This Unknown & Beautiful Latin American City Is Surging In Popularity

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When you think of Peru, chances are Lima comes to mind, with its beautiful coastline, vibrant food markets, and buzzing city life. Or maybe the colonial charm of Cusco, which brings that Old World allure to the mix.

And, of course, there’s Machu Picchu, the world-renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled in the Andean Highlands.

That used to be Peru ticked off for most, or at least Peru for beginners.

Lately, an interesting trend has been emerging: more and more visitors are being drawn to a lesser-known city in the south of the country that’s not exactly part of the popular, Andean-centered Peru 10-day package.

In fact, according to data shared by Gercetur, the Peruvian Gerencia Regional de Comercio Exterior y Turismo (Regional Management of Foreign Trade and Tourism), tourism there has already surpassed pre-pandemic levels:

Arequipa Is Peru’s Shining Star

Welcome to Arequipa, Peru’s trendiest destination right now:

Historically considered Peru’s third-best tourist destination, Arequipa used to be the place you ‘fit’ into the itinerary if there were enough days left. After, you know, Cusco, Lima, and all your Sacred Valleys and Rainbow Mountains and stuff.

Recently, however, a growing number of tourists are veering off the beaten path—not that we’re trying to be self-referential—and spending time in Arequipa.

This isn’t just another name on a map, or somewhere you pass through on your way from Point A to B: it’s a sprawling regional capital home to over 1.19 million residents, with a unique mix of history, culture, and geography that makes it stand out from the rest.

For starters, it is nicknamed La Ciudad Blanca, or The White City: a majority of the buildings in the colonial Historic Center were built by the Spanish using local sillar, a volcanic stone extracted from the surrounding mountains.

Discover The White City

Also UNESCO-protected, this same Centro is packed full of stunning Baroque churches, café-bordered plazas, and elegant colonial mansions dating back to the 16th century, perfectly preserved.

There’s plenty of historic structures to be found around town, but if we were to narrow it down to the top 3 most important, these would definitely be:

• Plaza de Armas: the central square, and the beating heart of Arequipa. It’s where you go to admire the ornate white-stone buildings, buy snacks from friendly local vendors, and people-watch
• Catedral Basílica: located right on Plaza de Armas itself. Originally dating back to the 1600s, it’s been rebuilt a number of times, mixing Renaissance and Baroque features
• Santa Catalina Monastery: essentially a miniature city inside Arequipa, it has narrow streets, vibrant-colored walls (in stark contrast with the largely-white townscape), and old cloisters

The coolest thing about Arequipa is that it sits 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 civic edifices, and, beyond being beautiful, these mountains are the main reason Arequipa is so fertile and productive.

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

Are you thinking what we’re thinking?

Peru’s Food Medina, 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 remaining 50% is food.

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

If you came here for fresh farm-to-table fare, new, indescribable flavors, and culinary surprises around every corner, Arequipa is probably second only to Lima in terms of gastronomical prowess. If the capital is the country’s Food Mecca, Arequipa can be the Peruvian ‘Food Medina’.

A beef-and-herbs-stuffed spicy pepper, topped with a creamy béchamel-esque sauce, rocoto relleno is Arequipa’s pride and joy, and there’s nowhere better to try those 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’re feeling 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 given the chef behind it, expect nothing less than exceptional.

The Peruvian Grand Canyon

Last but certainly not least, Arequipa is the main base for trips to Colca Canyon, one of the world’s deepest, and perhaps the main natural wonder in southern Peru.

About 10,730 feet deep at its deepest point, it’s roughly twice as profound as the Grand Canyon, and this dramatic depth creates towering cliffs and natural terraces that attract both adventurous rock climbers and casual sightseers alike.

To the bird geeks out there, this is the home of the Andean condor, and at viewpoints like Cruz del Cóndor, you can actually see the majestic winged creature in flight, as they vertiginously glide down the ravine only to conquer the skies again.

Other than wildlife, the canyon is dotted with ancient agricultural terraces, built thousands of years ago by long-lost civilizations that preceded the Incans. Some are still in use today by local farmers, especially those from indigenous communities like the Collagua and Cabana peoples.

How To Stay Safe Visiting Peru In 2026

Heading to Peru in the near future?

Use our Travel Advisory Checker (powered by the U.S. Department of State) to stay up to date with travel warnings and any security updates affecting your destination.

For instance, at this very moment, Peru stands at Level 2, which means ‘Moderate Risk’. Americans aren’t discouraged from visiting, yet they must exercise a greater degree of caution, especially when visiting large cities like Lima and Arequipa.

This is due to elevated rates of pickpocketing and petty theft in crowded areas, and to the risk of demonstrations that can temporarily disrupt services. This year, and for the best part of 2025, Peru has been quite stable.