How to Spend 1 Day in Arequipa, Peru

Arequipa, also know as Peru’s ‘White City’ for its buildings built with sillar (white volcanic stone), is located in the south of Peru and is not to be missed.  The city is laidback, beautiful, and oozing with Peruvian charm.  Think alpacas roaming, smells of fresh seafood and tasty Peruvian dishes wafting from restaurants, and beautiful architecture adorning the streets.  If you’re traveling to Peru, I highly recommend a visiting to Arequipa!  This is how to spend 1 day in Arequipa, Peru.

 

If you’re planning a trip to Peru, don’t miss…

• Everything You Need to Know About Planning a Trip to Peru
• The Ultimate Peru Packing List

 

History of Arequipa

Arequipa was founded in 1540 by Spanish conquistadors, and the city quickly became a hub of colonial magnificence in southern Peru.  Nestled in the shadow of three majestic volcanoes – Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu – Arequipa boasts a unique blend of indigenous and Spanish cultural influences, visible in its cuisine, traditions, and daily life.  Over the centuries, it has endured earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, yet each challenge has only added layers to its character.  Today, Arequipa stands as a testament to resilience, its baroque buildings and lively streets a draw for travelers seeking a blend of beauty and history.

 

How to Get to Arequipa

The two most common ways to travel to Arequipa is from Cusco or Lima.  Luckily, Arequipa does have an airport – Alfredo Rodriguez Ballon International Airport (AQP), so if you’re arriving from elsewhere (further away) you’ll be able to catch a flight to the city.

If you do arrive by plane, the drive from the airport to town is about 30 minutes.  You can catch a taxi at the airport when you arrive, just make sure to negotiate price ahead of time.  The cost shouldn’t be more than 30 PEN.

 

FROM LIMA TO AREQUIPA

If you’re traveling to Arequipa from Lima, the easiest and fastest way is to travel by plane.  If you do this, I suggest using a big search engine to compare airlines and prices and to see which airlines offer this route.  However, if you’re on a budget, you could choose to travel from Lima to Arequipa by bus.  This would take 16+ hours and depending on when you book, it isn’t that much cheaper than a flight.  You can book bus tickets to Arequipa on Bookaway or 12Go.

 

FROM CUSCO TO AREQUIPA

If you’re traveling to Arequipa from Cusco, the easiest and fastest way is to travel by plane.  If you do this, I suggest using a big search engine to compare airlines and prices and to see which airlines offer this route.  However, if you’re on a budget, you could choose to travel from Cusco to Arequipa by bus.  This would take 10+ hours and depending on when you book, it isn’t that much cheaper than a flight.  You can book bus tickets to Arequipa on Bookaway or 12Go.

 

BOOK YOUR FLIGHT TO AREQUIPA HERE!

 

Where to Stay in Arequipa

The main (and most central) square in Arequipa is called Plaza de Armas, which is where I’d recommend staying.  Hotels that are on the plaza or nearby that I would recommend include…

• Casa Andina Select Arequipa Plaza
• Katari Hotel at Plaza de Armas
• Plaza Central

 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN AREQUIPA HERE!

 

1 Day in Arequipa…

Below you’ll find my top recommendations for visiting Arequipa.  These include the best sites, tours, and restaurants in town.  Plus I’m sharing a sample itinerary for how I would recommend spending 1 day in Arequipa!

 

The Best Things to Do in Arequipa

In my opinion, these are the best things to do when you visit Arequipa…

• Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa – Most important Catholic Church in Arequipa with one of only two organs in all of South America; free entrance but need to have shoulders and knees covered
• Church of the Company – Oldest church in Arequipa built in 1739; 5 PEN to enter
• Plaza de Armas – Great to walk around and people watch, but beware of pickpockets
• Museo Santuarios Andinos – Archeologic museum with main attraction being Juanita – a young girl sacrificed by the Incas
• Monastery Santa Catalina – UNESCO World Heritage Site (you can purchase tickets here ahead of time)
• Mercado San Camilo – Great local market to walk around if you’re interested in a more local experience/seeing local produce

 

The Best Tours/Activities in Arequipa

One of the best things that I did in Arequipa was hire a guide to walk me around the city and explain the history.  If you’re someone who likes to learn, interact with locals, or participate in activities when traveling, here are some tours I’d recommend…

• Arequipa Biking City Tour
• Historic Arequipa + Santa Catalina Monastery
• Arequipa City Tour + Food & Drink Experiences
• Peruvian Cooking Class + Pisco Sour Class + Visit to Local Market
• Guided Food Tour to 4 Iconic Restaurants
• Chocolate Making Workshop
• Peruvian Cooking Class
• Rafting Arequipa
• Full Day Tour to Colca – I would only recommend this if you have 2 days in Arequipa (one to explore the town and one for Colca)

 

