During my two months in Peru, I spent two weeks of it in Arequipa and loved every minute in the “White City.” Although I was working remotely during that time, there was plenty to do, see, and eat in Arequipa.
Most travelers are just popping into Arequipa for a short visit, so it’s not possible to spend a week or more there. But how many days are too little and how many are too much to spend in Arequipa?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, as it’ll depend on how long your trip is and what your interests are. For most people though, three to four days is the perfect amount of time in Arequipa. This is enough time to see the city’s highlights, learn about the volcanic rock that gives Arequipa its “White City” name, visit the well-known Colca Canyon, and even trek a nearby volcano.
One day is not enough to truly experience Arequipa, and two days is the bare minimum that I recommend. If you have the time or flexibility, five days or more in Arequipa allows you to enjoy everything without rushing while also having some down time.
To help you decide how many days to spend in Arequipa, here’s what you can expect to see and do in one, two, three to four, or five days or more. By knowing how long the major attractions and activities take, you can then figure out the perfect number of days in Arequipa for you.
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One day
Can you spend just one day in Arequipa? While you certainly can, I don’t recommend it.
As the second most populated city in Peru, Arequipa has a lot to offer in terms of scenery, history, culture, and food. With just one day or night in Arequipa, you’ll be able to either see the city or take a day trip to the famous Colca Canyon, but not both. If you’re okay with that and prefer to spend more time elsewhere on your trip, then spending one day in Arequipa could be enough.
In the city, all the major sites are located fairly close together, so you can see them all in one day:
- Plaza de Armas
- Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa
- Santa Catalina Monastery (Monasterio de Santa Catalina de Siena)
- Yanahuara scenic overlook (Mirador de Yanahuara)
- San Camilo Market (Mercado San Camilo)
Your other option for spending one day in Arequipa is to take a day trip to Colca Canyon, which is one of the deepest canyons in the world. Colca Canyon is a must when in Arequipa. But if you’re not interested in canyons or seeing condors, skipping the canyon might be the right choice.
Colca Canyon is a long day trip from Arequipa, as it takes about three hours to drive there. Expect to be picked up between 2 AM and 3 AM, and you typically return around 5 PM. Also, you’ll only be able to see the canyon from above, since there isn’t enough time to hike into the canyon.
Spending one day in Arequipa is better than nothing. But if you’re able to, it’s better to stay in Arequipa for two days at least.
Two days
Two days in Arequipa is the minimum amount of time you need to visit the most popular attractions. This is what I recommend if you’re short on time. With two days, you’re able to do everything listed in the one-day option above: sightseeing in Arequipa and visiting Colca Canyon.
You also have some flexibility with two days. You can combine your day in the city with a half-day tour of the Sillar Route (Ruta del Sillar). This is another popular attraction that brings you to the quarries where sillar, the white volcanic rock that many buildings in Arequipa are made out of, is mined. These tours also visit Quebrada de Culebrillas, a small canyon with petroglyphs.
Three to four days
The perfect amount of time to spend in Arequipa for most people is three to four days. This gives you a couple of different options for how to structure your itinerary.
With three days in Arequipa, the table below lays out all your options.
| Arequipa city (with or without a half-day Sillar Route tour) | Colca Canyon | El Misti or Chachani volcano | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option 1 | 2 days | 1 day (full-day trip with no trekking) | None |
| Option 2 | 2 days | None | 1 day (full-day trek) |
| Option 3 | 1 day | 2 days (trek) | None |
| Option 4 | 1 day | None | 2 days (trek) |
| Option 5 | 1 day | 1 day (full-day trip with no trekking) | 1 day (full-day trek) |
With four days in Arequipa, you can do things at a more relaxed pace. For example, you can spread out all the sights in the city across two days and still have time to do a two-day trek in Colca Canyon or up one of the volcanoes. You can even do a three-day trek in Colca Canyon instead.
| Arequipa city (with or without a half-day Sillar Route tour) | Colca Canyon | El Misti volcano | Chachani volcano | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Option 1 | 2 days | 2 days (trek) | None | None |
| Option 2 | 2 days | None | 2 days (trek) | None |
| Option 3 | 2 days | None | None | 2 days (trek) |
| Option 4 | 2 days | 1 day (full-day trip with no trekking) | 1 day (trek) | None |
| Option 5 | 2 days | 1 day (full-day trip with no trekking) | None | 1 day (trek) |
| Option 6 | 2 days | None | 1 day (trek) | 1 day (trek) |
| Option 7 | 1 day | 3 days (trek) | None | None |
| Option 8 | 1 day | 2 days (trek) | 1 day (trek) | None |
| Option 9 | 1 day | 2 days (trek) | None | 1 day (trek) |
| Option 10 | 1 day | 1 day (full-day trip with no trekking) | 2 days (trek) | None |
| Option 11 | 1 day | 1 day (full-day trip with no trekking) | None | 2 days (trek) |
| Option 12 (do not recommend since Colca Canyon and both volcanos require very early pickups) | 1 day | 1 day (full-day trip with no trekking) | 1 day (trek) | 1 day (trek) |
| Option 13 | 1 day | None | 2 days (trek) | 1 day (trek) |
| Option 14 | 1 day | None | 1 day (trek) | 2 days (trek) |
As you can see in the table above, it’s possible to see the city, Colca Canyon, and both volcanoes within four days. However, this is not recommended. The canyon and volcanoes pick you up extremely early (between midnight and 3 AM), so you’ll be exhausted if you try to do all three of them.
If you enjoy hiking, the best way to maximize four days in Arequipa is to spend one day in the city, visit Colca Canyon, and choose one volcano to trek. You’ll need to decide whether to see Colca Canyon on a day trip or two-day trek, as the experiences are very different. Then that will leave you with either one or two days to trek El Misti or Chachani.
For people who aren’t really into hiking, the best option is to spend two days in Arequipa and do a two-day Colca Canyon trek. The trek isn’t as challenging as El Misti or Chachani, and the first day is almost entirely downhill.
Although not listed in the table above, another option is to spend three days in the city and see Colca Canyon on a day tour. I don’t think there are enough things in the city to keep your interest for three days. But if you just want to relax, wander around, or enjoy Arequipa at a leisurely pace, this is the way to go.
Five days or more
Although many people don’t have the time to dedicate five days or more to Arequipa, this is the ideal option when you do. You can slowly see all of the city’s sights, try many of Arequipa’s local foods, get outside the historical center, and hike Colca Canyon and both volcanoes with rest breaks in between each.
Once you’ve done all the major things, you can also go rock climbing or rafting – two fun activities that are easily accessible from Arequipa.
More resources for traveling Peru
- 19 Best Restaurants in Arequipa: Where to Eat and Drink
- Is Colca Canyon Worth It? Pros and Cons to Help You Decide
- Colca Canyon 2-Day Trek: Tour Review & Recap
- How Many Days to Spend in Cusco
