Arequipa information

For the cactus genus, see Oreocereus.
Arequipa, located in southern Peru, is that nation's second largest and most important city. It is also the capital of the Arequipa Province, and is 633.8 miles from Lima. The city lies in the highlands at the foot of the snow-capped volcano El Misti. El Misti is currently inactive, but erupted strongly between 1438 and 1471. Several smaller eruptions have occurred since then, most recently in 1784. Arequipa has over 80 volcanoes which can be found in the Valley of Volcanoes. Arequipa has many fine colonial-era Spanish buildings built of sillar, a pearly white volcanic rock used extensively in the city, and from which it gets its nickname La Ciudad Blanca ("the white city"). The historic center of the city was named a UNESCO world heritage site in 2000, in recognition of its architecture and historic integrity. The city is located at an altitude of 2,380 meters (7740 feet) above sea level. El Misti is located besides a bigger volcanohachani "the Beloved" and the pike Picchu Picchu "Top Top" - both named in the Quechua language of the ancient Inca Empire. (...) more....

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Arequipa enjoys a wonderful climate, with a mean temperature before sundown of 23°C, and after sundown of 14°C. The sun shines 360 days of the year. Annual rainfall is less than 150 mm

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Arequipa is a compact city with the main places of interest and hotels within a few blocks of the Plaza de Armas. Take a bus or taxi if you want to the visit the suburbs. Taxis (can be shared) charge US$5-6 from the airport to the city. Fares around town are US$0.85-1. A cheap circular tour of the city, down Calles Jerusalén and San Juan de Dios, can be made in a Vallecito bus: 1½ hours for US$0.35.

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Aeropuerto Rodríguez Ballón i7 km from town, information T054- 443464, has two desks offering hotel reservations and free transport to town and car rentals. The journey from airport to town takes 30 to 40 minutes depending on the traffic. Transport to the airport may be arranged when buying a ticket at a travel agency, but its not always reliable. Local buses and combis go to about 500m from the airport, look for ones marked Río Seco, Cono-Norte or Zamacola. All buses use one of the two terminals south of the city centre iAv Andrés A Cáceres s/n, Parque Industrial, opposite Inca Tops factory; 15 mins by colectivo US$0.35, or 10mins by taxi US$1.35. The older terminal is called Terminal Terrestre, which contains a tourist office, shops and places to eat. The newer terminal is Terrapuerto, the other side of the car park, also with a tourist office (which makes hotel reservations, with free transfers to affiliated hotels, and its own hostal, T054-421375). Theft is a serious problem in the bus station area. Take a taxi to and from the bus station (US$1.35 for an official taxi to the city centre from inside the terminal) and do not wander around with your belongings. No one is allowed to enter the terminal between 2100-0500, so new arrivals cannot be met by hoteliers between those hours; best not to arrive at night

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There has been an increase in street crime in Arequipa since 2006, with many reports of taxi drivers in collusion with criminals to rob both tourists and locals. Theft can be a problem in the market area, especially after dark, in the park at Selva Alegre and on Calles San Juan de Dios and Alvarez Thomas. Be very cautious walking south of the Plaza de Armas area at night. The police are conspicuous, friendly, courteous and efficient, but their resources are limited.

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