Welcome to Arequipa, Peru’s underrated gem hidden between three dramatic volcanoes in the southern Andes. The city is also called: La Ciudad Blanca (The White City) due to it’s iconic white sillar stone architecture. Arequipa blends colonial charm, vibrant local culture, and high altitude landscapes in a way that few cities in South America can rival.
Whether you’re a backpacker, travel journalist, photographer, or slow traveler – this travel guide in collaboration with Qema will help you get the most out of your visit to Arequipa. We will cover why you should visit the White City, where is the bet place to stay, most mouthwatering food to try, and what unique activities you can find here.
Why visit Arequipa?
Historic city center: UNESCO World Heritage Site full of baroque architecture and cobbled streets.
Colca Canyon: One of the deepest canyons in the world—twice as deep as the Grand Canyon.
Volcano views: Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu frame the city in surreal Andean beauty.
Food capital: Home to one of the richest culinary traditions in Peru, including rocoto relleno and chicha de guiñapo.
Sunny climate: Clear skies most of the year make it a perfect escape from Lima’s fog or Cusco’s altitude headaches.
How to get to Arequipa?
- By Air: Daily flights from Lima, Cusco, or Juliaca. Flight time from Lima is approx. 1h 25m.
- By Bus: From Cusco (10 hrs), Puno (6 hrs), or Lima (16–18 hrs). Cruz del Sur and Civa are recommended.
- By Car/Van: A scenic but long drive through the highlands if you’re road tripping.
Tip: If arriving from Cusco or Puno, allow a day to acclimatize; Arequipa sits at 2,335 meters above sea level.
Where to stay in Arequipa?
I would recommend to stay at Qema in Arequipa. It’s an open space boutique hotel. You will find private rooms, and dorms as well to connect with fellow backpackers. It’s an authentic place to meet adventure seekers that want to hike to Misti volcano or go to Colca Canyon. You will find digital nomads as well that stay for a longer period of time in Arequipa, and content creators because of the creative garden with a tree house, common restaurant area, cinematic statues, and swimming pool. The place feels traditional Arequipa style but at the same time modern & chic. The whole space has reliable WiFi to work remotely, or write your travel blog posts with a hot cafesito to acclimatize.
Name: Qema Hotel Arequipa
Website: https://qemahoteles.com/
Location: C. Jerusalén 606, Arequipa 04001
The location is very centric and walkable to all restaurants, Plaza de Armas, tour agencies and local market. I personally was very happy with the comfortable private rooms and access to coffee and WiFi to sit outdoor and write my travel blog posts. Definitely for photographers it’s also a creative space to take some pictures from the photogenic interior and architecture of the accommodation. I almost forgot… For couples it’s a must go if you want to have a romantic breakfast or diner!
Arequipa has lately a lot of challenges with keeping the city clean, sustainable, and helping out the migration population of the Andes Mountains with work. Qema hotel tries to make a difference with community involvement by employing local people, empowering local companies by buying food for gastronomy, and furniture for interior design. Also they do their best with eco-friendly practises like solar energy, water-saving, and plastic reduction.
Qema Hotel is in my opinion a must go if you are staying for a couple of days in Arequipa. It’s a convenient basecamp to explore from and to come back for charging your energy after a day of story hunting. Also for expats and retirees it’s a comfortable place to come over for a diner, coffee, a beer or wine or just to relax in the garden with a book or notebook for journaling.
Best restaurants in the white city
Arequipa is a culinary capital. Try these traditional dishes:
- Rocoto Relleno: Stuffed spicy pepper with minced meat and cheese.
- Chupe de Camarones: Hearty shrimp chowder from the nearby coast.
- Adobo Arequipeño: Pork marinated in chicha and spices, served for breakfast.
Top Restaurants:
- Chicha by Gastón Acurio – Modern take on Arequipeño classics.
- Zig Zag – Alpaca steak on volcanic stone.
- Sol de Mayo – Traditional picantería with local atmosphere.
Also don’t forget to try some street food like anticuchos (skewered, and grilled beef heart) , picarones (Deep-fried rings made from a dough of sweet potato (camote) and squash (zapallo), also the Queso Elado (A creamy, hand-shaved ice milk dessert with cynamon) – is a must try! Visit el Mercado San Camilo, and go upstairs to check out the traditional Dona Rosa restaurant for the best Queso Elado in the city.
