Is Arequipa worth visiting?

Arequipa, Peru’s second-largest city and known as “The White City,” is one of the country’s top travel destinations—and for good reason.

It offers a wide range of excellent restaurants, cafés, and bars, along with must-see attractions such as the Santa Catalina Monastery, La Recoleta Convent, the Juanita Mummy museum, and the Basilica Cathedral. Visitors can also enjoy the surrounding countryside, perfect for relaxed walks and gradual acclimatization to altitude in southern Peru.

Located at 2,300 meters (7,600 feet) above sea level, Arequipa is surrounded by three impressive volcanoes: Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu. Its historic center is known for its remarkable colonial architecture, built from white volcanic stone known as “sillar,” which has endured centuries of seismic activity.

The historic center covers 332 hectares and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, making Arequipa both a cultural and architectural highlight of Peru.

What to do in Arequipa?

Arequipa is one of the most important cultural cities in southern Peru and offers a wide range of historical, architectural, and cultural attractions.

In the Historic Center, visitors can explore the Plaza de Armas with its colonial arcades, the Arequipa Cathedral, the Santa Catalina Monastery, the Convent of La Recoleta, and important churches such as the Compañía de Jesús, Santo Domingo, La Merced, and San Agustín. The traditional San Lázaro neighborhood and the Santa Teresa Museum of Virreinal Art are also popular cultural highlights.

A key attraction is the Andean Sanctuaries Museum, where travelers can see the famous “Juanita Mummy,” an Inca sacrifice girl found on Ampato volcano.

Arequipa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the best cities in Peru for culture, history, and architecture.

What to visit around Arequipa?

The area surrounding Arequipa offers a wide variety of half-day and full-day excursions, making it an ideal destination for nature, culture, and adventure experiences in southern Peru.

Visitors can explore the Arequipa countryside, visiting traditional villages, pre-Inca agricultural terraces, and enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding volcanoes. Other highlights include the Petroglyphs of Toro Muerto, the Pisco Route for food and wine lovers, the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, and the Mejía National Reserve, which is especially popular for birdwatching.

During the summer season (January to March), travelers can also visit nearby coastal beaches such as Mollendo, Camaná, and Mejía.

Arequipa is also the main gateway to the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world, known for its dramatic landscapes, Andean condors, and traditional villages. From the city, visitors can also access other remarkable destinations such as the Cotahuasi Canyon, the Valley of the Volcanoes, and adventure activities like volcano trekking and river rafting.

We offer tailor-made tour packages from Arequipa designed according to your interests, travel style, and schedule.

Do you get altitude sickness in Arequipa?

Most travelers experience little to no altitude sickness in Arequipa (2,300 meters / 7,545 feet), especially when compared to higher Andean destinations such as Cusco or the Colca Canyon region above 3,300 meters (10,800 feet).

Thanks to its moderate altitude, Arequipa is often considered an ideal place to acclimatize gradually before continuing to higher elevations in southern Peru.

How do you spend a day in Arequipa?

If you only have one day in Arequipa, you can still experience the city’s main cultural and historical highlights. A well-planned itinerary allows you to explore the most important attractions in the historic center and nearby areas.

Recommended things to do in one day in Arequipa:

• Santa Catalina Monastery, one of the most important colonial religious sites in Peru
• Plaza de Armas, the main square of Arequipa with beautiful colonial architecture
• Arequipa Cathedral (Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa)
• San Lázaro neighborhood or viewpoints in Yanahuara and Cayma for panoramic city views
• Andean Sanctuaries Museum (Museo Santuarios Andinos), home of the famous “Juanita Mummy”
• Sillar quarries of Añashuayco and Culebrillas, where volcanic stone architecture originates.

How many days do you need in Arequipa?

We recommend 2–4 days to fully enjoy the city and surrounding experiences.

How to combine Arequipa and Colca Canyon?

A highly recommended way to combine Arequipa and the Colca Canyon is through a 3-day itinerary that balances acclimatization, culture, and nature.

On Day 1, you arrive in Arequipa and explore the historic center, visiting highlights such as the Plaza de Armas, Santa Catalina Monastery, and nearby viewpoints. This first day is also important to begin acclimatizing to the altitude (2,300 meters / 7,600 feet). You overnight in Arequipa.

On Days 2 and 3, you join a small group tour to the Colca Valley and Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world. The journey includes dramatic Andean landscapes, traditional villages, hot springs, and the famous condor viewpoint at Cruz del Cóndor. After the tour, you can either return to Arequipa or continue your trip toward Puno and Lake Titicaca.

If you have one additional day, it is highly recommended to extend your stay in Arequipa before heading to Colca. This allows you to acclimatize more comfortably and experience the cultural side of the “White City” at a slower, more relaxed pace, making the overall journey more enjoyable and less rushed.

How to travel from Lima to Arequipa?

The most common way to travel from Lima to Arequipa is by domestic flight, which takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Flights operate daily from Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima to Rodríguez Ballón Airport in Arequipa, making it the fastest and most convenient option.

Another popular alternative is traveling by long-distance VIP bus, which takes around 15 to 17 hours. These modern buses offer fully reclining “cama” or sleeper seats, providing a comfortable and safe overnight journey.

A highly recommended option for travelers with more time is to travel overland from Lima to Arequipa with stops along the route, visiting highlights such as Paracas and the Nazca Lines. This allows you to experience the southern coast of Peru before continuing your journey in a VIP sleeper bus to Arequipa. It is a more relaxed, sustainable, and enriching way to travel, arriving in Arequipa well-rested and having explored key attractions along the way.

This option is also ideal for acclimatization, as arriving in Arequipa (2,300 meters / 7,600 feet) helps travelers gradually adapt to the altitude before continuing to higher destinations in southern Peru such as the Colca Canyon, Cusco, or Lake Titicaca.

Once in Arequipa, many travelers continue their trip to these destinations, making it an important hub in southern Peru.