The essential experience.
A detail that changes the visit
Use the city as a distinct cultural stay rather than only a staging post for Colca.
For the curious reader
History, landscape and context.
Arequipa is a city in southern Peru and the capital of Arequipa Province and the Department of Arequipa. With a projected population of 1,195,700 in 2025, it is the country's second most populous city after Lima. It is the official seat of the Constitutional Court of Peru and is known as the "Legal Capital of Peru ". Arequipa is Peru's second most industrialized city and one of its most economically active urban centres. In 2024 the Department of Arequipa recorded a nominal GDP of S/31.458 billion and GDP per capita of S/19,593, making it the country's second-largest regional economy. Because the capital city concentrates much of the department's economic activity, the departmental figure provides broad macroeconomic context for the city.
Abridged background from Arequipa, by Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Paragraphs have been selected and shortened; this adapted background remains under the same licence. Retrieved 23 September 2026. Source revision.
From inspiration to a practical plan
Plan your visit.
- Physical demands
- City walking at altitude on stone paving, with stairs in some religious buildings.
- The consequential detail
- Use the city as a distinct cultural stay rather than only a staging post for Colca.
Through the seasons
A place in the world.
Peru.
Select the pin to open a detailed map. Use Closer look to see the surrounding region. Drag to move a zoomed map.
Map: Natural EarthIn pictures.
Arequipa’s volcanic stone buildings frame courtyards and the streets of Santa Catalina.
Follow the connection
Keep exploring.
Explore more places in the same country.
363 · Peru
Colca Canyon
A great canyon is also a cultivated and inhabited landscape, with terraces and villages adding depth to its natural drama.
Lake Titicaca
High-altitude water, island communities and the landscapes of the Andes.
Useful links and further reading.
Choose a source for the job: official visitor information for access, the UNESCO record for the named property’s designation, and background or library resources for deeper reading.
Understand · UNESCO World Heritage Centre
UNESCO World Heritage property record
Read the named property’s significance, maps, components and conservation documents. The World Heritage boundary may cover only part of this guide’s wider destination.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Read · Wikipedia
Arequipa: background reading
Encyclopaedic context and its bibliography. Follow the cited research for a deeper examination of particular claims.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Visit · Wikivoyage
Find travel information for Arequipa
A clearly labelled search of the community travel guide; check the page’s coverage and the age of practical details.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Books · WorldCat
Find books about Arequipa
Search library holdings and editions, useful for finding specialist histories, field guides and works beyond a general travel guide.
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Find photographs of Arequipa
Explore further photographs and their individual credits.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Maps · OpenStreetMap
Explore the local map
Inspect the surrounding area.
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