This unknown and beautiful Latin American city is becoming increasingly popular

Share the article

When you think of Peru, chances are you think of Lima, with its beautiful coastline, vibrant food markets and bustling city life. Or perhaps the colonial charm of Cusco, which adds Old World allure to the mix.

And of course there is Machu Picchu, the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Andean highlands.

Peru used to be a good sign for most, or at least it was Peru for beginners.

An interesting trend has been emerging lately: more and more visitors are drawn to a lesser-known city in the south of the country, which isn’t exactly part of the popular Andes-focused 10-day Peru package.

According to data shared by Gercetur, the Peruvian Gerencia Regional de Comercio Exterieur en Turismo (Regional Management of Foreign Trade and Tourism), tourism there has already done that surpassed pre-pandemic levels:

Arequipa is the shining star of Peru

Welcome to Arequipathe trendiest destination in Peru at the moment:

Historically considered Peru’s third best tourist destination, Arequipa was the place you ‘fit’ into the itinerary if there were enough days left. Then, you know, Cusco, Lima and all your Sacred Valleys and Rainbow Mountains and all that.

Lately, however, a growing number of tourists are going off the beaten track (not that we want to refer to themselves) and spend time in Arequipa.

This isn’t just a name on a map, or somewhere you walk through on your way from point A to B: it’s a sprawling regional capital of more than 1.19 million people, with a unique blend of history, culture and geography that sets it apart from the rest.

For starters, it has a nickname La Ciudad Blancaor The White City: a majority of the buildings in the colonial historic center were built by the Spanish using local resources sillara volcanic stone mined from the surrounding mountains.

Discover the White City

Also UNESCO protected, same thing Center is full of beautiful Baroque churches, cafe-lined squares and elegant colonial mansions from the 16th century, perfectly preserved.

There are numerous historic buildings in the city, but if we were to limit it to the top 3 most important, these would certainly be:

• Plaza de Armas: the central square, and the beating heart of Arequipa. Here you can admire the graceful white stone buildings, buy snacks from friendly local vendors and people watch
• Cathedral Basilica: located directly on Plaza de Armas itself. It originally dates from the 17th century and has been rebuilt a number of times, combining Renaissance and Baroque features
• Santa Catalina Monastery: essentially a miniature city in Arequipa, with narrow streets, vibrantly colored walls (in stark contrast to the largely white cityscape) and ancient monasteries

The coolest thing about Arequipa is that it is located in a valley surrounded by volcanoes, with El Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu to name a few.

These provide the most breathtaking backdrop to the city’s church towers and Spanish-style city buildings, and besides being beautiful, these mountains are the main reason why Arequipa is so fertile and productive.

After all, volcanic soil is the key ingredient behind rich agriculture.

Guess what were think?

The food medina of Peru, second only to Lima

Ancient monuments, stunning natural vistas and lush nature are perhaps 50% of the reason why tourists flock to Peru every year. The other 50% is food.

We don’t know for sure, but we do know.

If you came here for fresh farm-to-table cuisine, new, indescribable flavors and culinary surprises around every corner, then Arequipa is probably second only to Lima when it comes to gastronomic prowess. If the capital is the food mecca of the country, Arequipa can be the Peruvian ‘Food Medina’.

A spicy pepper filled with beef and herbs, topped with a creamy béchamel sauce, rocoto relleno is Arequipa’s pride and joy, and there’s no better place to try it than Sol de Mayo, a charming colonial-inspired eatery near Plaza de Armas.

Ocopa Arequipeña is a hearty local dish of boiled potatoes smothered in a thick sauce made with peanuts and huacatay (an Andean herb), topped with cheese, and if they are particularly generous, a boiled egg crowns the plate.

Chicha, run by renowned Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio, is said to serve the best ocopas in town, and considering the chef behind it, you expect nothing less than exceptional.

The Peruvian Grand Canyon

Last but certainly not least, Arequipa is the main base for excursions Colca Gorgeone of the world’s deepest and perhaps most important natural wonders in southern Peru.

About 10,000 feet deep at its deepest point, it is about twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, and this dramatic depth creates towering cliffs and natural terraces that attract adventurous mountain climbers and casual tourists alike.

For the bird nerds among us: this is the home of the Andean condorand at lookouts like Cruz del Cóndor you can actually see the majestic winged creature take flight, as they glide dizzyingly through the canyon before taking back the skies.

In addition to wildlife, the gorge is dotted with ancient agricultural terraces, built thousands of years ago by long-lost civilizations that preceded the Incas. Some are still used by local farmers, especially those from indigenous communities such as the Collagua and Cabana peoples.

How to Stay Safe When Visiting Peru in 2026

Are you going to Peru in the near future?

Use our Travel Advisory Checker (powered by the US Department of State) to stay informed about travel alerts and any security updates affecting your destination.

For example, right now Peru is at level 2which means ‘Moderate Risk’. Americans are not discouraged from visiting, but they should still exercise a greater degree of caution, especially when visiting major cities like Lima and Arequipa.

This is due to the increased number of pickpockets and petty theft in busy areas, and the risk of demonstrations that could temporarily disrupt services. This year, and most of 2025, Peru has been quite stable.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior head writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60 countries to his name (and is currently weaving stories from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.