Arequipa and Colca Canyon holidays
Arequipa and Colca Canyon holidays at a glance
On a fertile oasis in the desert of southern Peru, Arequipa sits at the foot of craggy volcanoes, its pearl-coloured mansions and churches built from pale volcanic stone that earned it the nickname White City that Peru knows it by. Shady arches, spires and an unreconstructed grid of colonial houses give the centre real character, and at 2,335 metres above sea level, it’s also a sensible place to acclimatise before heading further into the Andes.
The city itself rewards slow exploration, its small cafés and flowery plazas making it easy to while away a day or two before moving on.
From Arequipa, a lonely 83km road climbs through wind-sculpted wilderness before dropping into Colca Canyon, more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and shaped by pre-Inca communities who carved agricultural terraces into its walls that survive to this day. Cruz del Cóndor remains the best-known viewpoint for watching condors, which are at their most active from late March to June.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Arequipa and Colca Canyon
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
The contrast between elegant Arequipa and the wild grandeur of Colca Canyon makes this one of Peru’s most rewarding destinations.
When to visit Arequipa and Colca Canyon
Arequipa can be visited throughout the year. The sun shines most days, with around 360 days of sunshine annually and temperatures rarely climbing above 23°C.
Nights in Colca Canyon turn much colder than in the city, particularly during the driest months of June to September. Rain is most likely between November and March, and condors are at their most active from late March to June.
Semana Santa brings huge nightly processions inspired by Seville, including the reading of Judas’ Will in Yanahuara on Easter Sunday. May’s Month of the Crosses adds hilltop ceremonies, and Arequipa’s anniversary on the 14th and 15th of August fills the Plaza de Armas with music, parades and fireworks.
Arequipa will be generally warm and sunny, with the odd chance of some rain. These are the wetter months in Colca Canyon.
Warm sunny days in Arequipa and relatively mild nights; in Colca Canyon the rainy season draws to a close and condor activity starts to increase from late March
Warm sunny days and cooler nights in Arequipa; an enchanting time to visit Colca Canyon – landscapes are lush after the rainy season and the condors tend to be most active at this time.
Warm sunny days and cooler nights in Arequipa; the middle of the dry season in Colca Canyon, making for clear days and cold nights
Warm sunny days and cooler nights in Arequipa; in Colca Canyon, some rain should be expected as the wet season arrives, generally around late October
Warm sunny days in Arequipa and relatively mild nights; in Colca Canyon, there will still be plenty of sunshine, but cloudy intervals and increased showers as the Andean rainy season develops
Top Things to do in Arequipa and Colca Canyon
Things to do in Arequipa range from colonial monasteries and museums to canyon viewpoints and Andean wildlife. The Santa Catalina convent is a highlight in the city itself, a maze of cloisters and cobbled streets. Out at the canyon, spotting the Colca Canyon condors from Cruz del Cóndor is the main draw, best attempted early in the morning when the birds first catch the thermals.
Wander through the labyrinthine blue streets of the Santa Catalina convent – a city within a city – and pay a visit to Juanita, the mummified Inca ‘Ice Maiden’.
Watch this icon of the Andes soar above the spectacular landscape of one of the world’s deepest canyons.
Accommodation in Arequipa and Colca Canyon
Accommodation ranges from elegant city hotels in Arequipa to peaceful lodges surrounded by the landscapes of Colca Canyon. Casa Andina Premium Collection and Casa Andina Select both sit within the city, Costa del Sol Wyndham Arequipa offers a reliable central base, and Colca Lodge puts you right in the canyon itself, with views over the terraces below.
Arequipa’s best hotel offers attentive service in a beautiful, historic building that formerly housed Peru’s Imperial Mint.
Mid-range hotel with excellent location on Arequipa’s elegant main square.
Rustically styled lodge in a beautiful riverside location, with its own thermal baths and a cosy atmosphere that places an emphasis on relaxation.
Top-of-the-range hotel with a delightful garden and peaceful location, giving a nod towards the city’s colonial past while offering a full range of facilities including an outdoor pool.
Small, intimate and independently run hotel, exhibiting a fusion of modern and Mediterranean styles.
Pretty, rustic-looking retreat with sloping roofs and traditional adobe walls in a peaceful location surrounded by the beauty of nature.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Arequipa and Colca Canyon
Group Arequipa and Colca Canyon Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Condor: Peru in depth
Places visited: Lima · Arequipa and Colca Canyon · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · The Peruvian Amazon (south)
20 days from £3,851
Pelicano: Essential Peru
Places visited: Lima · Arequipa and Colca Canyon · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu
14 days from £4,087
Tailor-Made Arequipa and Colca Canyon Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Peru by Rail
Places visited: Lima · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Cusco · Arequipa and Colca Canyon
11 days from £10,420
Peru Odyssey – 21 Days of Discovery
Places visited: Lima · Paracas, Ica and Nazca · Arequipa and Colca Canyon · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · The Peruvian Amazon (south)
21 days from £6,230
Signature Peru: Classic highlights of Peru
Places visited: Lima · Arequipa and Colca Canyon · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Cusco · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side
15 days from £3,940
FAQs about visiting Arequipa and Colca Canyon
Arequipa and Colca Canyon is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When is the best time to visit Arequipa?
Arequipa can be visited throughout the year. It’s climate is perfect for visitors, the sun shines everyday of the year and temperatures rarely exceed 23°C.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What language is spoken in Arequipa?
The official language spoken in Peru is Spanish.
- What currency do I need in Arequipa?
The official currency of Peru is the Peruvian Nuevo Sol. Notes in local currency or US dollars can be withdrawn from the many ATMs using a UK credit or debit card. Numerous money exchange offices exchange US dollar cash (few accept euros or sterling and the rate may be poor).
- What is the time difference between Arequipa and the UK?
The time difference between the UK and Arequipa is GMT-5 hours.
- Which other countries combine well with Arequipa?
Lake Titicaca, 224km (9-12 hours by road) from Arequipa via Colca Canyon or 40mins flight from Arequipa to Juliaca; Nazca Lines, 404 km (10 hours on the Pan American Highway); Cusco 320 km (12 hours by road, 1 hour by air from Arequipa).
- How do you get to Arequipa?
Flights to Arequipa from Lima take one hour. The drive from Arequipa to Colca takes 4-6 hours.
- What are the festivals, and cultural events in Arequipa?
Semana Santa, Easter. Inspired by the celebrations in Spain’s Seville, with huge nightly processions and the reading of Judas’ Will in Yanahuara on Easter Sunday.
May is the “Month of the crosses” with hilltop ceremonies.
Arequipa’s anniversary (14-15 Aug) is celebrated with music, dancing parades, pageants and a huge fireworks display and parade of floats in the Plaza de Armas.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.