Peru's white city, built out of volcanic sillar stone under three volcanoes — and high enough, at 2,335m, to be the sensible step before Cusco.
Free things to do
Free
San Camilo market juice run
Point at fruit you can't name; the señora knows best.
Free
Plaza de Armas & the white city
Volcanic sillar arcades on three sides, the cathedral on the fourth, and El Misti standing behind the lot of it.
Free
Yanahuara viewpoint
A twenty-minute walk to stone arches framing three volcanoes, best in the last hour of light.
Where to stay
from $8
La Posada del Misti
Dorm bed · per night
from $11
Peru Hostel Tajmani
Dorm bed · per night
from $23
Flying Dog Hostel Arequipa
Private room · per night
from $22
Maison Verte - Budget Edition
Private room · per night
Trips that take it in
South America · 11 days · loop · 3 nights in Arequipa
The Andes Loop
Lima → Arequipa → Cusco → Lima
$241
plus flights · Dec 2026 dates