What to do in Arequipa?
There is so much to do in the city of Arequipa. From visiting the Colca Canyon, la Ruta de Salar, El Misti Volcano, Monastery San Catalina, museum Santuarios Andinos, and trying nearby horseback riding & quad bike tours. Personally I really enjoy to come back to Arequipa for the many restaurants, a more tranquilo atmosphere to sit in quiet cafés. It’s a very good place for retirees and expats to live. Feels a bit like Europe but in a Peruvian jacket. My favourite place is Mundo Alpaca. It’s an initiative that shows the whole process how the Alpaca sweaters are made. From farming the alpaca’s, taking off the wool, weaving the material, and distribution.
1. Plaza de Armas & Cathedral
Admire the grand baroque cathedral made from sillar stone, especially lit up at night. I also recommend to sit on one of the terraces and have some coffee or pisco sour for some people watching at Plaza de Armas. From the terraces you can spot the Misti Volcano. At the Plaza de Armas itself you will find vendors of souvenirs and street food like cremoladas and queso elado. Also ladies from Quechua communities will come over to you so you can take a picture with them and an alpaca.
2. Santa Catalina Monastery
It’s a 16th-century city within Arequipa – vibrant, colorful, and rich in silence and solitude. Don’t forget to take your camera for Instagramable pictures. Many influencers visit the Monastery of Santa Catalina to take colorful shots. Also the restaurant Claustro with a terrace and waiters dressed like medieval monks is a must. They serve a fusion of Italian cuisine and Peruvian Arequipa flavours. Think about dishes like Arancini arequipeño (fried risotto with ham, cheese, and ocopa sauce), Rocoto relleno (stuffed peppers filled with lomo, peanuts, olives, and sometimes shrimp), and Queso helado del monasterio.
Location: Calle Santa Catalina, 309 Santa Catalina Monastery, Arequipa 04001 Peru
3. Yanahuara District
Walk through quiet cobbled alleys to The Mirador for panoramic volcano views. It’s a very romantic place to walk around, take some pictures of the sunset with the Misti volcano or just relax and have some coffee or té piteado (tea spiked with pisco or cane liquor). Below the viewpoint you can find Terrazas de Yanahuara where you can sit down and relax with a cup of coffee.
5. Volcano Trekking
If you are up for an adventure you can book a trekking tour to Misti Volcano. Prepare for an intensive hike because of the high altitude. Coca leaves, a light diet, and Sorojchi pills can make the symptoms a bit less. I would recommend to acclimatize at least two days before you go to higher altitude, and book with a reliable tour agency.
6. Day Trip to Colca Canyon
See giant Andean condors soar above one of the world’s deepest canyons. Visit pre-Inca terraces and soak in hot springs in Chivay. The experience is magical! We went in the early morning, and on the way we also visited a local village. Remember that you will go to higher altitude so it’s possible that you will experience headaches because of the high altitude sickness. The guide will probably prepare some coca tea for you, but it’s recommended to pack your remedies as well. Personally it helped me also a lot to chew on coca candies, eat chocolate for energy and drink coca tea. When you arrive at the Colca Canyon and you will see the condors flying above your head you will forget the high altitude sickness for a moment.
Best time to visit Arequipa
Dry season (May to October) is best—sunny skies, cool nights, perfect for trekking and sightseeing.
Rainy season (November to March) still offers good weather but occasional afternoon showers.
What to pack?
- Sunscreen and hat – high UV at altitude
- Layers – sunny days, chilly nights
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Warm socks from marino wool
- Refillable water bottle
- Coca leaves and sorojchi pills
- Powerbank and world adapter
- DSLR Camera, long lens, and GoPro
Final tips
Arequipeños are proud of their city—respect the culture, ask questions, and learn a few words of Spanish.
The altitude is moderate compared to Cusco, but still hydrate and go slow if arriving from sea level.
Don’t skip the local markets (San Camilo) and artisan shops (Fundo el Fierro).
Also check out the Mundo Alpaca (my favourite place), and learn about the Alpaca wool process.
Conclusion
Arequipa is more than a stopover. It’s a place to slow down, sip café pasado, write your next article, or simply admire life under the shadow of a volcano. I was personally so inspired by the huge Misti Volcano. It’s definitely worth grabbing one of the terraces in the city center and enjoy the view.
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