What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Arequipa, Peru.
Photo: Cristian Quiñones Ramirez / Pexels
Arequipa is an inland Peruvian city of about 1,008,290 people. Most of its main sights sit close together in the Cercado, the historic centre. Here you find the Santa Catalina Monastery, the Plaza de Armas with its cathedral, and the Museo Santuarios Andinos. The Yanahuara district offers a viewpoint, good food and a slower pace. The best months to visit are May, June, August and September.
Plan your stay around the sights. Santa Catalina Monastery alone takes 2–3 hours. Most other central sights need 1–2 hours each. Add half a day if you want to see the Sabandía Mill outside the centre.
Cercado (historic centre)
A walled convent that is almost a small town inside the city, with narrow lanes, courtyards and cells painted deep red and blue. Nuns still live in one part, and visitors can walk through the rest. Guides are available at the entrance and explain daily life behind the walls.
Cercado (historic centre)
The main square is framed by arcades and the long white façade of the cathedral, built from sillar, the pale volcanic stone used across the old city. On clear days you can see El Misti volcano behind it. The cathedral has a museum with guided visits.
Cercado (historic centre)
A small museum about Inca child offerings found on the high volcanoes near Arequipa. The best-known is the frozen mummy called Juanita, though the museum sometimes shows another mummy in her place. Visits are guided and give good background on Inca mountain rituals.
Cercado (historic centre)
A Jesuit church just off the main square, known for its finely carved stone front that mixes European and Andean designs. Inside, the San Ignacio chapel has a painted dome covered in plants and birds. The cloisters next door now hold shops and are worth a short walk.
Yanahuara
A small square with arches of white sillar stone, each carved with lines of poetry, and a classic view of El Misti. The quiet streets and church around it make a pleasant walk. Many visitors stay to eat in the traditional picanterías, local restaurants, nearby.
Cercado (historic centre)
The city's main food market, where locals buy fruit, cheese, bread and herbs. It is a good place to try fresh juices and to see the wide range of Peruvian potatoes and corn. Keep an eye on your bag in the busier aisles.
Cercado (historic centre)
The oldest neighbourhood of Arequipa, with narrow, winding lanes and small stone houses. It is a short walk from the main square and is quieter than the centre. Come for a slow stroll and photos rather than big sights.
Cercado (across the Chili River)
A Franciscan monastery just over the river from the centre, with quiet cloisters and a large old library. Its museum includes collections brought back by missionaries from the Amazon. It sees fewer visitors than Santa Catalina.
Sabandía
A working stone watermill set among green farm terraces outside the city, with El Misti and nearby peaks in view. It shows the rural side of the Arequipa valley. Many travellers combine it with the Founder's Mansion on the same trip.
Huasacache, south of the centre
A restored colonial country house linked to the founder of Arequipa, set on a hill above the Socabaya valley. Rooms show period furniture and art, and there is a chapel on site. You will need a taxi or tour to get there.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21°C / 12°C | 17 days (117 mm) | 9.5 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| February | 20°C / 12°C | 21 days (166 mm) | 8.6 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| March | 20°C / 12°C | 19 days (113 mm) | 9.1 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| April | 22°C / 11°C | 5 days (21 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 9.1/10 |
| Best month: May | 23°C / 10°C | 0 days (1 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 9.9/10 |
| Best month: June | 23°C / 8°C | 0 days (1 mm) | 10.7 h/day | 10.0/10 |
| July | 23°C / 8°C | 0 days (1 mm) | 11.0 h/day | 9.9/10 |
| Best month: August | 23°C / 9°C | 0 days (0 mm) | 11.4 h/day | 10.0/10 |
| Best month: September | 24°C / 10°C | 0 days (0 mm) | 11.6 h/day | 10.0/10 |
| October | 24°C / 12°C | 1 day (2 mm) | 12.1 h/day | 9.9/10 |
| November | 24°C / 12°C | 1 day (6 mm) | 12.3 h/day | 9.8/10 |
| December | 23°C / 12°C | 6 days (25 mm) | 11.4 h/day | 8.8/10 |
Highs of 21°C and about 17 rain days (117 mm) make this a wet month. Afternoon showers are common, but it still scores good at 7.
The wettest month, with 21 rain days and 166 mm of rain. Highs reach 20°C. Expect frequent showers and cloud. It still scores good at 7.
Highs near 20°C and 19 rain days (113 mm) keep it wet. The sun still averages 9 hours a day. Verdict: good, score 7.
