Arequipa gets roughly half Cusco's hotel arrivals and a much smaller share of foreigners, yet it has a UNESCO-listed centre built from white volcanic sillar, Peru's best regional cooking and El Misti looming over every street. The city is the base for the Colca Canyon, where you can watch Andean condors at Cruz del Cóndor and walk down into one of the world's deepest canyons. Arrive by a short flight or the long bus from Lima. Give it four days: two in the city, two in Colca with a night in Chivay or Cabanaconde.
When to go
Dry and sunny from about April to November, the best time for both the city and Colca. January to March is the rainy season in the highlands: the city still works, but Colca roads and trails get muddy and cloud can hide the condors. Nights in Colca are near or below freezing from June to August.
Arequipa right now and the next 7 days
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Arequipa on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Arequipa · Open in Google Maps ↗
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Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
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On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Arequipa in 3 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Monasterio de Santa Catalina2 h · ₹1,250 each · A walled city-within-a-city of painted cloisters. S/50 adults. Open daily 9:00–17:00, to 20:00 on Tue and Wed.
- 13:30Lunch break
- 14:30Plaza de Armas & the cathedral1 h 30 m · free · Arcaded plaza in white sillar stone with El Misti behind. Free to stroll.
- 08:00Yanahuara viewpoint1 h 30 m · ₹70 each · Sillar arches framing El Misti, a short bus or walk across the river. Free to visit.
- 10:00Museo Santuarios Andinos (Juanita)1 h · ₹630 each · The Inca ice maiden found on Ampato. Guided visit; reported S/25, check the current fee.
- 11:30Day trip: Yanahuara & CaymaHalf day · ₹35 each · Walk or city bus (2 km)
- Lunch on the way
- 05:45Cruz del Cóndor at dawnFull day · ₹1,750 each · Condors rising on morning thermals. Price is the Colca Boleto Turístico (S/70 for non-Latin American foreigners); add bus or tour.
How to get to Arequipa
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Domestic flight
₹5,000JetSMART showed base fares from S/113 for Aug–Dec 2026 dates, before taxes and bags. Sky and LATAM fly it too.
Overnight bus
₹1,500Cheapest regular fare about S/60 (April 2026); bus-cama seats cost more. Cruz del Sur, Oltursa, Civa.
Bus Cheapest
₹900About S/35 on a normal day; doubled to S/70 over Easter 2026. Book ahead on holidays.
Bus to Colca Last leg
₹500About S/20 on normal days (S/30 over holidays). Leaves from the Terminal Terrestre; minivans nearby charge more.
Getting around once you're there
On foot
FreeThe historic centre, San Lázaro and Yanahuara are all walkable.
City bus (SIT)
₹35S/1 to S/1.30 depending on the company; the fare was in dispute in 2026. Some drivers overcharge at night.
Taxi or app ride
₹250Use the authorised airport taxi desk or an app. Agree street-taxi fares before getting in.
Local bus Chivay–Cabanaconde
Check priceBuses run along the canyon via Cruz del Cóndor. Fare not confirmed; ask in Chivay.
Where to stay in Arequipa
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Dorm
₹900/nightDorm beds listed from about USD 7–13. Hostels also book Colca tours.
Private room
₹2,400/nightHostel private rooms listed from about USD 23–28.
Guesthouse
₹2,400/nightSimple rooms. Ask about heating; Colca nights are cold. Price is a rough estimate; check listings.
What to eat, and what it costs
Picantería set menu
₹430A traditional picantería menu was about S/17 in 2024. Arequipa's picanterías are the reason food-lovers come.
Chupe de camarones
₹1,400River-shrimp chowder, the city's signature dish. About S/55 at a classic picantería.
Full lunch at a classic picantería
₹750Set lunches at the better-known picanterías run around S/30.
Things to do in Arequipa
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Monasterio de Santa Catalina
₹1,250A walled city-within-a-city of painted cloisters. S/50 adults. Open daily 9:00–17:00, to 20:00 on Tue and Wed.
Plaza de Armas & the cathedral
FreeArcaded plaza in white sillar stone with El Misti behind. Free to stroll.
Yanahuara viewpoint
₹70Sillar arches framing El Misti, a short bus or walk across the river. Free to visit.
Museo Santuarios Andinos (Juanita)
₹630The Inca ice maiden found on Ampato. Guided visit; reported S/25, check the current fee.
Cruz del Cóndor at dawn
₹1,750Condors rising on morning thermals. Price is the Colca Boleto Turístico (S/70 for non-Latin American foreigners); add bus or tour.
Walk down into the Colca Canyon
₹1,750From Cabanaconde to the Sangalle oasis and back. Same Colca ticket covers it; guesthouses at the bottom.
