Arequipa, Peru Travel Guide
Nestled between three towering volcanoes, Arequipa is one of the most popular cities to visit in Peru, and is also the second largest overall.
It’s well-known for its close proximity to the Colca Canyon, which is one of the deepest canyons in the World.
There’s also the incredible Plaza de Armas located in the heart of the city, as well as many beautiful buildings that have been made out of the Sillar Volcanic stone, which give the city its unique, white appearance.
Backpacking Arequipa
In this guide we’ll explore Arequipa, all of the best things to see and do, the best places to stay as well as our own top tips for a backpacking trip here.
Is Arequipa Worth Visiting?
Located in the south of Peru, Arequipa is part of the classic backpacking loop and is a must-stop between the regions of Ica and Lake Titicaca.
If you are completely new to the country we suggest you read these Peru travel tips to learn about some of the nitty gritty details of backpacking here.
One reason for visiting Arequipa is to see the surrounding landscapes, which is full of gems including the Colca Canyon and Salinas Salt Lagoon.
There’s also the Sillar Valley, which is home to the infamous volcanic white rock that has been used for constructing much of the city.
Arequipa is also great for hiking enthusiasts, with the three volcanoes that surround the city – Chachani, El Misti and Pichu Pichu – all great climbs.
So, depending on how many days in Arequipa you have they may be an option for you, however, we’ll talk more in-detail about these later in this guide.
As well as being a perfect photo-ops destination, Arequipa has its own unique culture that can be explored in many of its own Andean museums as well as its incredible foods, with the Queso Helado and Adobo Soup must-trys here!
How to Get to Arequipa
Now you know why it should be part of your Peru itinerary know that as one of the largest cities in Peru, getting to Arequipa is relatively straightforward.
There’s dozens of daily flights from Lima that arrive to the white city, and depending on the season can almost rival the price of a bus.
Of course in true backpacking fashion you may already be destined to be taking buses, so we’ll do our best to give some helpful advice here.
A direct bus from Lima to Arequipa takes around 17 hours. However there’s many worthwhile locations to stop at along the way such as Ica and Nazca.
If coming from Bolivia, then you can also take the bus from Puno to Arequipa which takes just 6 hours. The other popular route is from Cusco, with a direct bus taking roughly 10 hours.
Best Things to do in Arequipa
There’s a tonne of things to do in the city as well as day trips into the surrounding region.
Don’t be surprised if you end up staying longer than planned like we did! Now let’s take a look at the very best things to do and see in Arequipa.
Colca Canyon
With a depth of 6600ft, this enormous canyon is one of the biggest in the world. It’s one of the most popular destinations to visit from Arequipa, and can be reached by tour or independently.
One of the must-visits here is the Mirador Cruz del Condor, which sits at the very top of the valley.
Here you can watch the Condors soar seamlessly and beautifully through the sky, as well as take in some impressive views of the sprawling canyon.
If you’re into high adrenaline activities, then you’ll love it here. You can go white water rafting along the Colca River, and also mountain biking down many of the endless, rugged slopes.
This full-day tour is one of the best ways to explore the Colca Canyon. As well as visiting the very best sites, you’ll also explore the ancient town of Chivay with breakfast and lunch included.
Yanahuara Mirador
The best lookout point in Arequipa can be found in the district of Yanahuara, which is just a 15 minute walk from the Plaza de Armas.
Here you can take in Arequipa and the several volcanoes that hug the city. This area is also great to explore, with its half-moon arches and colonial church set at the north of the plaza.
There’s also many buildings here that are made from the Sillar Volcanic Rock, which gives Arequipa its famous, white polish.
Whilst here, be sure to try out Queso Helado, which is an Arequipan Ice-Cream which has a vanilla and cinnamon taste. You can grab one at the end of the plaza (furthest from the mirador).
Speaking of food, we highly recommend jumping on this guided food tour as you make your way around Arequipa. You’ll try over 5 different dishes, as well as getting to know Arequipa on a more personal level.
Plaza de Armas
Every major town or city in Peru has a Plaza de Armas, which is the centrally located plaza home to beautiful gardens, as well as having lots of important buildings and amenities around.
I personally think that the Plaza de Armas in Arequipa is one of the best, with most of the buildings having been built out of the white sillar stone.
Here you must visit the Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa, which is one of the most beautiful in Peru.
From the outside you can see where a previous earthquake had partly torn down the church, with a striking yet pretty contrast in the volcanic rocks used for restoration compared to the original.
Chachani Volcano
Whilst there are three volcanoes that surround Arequipa, our pick for a hike has to be Chachani.
El Misti is the more famous and popular option, however a hike up to Chachani will take you higher and give you more stunning landscape views.
