White volcanic-stone city under snowcapped volcanoes
Arequipa is Peru's second city, built of white sillar stone beneath El Misti volcano. Its plaza, Santa Catalina Monastery and food scene are highlights. It is the base for Colca Canyon and its condors. Altitude is about 2,300 meters.
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A grand square framed on three sides by white stone arcades and on the fourth by the cathedral. El Misti volcano rises behind it on clear days. Balcony cafes overlook the square.
A walled convent founded in 1579 that feels like a small town, with streets painted red and blue. For centuries it was closed to outsiders, and a small community of nuns still lives there. Night visits by candlelight are offered on some evenings.
Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.
A large cathedral of white sillar stone that fills one whole side of the main square. It was rebuilt several times after earthquakes and fires. A museum inside shows religious treasures and you can go up to the roof.
Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.
A viewpoint framed by arches of carved sillar inscribed with poems, in the old district of Yanahuara. It looks across the city toward El Misti. It is a short taxi ride or a 20 minute walk from the center.
A small university museum that displays Juanita, an Inca girl sacrificed on Ampato volcano and found frozen in 1995. Visits are by guided tour only. Juanita herself is sometimes rotated out for conservation.
Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.
The main covered market, a few blocks from the square, with fruit, cheese, bread and juice stalls. It is a good place to try local food cheaply. Watch your belongings in the crowds.
A textile center where you can see alpacas and llamas and watch wool being sorted and woven. Entry is free. A shop sells finished goods.
A restored colonial house on a bluff above the Chili river, about 9 km from the center. It holds furniture and paintings from the colonial era. It is linked to the city's founder, Garci Manuel de Carbajal.
Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.
A stone mill built in the 1600s in the farmland south of the city. It still grinds grain on demonstration days. The setting has wide views of El Misti.
Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.
One of the deepest canyons in the world, with terraced farm fields and Andean condors gliding past at Cruz del Condor. Most visitors go on a two day tour, often staying in Chivay. The road crosses passes above 4,800 meters, so altitude sickness is a risk.
Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.
Choose how many days you have.
Day one city, days two and three Colca Canyon.
Vicunas and lagoons.
37 mi · Tour, about 1.5 hours
Petroglyphs.
99 mi · Car, about 3 hours
Best: April to November. Dry and sunny.
Daily high and average, by month
Typical inches per month
Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.
August 15
City festival.
Peru is at US State Department Level 2 (exercise increased caution); citing crime and unrest; Arequipa's center is relatively calm.
Compact center.
Buses and taxis.
The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.
Best for: first-timers
Central.
Best for: couples
Old district.
Best for: couples
Views.
| Main airport | Rodriguez Ballon International Airport (AQP), 5 mi from the center |
| To the center | Taxi about 20 minutes. |
| Around town | Walk; app taxis. |
| Ride apps | Uber, Cabify |
Stuffed hot pepper.
Shrimp soup.
Ice cream.
| Plugs | Type A and C, 220 V |
| Tap water | Use bottled water |
| Tipping | About 10 percent in restaurants is common. |
| Payments | Cards in cities; cash for markets and small towns. |
| Etiquette | Greet with a handshake or friendly hello; dress modestly in churches. |
Arequipa was founded by the Spanish in 1540 in a valley below the El Misti volcano. Its buildings use sillar, a white volcanic stone, which gave it the name White City. Earthquakes have repeatedly damaged the city, which was rebuilt each time. It played a key role in Peru's political life and is the birthplace of Mario Vargas Llosa. The historic center became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.