Day trips and next stops
Colca Canyon (Chivay & Cabanaconde)
₹500Bus from the Terminal Terrestre or a hostel-booked tour
Yanahuara & Cayma
₹35Walk or city bus
Cusco
₹900Bus about 9 h
Lima
₹1,500Overnight bus or flight
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- Colca goes above 4,800 m at Patapampa on the road from Arequipa. Spend a day or two in Arequipa (2,300 m) first and go slowly.
- Do not walk into the canyon in the heat of midday, and carry water. The climb out of Sangalle is steep and long.
- City bus fares in Arequipa were in dispute through 2026 and some drivers overcharge at night. Ask the fare before you pay.
Ways to spend less
- Skip the 3 am tour: take the public bus to Chivay, sleep there, and catch an early bus to Cruz del Cóndor. Same condors, a fraction of the price.
- Latin American passport holders pay S/40 for the Colca ticket instead of S/70.
- Santa Catalina stays open until 20:00 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Go late for lamplit cloisters and thinner crowds.
Before-you-go checklist
Arequipa in pictures
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Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Arequipa?
May–Nov is the best time. Dry and sunny from about April to November, the best time for both the city and Colca. January to March is the rainy season in the highlands: the city still works, but Colca roads and trails get muddy and cloud can hide the condors. Nights in Colca are near or below freezing from June to August.
How do I reach Arequipa?
Domestic flight: Lima (LIM) → Arequipa (AQP), 1 h 30 m, about ₹5,000 one way. Overnight bus: Lima → Arequipa Terminal Terrestre, 17 h, about ₹1,500 one way. Bus: Cusco → Arequipa, 9 h, about ₹900 one way.
How much does a 3-day trip to Arequipa cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹6,300 on a shoestring, ₹11,400 mid-range or ₹21,000 in comfort over 3 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is bus (Cusco → Arequipa) at about ₹900 each way.
How many days do you need in Arequipa?
3 days is right for most people. That covers Monasterio de Santa Catalina, Plaza de Armas & the cathedral, Yanahuara viewpoint, Museo Santuarios Andinos (Juanita) without rushing.
Is Arequipa good for families or solo travellers?
Arequipa works best for solo, couples, groups, families. Solo travellers find it easy and cheap.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Arequipa?
Hard but possible. Picantería cooking is built on meat, shrimp and cheese; ask for solterito (bean and cheese salad), pastel de papa and queso helado for dessert. The centre has several vegetarian cafés that serve cheap set lunches.
Will my phone and cards work in Arequipa?
Buy a local SIM in the city. Signal is weak in the canyon below Cabanaconde. Hotels, Santa Catalina and better restaurants take cards. Picanterías and buses often do not. Carry soles in small notes for buses, markets and Colca villages. The Colca ticket can be bought online.
Sources and last check
Checked 11 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- gov.uk OfficialFCDO: only the Colombia border strip (Loreto) and the VRAEM advised against; Arequipa not listed; updated 9 Oct 2026
- colcaperu.gob.pe OfficialColca Boleto Turístico: S/70 foreign adult, S/40 Latin American adult, S/20 child 6-15; sold online; checked at Chivay Interpretation Center 5:00-18:00; single use
- santacatalina.org.pe OfficialSanta Catalina: S/50 foreign adult; hours daily 9:00-17:00, Tue/Wed to 20:00; closed Good Friday, 25 Dec, 1 Jan
- whc.unesco.org OfficialUNESCO World Heritage listing, Historical Centre of Arequipa
- elbuho.peArequipa terminal fares (1 Apr 2026): Lima from S/60, Cusco S/35, Chivay S/20 normal; holiday surges
- howtoperu.comBus durations from Arequipa: Puno 6 h, Cusco 9 h, Lima 17 h (updated 4 Oct 2026)
- jetsmart.comLima-Arequipa fares from S/113 before taxes (Aug-Dec 2026 dates)
- elbuho.peCity bus fare back to S/1.00 for six SIT companies from 3 Aug 2026; S/1.30 tariff earlier in 2026
- mochileandoporelmundo.comPicantería La Nueva Palomino menu S/17; chupe de camarones about S/55 (Aug 2024)
- wanderlog.comAlmuerzo del día S/30 at a picantería (undated review)
- hostelz.comDorms from USD 7.33-13, private rooms USD 22.83-28 (Aug 2024)
- lonelyplanet.comMuseo Santuarios Andinos guided tours; fee information conflicting
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Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 11 October 2026 · Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Fatima Flores · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Manuel Reyes Mantilla · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: Colegota · CC BY-SA 2.5 es · source
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