With the peak straddling around 6000ft, you’ll need to do some proper acclimatisation and make sure you are in good physical shape.
See the article George wrote on how to prepare for high altitude hikes for tips. As it happens, George couldn’t complete the hike up to this prominent peak, however even around base camp the views were insane.
Those who are after a one-day hike will prefer El Misti. You can join this trek where you’ll have all equipment provided
Museo Santuarios Andinos
This sobering museum is definitely one for those who either love dark tourism, want to explore Andean history, or like a bit of both.
It’s home to the famous “Juanita”, whose frozen mummy remains were discovered on top of a mountain and have been preserved very well for display.
The museum details well the gruesome rituals and sacrifices that used to take place, as well as giving a look into Andean life in the past.
For a very small fee you can have a private guided tour in the museum, where you can see Juanita up and close as well as many artifacts and offerings that were found around the sacrificial sites.
Sillar Valley
This valley is famous for its volcanic white rock, which is called Sillar. It’s excavated from the surrounding region and is used for buildings and architectural designs in Arequipa.
This is best seen in the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral, its surrounding streets as well as the Yanahuara Mirador.
You can visit by joining a day tour, where you’ll explore the narrow valley, and also see many incredible sculptures made out of the volcanic rock.
The tour leaves in the morning, and you’ll find many agencies making the trip daily located in the Plaza de Armas.
Arequipa Backpacking Tips
Now we’ll share some of our best tips for exploring Arequipa based on our experience here in the city.
- Be sure to stay in the historic center which circles around the Plaza de Armas. There’s some good accommodation options just to the south of the Plaza also, however the North has a safer as well as authentic feel.
- Arequipa has a different feel to the rest of Peru, and historically you can understand why. As a result the city has given birth to some incredible dishes that must be tried. We suggest: Adobo Arequipeño Soup, Chicha de Guiñapo as well as the local sweet favourite that is the Queso Helado.
- Other Food dishes to try include Adobo Arequipeño Soup, Chicha de Guiñapo as well as the local sweet favourite that is the Queso Helado.
- Arequipa is home to some of the best hikes in Peru so be somewhat equipped if you are planning to take on one of the many hikes in the region.
- We recommend spending 5 days minimum in Arequipa. With the amount of things to see and do you’ll want to spend more time if possible, but to also have time to wander the beautiful cobblestone streets, marvel at the sillar-laden buildings as well as hang out in the bustling Plaza de Armas.
Where to Stay in Arequipa
The historic centre which encompasses the Plaza de Armas is the best area to stay in. It’s the safest part of Arequipa, not to mention where all the best bars, nightlife and food options are dotted around.
We recommend staying at the Way Kap Hostel, which is just a couple of blocks from the Santa Catalina Monastery.
One of the most affordable and best located hostels, here there is an on-site bar as well and friendly and knowledgeable staff who will help make your stay unforgettable when here in Arequipa.
Best Time to visit Arequipa
We’ve spoken a lot about the best time to visit South America on this blog (George is absolutely obsessed with checking the weather when we travel).
The weather of Arequipa can best be described as temperate, with annual temperatures some of the most consistent in Peru.
There’s a dry and wet season in Arequipa, although it’s hardly that different aside from a little more rainfall. The dry season runs from February until November, and during this time there’s hardly any rain.
Up to 10mm may fall for each month, but it’s also possible there will be no precipitation at all (most common in May-June and from August-November).
Temperatures are very consistent throughout the year and hardly change. The average daily temperature hovers between 57-59°F, although the months of June through to November feel warmer as they have more sunshine hours (11 opposed to 7/8 in the winter months).
Regardless of when you’ll go, it’ll feel warm and comfortable during the day however temperatures will drop rapidly heading into the night due to Arequipa’s arid location.
If you want to hike one of Arequipa’s volcanoes, then the best time will be between May and November. These months have less rains and snow on the mountains which make the ascent more likely, not to mention having clearer views from the summit.
Also, if heading in November then try to coincide your visit with the Camaná Festival, where many food fairs are held, meaning you can try the very best regional delicacies.
Got travel insurance for Arequipa?
Things to do in Arequipa
That’s all for our guide on backpacking Arequipa.
This stunning city is one of the most picturesque in Peru, with its beautiful landscapes and pretty plazas and buildings.
Arequipa is also a great place to base yourself to explore the Colca Canyon, Sillar Valley and numerous other gems located within the region.
In this guide we’ve delved into Arequipa, covered the best things to see and do, the best time to visit, where to stay and much, much more.
We hope you enjoyed reading this guide! If you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
If you are still curious and want to see more tips for Peru, read our complete backpacking South America guide to get a better idea of the counrty.
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