Why visit
Arequipa is the White City carved from volcanic stone, Santa Catalina Monastery (a city within a city), and the Colca Canyon condor viewpoints two hours out.
Peru at a glance
Country center
-10.0°, -76.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
1,285,216 km²
496,224 mi²
Country population
34.4 million
27/km²
Subregion
South America
Currency
Peruvian sol (S/.)
PEN
Dial
+51
Languages
Aymara, Quechua, Spanish
Demonym
Peruvian
Internet
.pe
UN
Member state
ISO code
PE / PER
Where in the world
-10.0° · -76.0°
Peru
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Did you know
- Arequipa is called "the White City" for its colonial buildings made from white volcanic sillar stone.
- The Santa Catalina Monastery, founded in 1579, is a city within a city covering 20,000 m² and hosting nuns for 400 years in isolation.
- The city sits below Misti volcano (5,822 m); Colca Canyon, two hours away, is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon.
- Peru has 3,800 varieties of native potato: more than any country on earth.
- Machu Picchu was unknown to the outside world until Hiram Bingham "re-discovered" it in 1911: locals knew it all along.
Bordering Peru
Traveler notes
- Santa Catalina Monastery is a half-day in itself
- Colca Canyon 2-day trip for condors
- Rocoto relleno is the regional dish
Plan checks
- Build a three-day plan before extending. Most travel cities are easy to undersell to yourself.
- Check seasonal timing: high season can triple costs on some coastal destinations.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
- Check opening days. Major sites close on Mondays or Tuesdays in many countries.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Arequipa
What currency is used in Arequipa?
Arequipa uses the Peruvian sol (S/.), ISO code PEN.
What languages are spoken in Peru?
The primary languages are Aymara, Quechua and Spanish.
What is the international calling code for Peru?
The calling code is +51.
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