 rd

Feb

21°C

10°C

9 rd

Mar

21°C

10°C

7 rd

Apr

22°C

10°C

2 rd

May

22°C

8°C

1 rd

Jun

22°C

8°C

0 rd

Jul

22°C

7°C

0 rd

Aug

22°C

8°C

1 rd

Sep

23°C

9°C

1 rd

Oct

23°C

9°C

1 rd

Nov

22°C

9°C

1 rd

Dec

22°C

10°C

3 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The historic centre is a walkable 5-block grid around Plaza de Armas; Yanahuara and Cayma are also walkable. Taxis are per ride, not per person: S/4–7 in the centre, S/8 from the bus terminals, S/20–30 from the airport. Agree the fare before you get in.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Colca Canyon (Chivay and Cruz del Cóndor)

go

Door to door: Full day (leaves about 03:00) or 2 days with an overnight in Chivay

Organised tour or bus from Terminal Terrestre, about 3–4 h each way

Condors are most active early morning at Cruz del Cóndor; a 2-day trip is less rushed.

Molino de Sabandía and Mansión del Fundador

go

Door to door: Half day

Taxi or tour, about 20–30 min south

Combine the two; countryside views of Misti.

Yanahuara and Cayma

go

Door to door: 2–3 h

Walk or short taxi from the centre

Yanahuara viewpoint frames Misti; go late afternoon.

Puno and Lake Titicaca

overnight

Door to door: Half a day of travel

Bus, 5–6 h

Not a day trip; continue on to Puno rather than returning.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Historic centre (around Plaza de Armas)

Walk to the convent, cathedral and museums; noisier, higher prices.

Yanahuara / Cayma

Quieter, 15–25 min walk or a short taxi to the centre; good views of Misti.

Near the bus terminals

Practical for a night bus arrival or departure; about S/8 by taxi to the centre.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
S/120–180 excl. bed
Mid
S/180–320 excl. bed
High
S/320+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range double room1 × 2 nights × PEN 180PEN 360
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × PEN 220PEN 880
Airport taxi to centre, one way1 × PEN 25 · checkPEN 25
Santa Catalina Monastery entry2 × PEN 45 · checkPEN 90
Colca Canyon 1-day tour2 × PEN 90 · checkPEN 180
eSIM, about a week of data2 × PEN 30PEN 60
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgePEN 160
Trip total≈ PEN 439 per person per day, bed includedPEN 1,755

2026 estimate in soles; flights and Colca tours excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeS/5–10
Menu del día (set lunch)S/12–25
Rocoto relleno in a picanteríaS/20–35
Beer: draught / bottleS/10–18 / S/8–12
Taxi in the centreS/4–7
Alpaca sweater (good quality)S/70–180

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Arequipa is generally safe for tourists in the centre by day; use registered taxis at night, watch bags in markets and bus terminals, and treat the altitude as the main risk on day one.
  • Altitude 2,380 m: take the first day easy, drink water, skip alcohol on arrival.
  • Taxis: the fare is per ride for all passengers — some drivers claim per head.
  • Book Colca tours with a licensed operator; cheap tours skip the condor viewpoint timing.
  • Jan–Mar rain can close roads and hide the volcanoes.
  • Keep a jacket: nights are cold year-round at this altitude.

Emergency numbers

Police
105
Fire
116
Ambulance (SAMU)
106

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ArequipaArequipa

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police105
  • Fire116
  • Ambulance (SAMU)106

Embassy

Most countries: embajada in Lima; check for a consulate in Arequipa.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Airport → Plaza de Armas, taxi: about S/25, 25–35 min (check)
  • Bus terminals → centre, taxi: about S/8
  • Centre taxi ride: S/4–7 per ride, not per person

Say or show

  • Buenos días — Hello (BWEH-nos DEE-as)
  • Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-syas)
  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-to KWES-ta)
  • La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (la KWEN-ta por fa-VOR)
  • ¿Dónde está el baño? — Where is the toilet? (DON-de es-TA el BA-nyo)
  • Ayuda — Help (a-YU-da)

Altitude 2,380 m — take it easy on arrival.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Arequipa. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Nov (dry, clear); May–Sep coolest nights · avoid Jan–Mar (rain, cloudy volcano views) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for AQP: taxi flat rate, late-arrival options, altitude-friendly first night.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Plaza de Armas, Santa Catalina, San Francisco, Yanahuara.
  3. Colca operator shortlist with departure times and condor-viewpoint timing.
  4. Altitude and rain fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Peru

Sources