white and brown concrete building near green trees and mountain during daytime

Arequipa

Peru's second most populous city, known for sillar buildings, colonial convents and volcano views at about 2,328 meters.

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Arequipa sits in southern Peru as the country's second-largest city, behind Lima. It lies on both banks of the Chili River at about 2,328 meters above sea level, and the volcanoes Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu are visible from almost anywhere in town. Many historic buildings are made of sillar, a white volcanic stone, and the historic center, covering 332 hectares, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

Notable churches include San Agustín, La Merced and San Francisco, and many buildings carry Baroque portals in the local Arequipan School style, which blends Spanish and Indigenous features. The convents of Santa Catalina and Santa Teresa were centers of learning, written culture and art patronage for women in colonial times. Plan around the weather: the rainy season runs from December to March, mainly as afternoon showers, and June and July can average around 6 °C.

Arequipa in five

Give Santa Catalina Monastery a few hoursThe walled convent is a small city of colored streets and cloisters in the center. Go in the morning or late afternoon for the light.
Use Arequipa to acclimatizeAt about 2,300 m, it is lower than Colca, Puno and Cusco. A few nights here make the higher stops easier.Lake Titicaca
See Colca Canyon in two daysThe road climbs above 4,800 m on the way, and condors are best seen in the morning at Cruz del Cóndor. Two days is far easier than one.
Buy the Colca tourist ticketVisitors to Colca Canyon pay a tourist ticket at a checkpoint. Tours usually leave it out of the price, so carry soles.

Things to do in Arequipa

See all attractions in Arequipa

Sight · ArequipaCasa Ricketts

a view of a city with a lake and mountains in the background

Museum · ArequipaSanta Catalina MonasteryWear comfortable shoes. The paving is cobblestone, and the lanes are narrow and uneven.

Temple · ArequipaMonasterio y Museo de la Recoleta

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to ArequipaPut the places you like in Arequipa on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Arequipa (AQP), about 20–30 min to the center
Getting there: Flights from Lima and Cusco; buses from Puno
Getting around: Walk the center; taxis and tours beyond
Best base: The historic center around the Plaza de Armas
Time needed: 2–4 days with Colca

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Rainy season
FebruaryRain15 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Rain
MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Showers
AprilClear2 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Drier
MayClear0 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Dry, sunny
JuneClear0 rainy daysHigh23°Low11°Dry, clear
JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh23°Low11°Dry, cold nights
AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh24°Low11°Dry, windy
SeptemberClear0 rainy daysHigh24°Low12°Dry
OctoberClear0 rainy daysHigh25°Low13°Dry, warm
NovemberClear1 rainy dayHigh24°Low13°Sunny
DecemberClear3 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Showers start

Average daily high and low in Arequipa, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Arequipa

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 15°
Humidity: 32%
Wind: 26 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Arequipa

05:38 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today23°11°0%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 23°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue22°13°0%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed24°13°10%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 10%.
Thu23°14°14%Thursday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 14%.
Fri22°13°20%Friday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 20%.
Sat23°12°19%Saturday: Drizzle. High 23°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 19%.
Sun22°13°20%Sunday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 20%.

Updated 03:06 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.467 PEN

Amount

Converted to

PEN · Peruvian Sol

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Colca CanyonAbout 3–4 hours by roadCondors and terraced valleys; stay a night.
Lake TiticacaAbout 5–6 hours by bus to PunoThe next stop up on the way to Cusco.Read the guide
CuscoAbout 1 hour by airThe Inca capital and Machu Picchu.Read the guide

Before you go to Arequipa

Colca Canyon toursTwo-day trips with a Chivay nightCompare tours

Stays near the Plaza de ArmasWalk to the monastery and cafesCheck availability

eSIM for ArequipaSignal fades on the Colca roadRead the guide

Insurance for Colca tripsCover for the high Colca roadRead the guide

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Rules for Arequipa, checked

Check entry rules and the permitted stay on the Migraciones site before you book.Source
Declare goods above the duty-free allowance on the customs form. Check current limits with SUNAT, Peru's tax and customs agency.Source
Dial 105 for police, 106 for an ambulance and 116 for the fire service anywhere in Peru.
Pre-Columbian objects cannot leave Peru without official permission. Check with the Ministry of Culture before you buy antiques or artifacts.
Many restaurants add a service charge, often 10 percent, so check the bill before you tip.

Plan around Arequipa

All of Peru

Regions, best months and entry rules

Read the guide Lake Titicaca

Puno and the reed islands, 5 to 6 hours away

Read the guide Cusco

The Inca capital, about 1 hour by air

Read the guide Lima

The usual flight in from the coast

Read the guide Best time to visit Peru

Dry and wet seasons across the Andes

Read the guide Travel insurance

Cover for altitude and Colca trips

Read the guide Connectivity

Data for the city, little signal in the canyon

Read the guide

Arequipa FAQ

How many days do I need in Arequipa?

Two days for the city, plus two days for Colca Canyon. It is a good first stop before Puno and Cusco.

Is Colca Canyon a day trip from Arequipa?

It can be, but it means leaving around 3am and a long day at high altitude. Two days with a night in Chivay is easier.

When is the best time to visit Arequipa?

May to October, the dry season with clear skies. January to March brings most of the year's rain.

Is Arequipa worth visiting?

Yes, for the white volcanic-stone center, Santa Catalina Monastery and the food. It is also the easiest way to ease into altitude before Colca, Puno or Cusco.

How do I get from Arequipa to Puno?

By bus in about 5 to 6 hours across the high plateau. Daytime services show the scenery, and the route climbs steadily toward Lake Titicaca.