If you want to visit Colca Canyon, don’t miss…

• Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Colca Canyon in Peru

 

The Best Restaurants in Arequipa

Here are some of the best restaurants and local foods to try in Arequipa…

• Ascai Express by Katari – This one doesn’t show up on Google Maps (instead go to Katari Hotel and it’s located on the right hand side of the door) but it’s a great stop if you’re looking for quick, local takeaway (think local desserts and empanadas)
• Chicha por Gaston Acurio – Nicer, sit-down restaurant with local dishes
• Mumis – Italian food with a Peruvian twist
• Tanta – Great casual, lunch spot with local foods (this is a chain throughout Peru)
• Restaurante Machuquita – The best queso helado in town!  This translates to ‘cheese ice cream’ but it isn’t – it’s just made the same way that cheese is made except for it’s made cold when cheese is made hot.  This restaurant is located on the second floor of Mercado San Camilo
• Katari Hotel Rooftop – Great for sunset drinks and an appetizer if you’re hungry

 

1 Day Arequipa Sample Itinerary

This is how I’d spend one day in Arequipa.  Please keep in mind that some places are closed certain days of the week so make sure to double check this before venturing out!

• Breakfast:  Stop at Ascai Express by Katari Hotel for an empanada to-go
• Sit at Plaza de Armas to enjoy your breakfast
• Visit Basilica of Arequipa
• Visit Church of the Company
• Tour Museo Santuarios Andinos to learn about Juanita
• Lunch at Tanta
• Visit Monastery Santa Catalina
• Walk around Mercado San Camilo before heading upstairs to Restaurante Machuquita to try queso helado (check closing time before visiting)
• Head to Hotel Katari for rooftop drinks at sunset
• Dinner at Chicha por Gaston Acurio or Mumis

 

Is Arequipa Worth Visiting?

I would say that yes, Arequipa is absolutely worth visiting.  If you’re someone who likes history and something a bit more quiet and authentic, then you can’t miss Arequipa when you travel to Peru.  It sees a fraction of the tourists that Cusco sees, but it’s insanely charming and played a strong role in Peru’s history.

 

Safety Tips for Visiting Arequipa

I visited Arequipa with my boyfriend who is Peruvian so I’m lucky to not have had to deal with any scary/sketchy issues due to being with a local.  However, here are some things he mentioned can be common in Arequipa and Peru…

• Petty theft – watch your belongings and if needed, I recommend bringing an anti-theft waist bag
• Taxi scams – negotiate price ahead of time and beware of taxi drivers dropping you off at the wrong hotel and then charging you more to take you to the right hotel (to avoid this keep your Google Maps route on and make sure that they are going to the right hotel)
• Currency exchange – don’t exchange currency on the streets, only do this at a bank or exchange office
• Tour scams – don’t hire a random guy off the street, this can oftentimes be a scam where the tour is shoddy or ends abruptly after payment

By the way, my favorite “safety tip” my boyfriend gave was, “Don’t trust the people selling things in the plaza” and taking a photo with an alpaca does not cost $5 it should only cost 5 PEN.

 

FAQ

Q:  “Is 1 day in Arequipa enough?”

• A:  Yes!  I would recommend one day for Arequipa itself and one day to explore the surrounding areas like Colca Canyon.  If you’re a slow traveler you could definitely opt for 2 days in Arequipa and another day to explore the surrounding area.

Q:  “Is Colca Canyon a day trip?

• A:  I did Colca Canyon as a day trip and while it was long, it was worth it!  My advice would be to hire a private tour guide (if you have the money) just so you have a little bit more flexibility on such a long travel day.  This is who I hired: Gerardo Pinto (WhatsApp) +51 958 523 774; but I’d also recommend this private tour or this private tour.  If this is too pricey, you could also join a group tour here.

Q:  “Is Arequipa better than Cusco?”

• A:  Everyone has their own preference, but I don’t think one is better than the other.  In fact, the two are completely different!  In Cusco, there are more things to see and do – but it’s much more touristy and a bit more expensive.  Arequipa still feels pretty local, but it’s also much smaller with fewer things to see and do.  I enjoyed my time in both places!

Q:  “What is the altitude in Arequipa?”

• A:  Arequipa lies 7,661 ft (2,300 m) above sea level.  When you visit make sure to stay hydrated and take it slow to avoid altitude sickness.

 

Peru Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Peru

 

I hope that this guide for how to spend 1 day in Arequipa was not only helpful but inspiring.  If you have any questions about visiting Arequipa, let me know in a comment below!

 

For more on traveling through Peru, don’t miss…

• How to Spend 2 Days in Cusco
• 11 Things to Know About Visiting Machu Picchu in Peru
• Is Lima Worth Visiting?  A Complete Lima Travel Guide!

 

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For more information on things to see and do in Peru, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinperu” or under my highlights for “Peru”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Peru” highlight

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