Arequipa Hostels

Arequipa, in southern Peru, is a lovely, lively city that is a must-stop destination if you’re travellng overland. It’s surrounded by some of the most dramatic scenery in Peru, with mountains, active volcanoes, deserts, and canyons (including some deeper than the Grand Canyon). It’s a backpacker’s paradise for the wealth of outdoor opportunities in the nearby Colca Canyon and beyond, and for the city-lover, its colonial architecture made of volcanic sillar rock is sure to delight.

Hostels in Arequipa are numerous, as are restaurants, cafes, and bars. And for the most part they’re easy on the wallet (especially compared with Cusco, where you might suffer sticker shock).

Arequipa’s colonial heritage is well-preserved and on full display in impressive sights such as the Monasterio Santa Catalina, a 400-year-old behemoth that sprawls over an entire city block. Other exquisitely beautiful churches, mansions and convents dot the city as well. For history buffs, the Museo Santuario offers a glimpse into the area’s Inca past, with a reverential look at the burial artifacts and mummies from child sacrifices discovered on nearby volcanoes.

Arequipa hostels can be found throughout the city, with many clustered near the Plaza de Armas, the main square and heart of Arequipa. The two side-by-side bus terminals are about three kilometers further south, and it’s an inexpensive taxi ride from either one to your hostel.