Arequipa Geography and Climate

Arequipa Geography

The city of Arequipa is located approximately 627 miles (1,009 km) from Lima. Surrounding the department of Arequipa are Ica and Ayacucho to the northwest, Cusco and Apurimac to the north, Puno to the east, Moquegua to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean as a border to the west.

As Arequipa is situated between the desert coastal region and the western foothills of the Andes, the territory is mountainous yet characterized by sweeping, low altitude plains, which are made fertile by the thick layers of volcanic lava from past eruptions.

The urban area of Arequipa rests at a comfortable altitude of 6,737 ft (2,328 meters), making it the ideal place to acclimatize before heading off to the more dramatic elevations of Cusco or Puno.

The three impressive conical volcanoes present in Arequipa are Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu, all of which are snow-capped at some point during the year if not year round, and whose summits tower around 19,680 ft (6,000 m).

Major rivers in the region are the Ocoña, Yauca, Camaná and Quilca (or Chili).

Arequipa Climate

Arequipa’s year round pleasant climate is legendary. Due to its geographical position and particular topography, the region enjoys low humidity, mid-high temperatures, and more than 300 days of sun annually. With a record of 4000 hours of sun exposure per year, it is easy to see why Arequipa has earned its title of the ‘City of Eternal Blue Sky’.

Arequipa Summer

Also the “wet season,” summer is between December and March. Thankfully, the wet season here is much milder than other Andean highland regions, and clouds generally tend to gather in the late afternoon, followed by a gentle rain as opposed to a downpour and thunderstorms.

Temperatures during summer reach a maximum of 77°F (25°C) and rarely fall below 50°F (10°C).

Arequipa Winter

Essentially June and July, winter sees average temperatures of 50°F (10°C). Again, the low humidity – around 27% - means the sensation of cold is less intense than in more humid regions of Peru.

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Statistics and Demographics

Population:
Urban area: 783,165
Greater Metropolitan area: 821,692 distributed throughout 19 districts.

Area:
Greater Metropolitan area: 2,923.53 km2
Total Department area: 63,345 km2

Ethnic Background
Predominantly Mestizo (mixed) and Indigenous