Arequipa Transportation

Getting to Arequipa

By Plane

The Aeropuerto Internacional Rodríguez Ballón (Tel. +51 (54) 443464 or 443458) is located in the district of Cerro Colorado, about 4 miles (7 kilometers) northwest of the city. The airport has daily domestic connections to Lima, Cusco, Juliaca, and Tacna, as well as international connections to various cities in Chile and flights to Bolivia coming soon. Flights to/from Lima take around an hour and 30 minutes to/from Cusco, and 25 minutes to/from Juliaca and Tacna.

Airlines servicing the airport are LanPeru (Tel. +51 (1) 213 8200; www.lanperu.com) and Star Peru (Tel. +51 (1) 705-9000; www.starperu.com).

A domestic departure tax of S/. 12.28 must be paid before boarding, and this is payable at the airport payment teller window.

A taxi from the airport to downtown hotels costs around S/.15 (or $5), while a shared colectivo service costs approximately S/.6 ($2) per person.

By Bus

A large number of bus companies travel in and out of Arequipa from all different parts of the region, including Chile and Bolivia. Avoid confusion by asking if your bus departs from Terminal or Terrapuerto. A taxi to and from the downtown area is a 5 minute drive from both, and costs around S/.6 ($2).

The inter-provincial bus station Terminal Terrestre is located on Avenida Andres Avelina Caceres, about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) south of downtown Arequipa. From here you can take buses going to other cities in the highlands, such as Cusco (10 hours) and Puno (6 hours), as well as coastal cities like Ica (14 hours) and Lima (17 hours). Located nearby is the newer Terrapuerto Internacional Arequipa, on Avenida Arturo Ibáñez. From here you can travel to destinations within the country, as well as to Santiago de Chile, La Paz, and Buenos Aires, among other international sites.

We recommend the following bus companies because they are safe and run on time.

Cruz del Sur
Tel. +51 (54) 427375
www.cruzdelsur.com.pe

Oltursa
Tel. +51 (54) 423152
www.oltursa.com.pe

Ormeño
Tel. +51 (54) 424 113
www.grupo-ormeno.com.pe

Arequipa's bus stations have been known to attract thieves and therefore travelers are advised to pay very close attention to their belongings at all times. It is advisable to opt for the more exclusive and safer bus companies recommended above.

A departure tax of a few soles is required, and a staff member is usually stationed at the entrance to the departure platform to check your ticket and ensure you have paid.  Generally departure tax stalls are found next to or in front of this exit, within the main terminal.

It can also get very cold during bus journeys, so be sure to bring a coat, scarf, and/or thick socks to wear during the journey, especially when traveling eastward to destinations like Puno or Cusco.

Getting Around Arequipa

Because Arequipa is so compact, with streets laid out in a grid-like pattern that radiate out from the Plaza, most of the city’s chief attraction can be reached on foot, or at most with a short taxi ride. Other sites of visitor interest, including inner-city restaurants, are found in the blocks immediately north of the plaza.

Taxi:
Taxis are inexpensive and plentiful, easily hailed on the street, and essential at night. Trips within the center shouldn’t cost more than S/3 ($1) if hailed on the street, while privately called secure taxis will cost a fraction more. If you are leaving from your hotel ask reception to arrange a taxi for you, otherwise we recommend the following companies.

Turismo Arequipeña: 458-888, 459-090
http://www.taxiturismo.com.pe/index.html

Turismo Imperial: 250-575

Inca Tour: 422-121

Turismo Cayma: 458-989