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Arequipa Peru is the country’s elegant second city, known as the White City for the pale volcanic sillar stone its colonial centre is built from. Ringed by three volcanoes and blessed with sunshine most of the year, it pairs a UNESCO old town and a famous monastery with the role of gateway to the Colca Canyon. Two or three days cover the city and set you up for the canyon beyond.
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| Arequipa at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 2,335 m (milder than Cusco) |
| Known for | White sillar old town, Santa Catalina, Misti volcano |
| Ideal stay | 2–3 days |
| Best time | Dry, sunny most of the year |
| Gateway to | Colca Canyon |
Arequipa Peru: The White City
Arequipa Peru sits at 2,335 metres in the south of the country, lower and warmer than Cusco, with a dry, sunny climate that makes it one of the most pleasant cities to spend time in. Its historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is built almost entirely from sillar, a white volcanic stone that glows in the sun and gives the city its nickname. At its heart, the arcaded Plaza de Armas and the vast cathedral form one of the grandest squares in Peru.
Above the rooftops loom three volcanoes, El Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu, a backdrop that follows you around the city. The city’s feel is prouder and more relaxed than the Andean highlands, with a celebrated food scene, and many travelers find it a welcome change of pace between Cusco and the coast or Lake Titicaca.
Things to Do in Arequipa
The best things to do in Arequipa start in the sillar-white old town: the Plaza de Armas, the cathedral, and the lanes of the historic centre. The unmissable sight is the Santa Catalina Monastery, a walled city-within-a-city of painted streets and cloisters. Nearby, the Andean Sanctuaries Museum holds Juanita, the remarkably preserved Inca ice mummy found on a nearby summit.
Beyond the centre, the Yanahuara viewpoint frames the volcanoes through sillar arches, the San Camilo market bursts with produce, and the picanterias serve Arequipa’s proud regional cuisine. A day and a half covers the city comfortably before you turn to the Colca Canyon.
The Santa Catalina Monastery
The Santa Catalina Monastery is Arequipa’s signature sight and one of the most unusual in Peru: a 16th-century convent so large it functions as a small walled town, with its own streets, plazas and cloisters painted in deep terracotta and blue. For centuries it housed cloistered nuns in near-total seclusion, and wandering its silent lanes today is like stepping into a preserved colonial world.
Give it at least a couple of hours, and consider a guided visit or an evening entry when parts are lit by candlelight. It is the one sight in Arequipa that nobody should skip.
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Arequipa as a Base: The Colca Canyon
For all its own charms, Arequipa is also the gateway to one of Peru’s great landscapes: the Colca Canyon, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and famous for the Andean condors that ride the morning thermals at the Cruz del Condor viewpoint. The classic trip is a long day or a two-day tour from the city, climbing over high passes into a valley of pre-Inca terraces and traditional villages.
Most travelers pair two or three days in Arequipa with the Colca outing, which is why the city works so well as a stop between Cusco and Lake Titicaca or the coast. Plan the canyon as a dedicated day or overnight rather than a rushed add-on.
Best Time to Visit Arequipa
The best time to visit Arequipa is easy, because the city enjoys sunshine for most of the year. The dry months from May to December are the most reliable, with clear skies and warm days, and they line up with the best conditions for the Colca Canyon too. Nights are cool year-round given the altitude, so bring a layer.
The short wet season, from January to March, brings occasional afternoon showers and greener surroundings but rarely disrupts a city visit. Because Arequipa is drier and milder than the highlands, there is really no bad time to come; the choice is driven more by the Colca Canyon and your wider route.
Is Arequipa Peru Safe?
Is Arequipa Peru safe is a fair question, and for visitors the answer is generally yes, with the usual city sense. The historic centre and the main tourist areas are well travelled and relaxed by day and evening. As anywhere, keep valuables discreet in markets and on buses, use registered taxis or rideshare apps at night, and avoid quiet outlying areas after dark.
Petty theft rather than serious crime is the main concern for tourists, and simple awareness handles it. Arequipa is generally considered one of the more comfortable and easygoing cities in Peru for travelers.
Altitude, Getting There and Around
At 2,335 metres, Arequipa is high but noticeably gentler than Cusco or Puno, which makes it a good first Andean stop where the altitude is easier to handle. It connects by air to Lima and Cusco, and by long-distance bus to Puno, Cusco and the coast. Within the city the historic centre is walkable, and taxis and apps cover anything further cheaply.
Common Questions, Answered
How many days do you need in Arequipa Peru?
Two to three days is ideal: a day and a half for the city and the Santa Catalina Monastery, plus a day or an overnight for the Colca Canyon. It works well as a stop between Cusco and Lake Titicaca or the coast.
What are the best things to do in Arequipa?
Visit the Santa Catalina Monastery, the Plaza de Armas and cathedral, and the Juanita ice mummy museum. Take in the Yanahuara viewpoint, eat in a picanteria, and use the city as a base for the Colca Canyon.
Is the Santa Catalina Monastery worth visiting?
Yes, it is the standout sight of Arequipa: a huge 16th-century convent like a small walled town of painted streets and cloisters. Allow a couple of hours, and consider an evening candlelit visit.
What is the best time to visit Arequipa?
Arequipa is sunny most of the year. The dry months of May to December are the most reliable and line up with the best Colca Canyon conditions. The short wet season from January to March rarely disrupts a city visit.
Is Arequipa Peru safe for tourists?
Generally yes, with normal city precautions. The historic centre is relaxed and well travelled. Keep valuables discreet, use registered taxis or apps at night, and avoid quiet outlying areas after dark.
Is Arequipa a good place to acclimatise?
Yes. At 2,335 metres it is gentler than Cusco or Puno, making it a good first Andean stop. It is still high enough to take it easy on arrival before heading to the Colca Canyon or higher.
In short, the best things to do in Arequipa center on the sillar old town and the Santa Catalina Monastery; the best time to visit Arequipa is the long dry, sunny season; and anyone asking is Arequipa Peru safe can travel with normal city caution while using the city as the base for the Colca Canyon.
Arequipa is a natural stop on a wider Peru trip, and many travelers add the Galápagos to a longer South America route.
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The Bottom Line
Arequipa Peru is one of the country’s most rewarding city stops: a sunny, elegant White City of volcanic stone, anchored by the extraordinary Santa Catalina Monastery and set beneath three volcanoes. Give it two or three days, use it as the gateway to the Colca Canyon, and enjoy the gentler altitude and celebrated food. It is the perfect counterpoint to Cusco.
Photos: Plaza de Armas by Jhonatan David Reategui Sifuentes (CC BY-SA 4.0); Santa Catalina Monastery by Havardtl (CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
