Arequipa Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Arequipa

Arequipa is a major city in southern Peru, serving as the capital of both its surrounding province and department. Situated along the Chili River within a valley bounded by the Andes Mountains to the north and east and coastal hills to the south and west, it stands as the nation's second most populous urban center after Lima. Officially recognized as the legal capital of Peru because it houses the country's Constitutional Court, the city is also a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.

Human activity in the valley dates back to early nomadic groups who domesticated camelids and established irrigation canals to cultivate the arid plains. Inca rulers later introduced administrative settlements throughout the region. The modern city was formally established by Spanish colonists in August 1540. During the viceregal era, Arequipa grew into a vital commercial center, connecting agricultural produce such as wheat, corn, wine, and spirits from nearby valleys with regional mining circuits like Caylloma and Potosí.

In the post-independence period, Arequipa frequently served as a national political hub and temporary seat of government, functioning as a civic counterweight to Lima. In 2000, UNESCO designated 332 hectares of its historic core as a World Heritage Site. The area is celebrated for the Arequipan School of architecture, which blends Spanish and Indigenous artistic elements using local sillar stone. Notable historic structures include the primary cathedral, the bridge spanning the Chili River, and prominent colonial residences such as Casa del Moral and Casa Tristán del Pozo.

The city's historic district also features significant religious sites, including the convents of Santa Catalina and Santa Teresa, alongside the churches of San Agustín, La Merced, and San Francisco. In addition to its cultural heritage, Arequipa is Peru's second most industrialized urban center, prominent in manufactured items, camelid wool textiles, and mineral processing. It maintains active trade connections with neighboring Chile, Bolivia, and Brazil, and is linked by the Southern Railway to the port of Matarani as well as the inland cities of Cusco and Puno.