Rain drops to 4.5 days and highs reach 22°C. With nearly 11 hours of sun a day, April scores 9.1 and is one of the best months.
The dry season arrives, with just 0.3 rain days and highs of 23°C. Nights cool to 10°C. One of the best months, scoring 9.9.
Almost no rain (0.2 days) and highs of 23°C. Nights are the coolest of the year at about 8°C. It scores a top 10.
Highs of 23°C, 0.4 rain days and 11 hours of sun. Nights drop to about 8°C, so pack a warm layer. Best, at 9.9.
Dry and sunny, with 0 mm of rain, 11.4 hours of sun and highs of 23°C. Nights are cool at about 9°C. It scores 10.
The warmest month, with highs of 24°C, 0.1 rain days and 11.6 hours of sun. It scores 10, one of the best months.
Highs of 24°C, 0.7 rain days and 12 hours of sun a day. Nights stay mild at about 12°C. One of the best months, at 9.9.
The sunniest month, with 12.3 hours of sun a day. Highs reach 23.5°C and there are 1.2 rain days. Still a best month, scoring 9.8.
Rain returns, with 6 rain days (25 mm). Highs of 23°C and 11.4 hours of sun keep it among the best months, at 8.8.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Peru →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for couples, history lovers, quiet
This is the oldest quarter of the city, with narrow cobbled lanes and small squares just north-east of the centre. It feels calm and local but is still close enough to walk to the plaza. There are few places to eat inside the quarter, and some lanes are dark and empty late at night.
Good for views, food lovers, slower pace
Across the Río Chili from the centre, this old district has a sillar-arched lookout with views of El Misti volcano and a church square that stays peaceful. Traditional picanterías serving Arequipa dishes are nearby. The walk to the centre crosses a bridge and goes uphill on the way back, so many visitors use taxis in the evening.
Good for families, longer stays, quiet
A leafy residential area just south of the historic centre, with older houses and calm streets. It suits people who want to sleep well but still walk into town. There are few sights or bars, so evenings are quiet and you will head to the centre for most meals out.
Good for business travellers, modern comforts
This district sits higher up in the north of the city, with newer buildings, shopping centres and open views of the volcanoes. It feels more modern and spacious than the old centre. It is too far to walk to the main sights comfortably, so you will rely on taxis.
A red rocoto pepper stuffed with spiced minced meat, onion and olives, then topped with cheese and baked. Picanterías, the city's traditional lunch restaurants, often serve it with pastel de papa, a layered potato bake.
Pork marinated in chicha de jora (corn beer), vinegar and spices, then slow-cooked into a rich broth. Locals eat it as a Sunday morning breakfast, usually with bread for dipping.
A thick soup of river shrimp with potatoes, corn, milk, egg and cheese, flavoured with local herbs. It is a filling lunch dish that picanterías have long served.
Boiled potatoes covered in a creamy sauce of fresh cheese, peppers, peanuts and the herb huacatay. It often comes as a starter at picanterías and family lunches.
A fresh salad of fava beans, fresh cheese, onion, tomato, olives and rocoto, dressed with oil and vinegar. It is a light side or starter in picanterías.
Despite the name, there is no cheese in it. It is a frozen dessert of milk, coconut and cinnamon, sold by street vendors and in shops around the city centre.
The best time is May to November, and June, August, September and May score highest. These months are almost completely dry, with 0 to 1 mm of rain and less than 1 rain day a month from May to September. Days are sunny, with 10.7 to 11.6 hours of sun, and highs stay around 23°C.
Yes, August is one of the best months and scores 10 out of 10. It gets 0 mm of rain and only 0.2 rain days on average. You can expect 11.4 hours of sun, highs of 23.3°C and cool nights around 8.8°C, so bring a warm layer for the evening.
February is still rated good (7 out of 10), but it is the wettest month. It averages 21.2 rain days and 166 mm of rain. Highs are about 20.1°C and lows 11.9°C. There are still 8.6 hours of sun a day, so rain often comes in shorter spells rather than all day.
Nights are coolest in June and July, when lows drop to about 8.3°C and 8.4°C. Daytime highs in these months still reach almost 23°C, so the gap between day and night is large. From December to March nights are milder, with lows near 12°C.
Plan for more than 1 full day to see the main sights at a relaxed pace. Most are in the historic centre and take 45 minutes to 3 hours each. Santa Catalina Monastery alone needs 2–3 hours. Add half a day, including travel, if you want to visit Sabandía Mill outside the centre.
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