Transportation
- Top Regional Airline
- LATAM Peru, Sky Airline
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Cabify (Safer than street taxis); average ride 8-12 PEN
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Not common; some hostels rent bikes for approx. 50 PEN/day
- Best Beach Nearby
- Mollendo (Approx. 2.5 hours by bus from Terminal Terrestre, 20 PEN)
- Top International Airline
- LATAM (connections via Lima)
- Highway Access
- Pan-American Highway South (PE-1S) connects to Lima and Chile
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Terminal Terrestre Arequipa (Buses); PeruRail station for luxury trains to Puno
- Public Transport Passes
- Payment is cash to 'cobrador' on small buses (combis), usually 1 PEN per trip
- Regional Travel
- Cruz del Sur or Flores buses to Cusco (10 hours, approx. 60-90 PEN)
Essentials
- City
- Arequipa, Arequipa Province, Peru
- Population
- 1,140,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 45-70 Mbps fixed line (Fiber available in Yanahuara), 4G LTE widely available
- Currency & Banking
- 1 PEN (Sol) ≈ 0.27 USD; 1 USD ≈ 3.75 PEN
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; buy 7L San Mateo jugs for approx. 12 PEN
- Power
- 220V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A and C (Flat and Round pins usually fit most outlets)
- SIM Card
- Claro or Movistar (Prepaid 10GB for 30 days ≈ 30 PEN at Tiendas Claro Calle Mercaderes)
- Banking for Expats
- BCP, Interbank; Revolut works at Scotiabank ATMs (low fees)
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local Facebook groups like 'Alquiler Departamentos Arequipa'
- Cashless Friendly
- Partially; larger shops/restaurants accept Visa/Mastercard, but local markets and taxis are Cash Only (Yape app is very popular)
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb Average Studios: $500 - $800 USD/month
- Budget Accommodation
- Selina Arequipa (Calle Jerusalén 406) - Dorms from 45 PEN, Private from 150 PEN
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Historic Center (Near Plaza de Armas) for proximity to attractions
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Yanahuara and Cayma (Safer, upscale, better internet, walking distance to malls)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Selina Cowork (Calle Jerusalén 406) - Day pass: 40 PEN, Monthly: 450 PEN
- Best Cafe for Work
- Kafi Wasi (Calle Villalba 203) - Excellent coffee and reliable Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Meetups hosted at Selina or startup events at Universidad Católica de Santa María
- Social Events for Expats
- Arequipa Expats Facebook Group; Friday night mixers at Chelawasi Public House
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Clínica San Pablo (Av. Metropoliana s/n, Yanahuara)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Living Arequipa (Calle Ugarte 210); Drop-in class approx. 30 PEN
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Smart Fit (Mall Plaza Cayma) - Monthly from 79 PEN
- Laundry Services
- Lavanderia Speed (Calle Santa Catalina); approx. 5-7 PEN per kilo
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- PedidosYa and Rappi
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Rocoto Relleno and Chupe de Camarones (try Picantería La Nueva Palomino)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Omphalos (Calle Bolivar 107) - Menu del dia approx. 15 PEN
- Best Dessert Spots
- Queso Helado stalls in Plaza de Armas (Approx. 5 PEN)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Mercado San Camilo (Fresh produce, huge variety, very cheap)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Mercado Libre Peru, Falabella.com.pe
- Grocery Delivery
- Tottus or Plaza Vea via Rappi
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Calle San Francisco (Busy bars and clubs like Forum)
- Local Brewery
- Chelawasi Public House (Calle Campo Redondo 102, San Lazaro)
- Wine Bars
- Zig Zag Restaurant (Fine wines and Andean fusion)
- Street Food Stalls
- Anticuchos and Picarones at Plaza Yanahuara (Evenings)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Pasta Cucinotta (Italian, Yanahuara); Chifa Tumi (Peruvian-Chinese)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Monasterio de Santa Catalina (Admission 45 PEN)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museo Santuarios Andinos (Home of the Juanita Mummy; 25 PEN)
- Historical Sites
- Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral
- Religious Sites
- Iglesia de la Compañía (Intricate sillar carvings)
- Annual Events
- Aniversario de Arequipa (August 15th - parades and fireworks)
- Cultural Districts
- San Lazaro (The oldest neighborhood with narrow white stone alleys)
- Theater Venues
- Teatro Municipal de Arequipa (Calle Mercaderes)
- Local Markets
- Feria El Altiplano (Miraflores district for textiles/electronics)
- Music Scene
- Live Peñas (Traditional music) at La Capitana
- Street Art
- Found primarily in the Selva Alegre and San Lazaro outskirts
- Cooking Classes
- Peruvian Cooking Experience (Calle Santa Catalina 103)
- Art Galleries
- Chavez de la Rosa Cultural Center
- Historic Buildings
- Casa del Moral (Colonial mansion; 5 PEN admission)
- Local Heritage
- Sillar stone architecture (Volcanic white stone UNESCO heritage)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Colca Canyon (3-hour drive; home of the Andean Condor)
- National Parks Nearby
- Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Chilina Valley (Hiking and mountain biking trails)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mirador de Yanahuara (View of Misti Volcano)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Mejia Lagoons (approx. 2 hours away on the coast)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Allowed in designated camping zones in the Colca Valley vicinity
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Olva Courier (Calle Jerusalén)
- Tech Repair Services
- Compumarket (Av. Goyeneche) for laptop/phone repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- Club Internacional Arequipa (Private club, requires guest pass)
- Language Classes
- EDELWEISS Spanish School (Calle Bolivar)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Mario Vargas Llosa (Calle Palacio Viejo)
- Community Centers
- Alianza Francesa (Calle Santa Catalina)
- Gaming Lounges
- Local 'Lan Centers' near Universidad San Agustín (UNSA)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Luxor (Calle Ugarte)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,400 USD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $56,000 USD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $950 USD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $38,000 USD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,300 USD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $78,000 USD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $850 USD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $51,000 USD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,200 USD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $96,000 USD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $800 USD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $64,000 USD)
- Corporate Tax
- 29.5%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Residential (Worldwide income for residents staying >183 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 30%
- VAT
- 18% (IGV)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to transparent entities in low-tax jurisdictions
- Property Tax
- Yes, Impuesto Predial (calculated annually by the municipality)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 3% (Alcabala tax), first 10 UIT (tax units) are exempt
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa yet, but low daily cost of living offsets standard tax rates