At a mild elevation of only 7,600ft and offering over 300 days of sunshine every year, Peru’s second largest city, Arequipa, is one of the most enjoyable urban destinations that Peru offers. Cirqa is the first luxury boutique hotel of its caliber to grace Arequipa and offers visitors a hip, historic and architecturally stunning place to call home. Only one block from the picturesque and lively Plaza de Armas, Cirqa offers 11 guest rooms and two gourmet restaurants, inside a former monastery which dates back to the founding of the city in 1540. Arequipa is known as the “white city” due to the ubiquitous use of a white volcanic rock for building called “sillar”, quarried form nearby volcanoes that ring the city, which dazzles white under the ever present sunshine. Cirqa offers guests the ability to stay on a half board rate or choose a fully inclusive option which includes over a dozen privately guided local excursions. Arequipa is a great place to relax and acclimate upon arrival to Peru before heading to Cusco via daily direct flights. It is also the jumping off point to explore nearby Colca Canyon. Cirqa is easily combined with its sister properties: Puqio in the Colca Canyon and Titilaka on Lake Titicaca, via a gorgeous overland driving route through the Andes called the Southern Travesia.
PROPERTY FACTS
11
Claustro (2) Aposento (5) Boveda (4)
Half Board & Fully Inclusive
Yes, Throughout and Complimentary
Open Year Round
Relais & Chateaux
Massages Only
Heated Plunge Pool, Therapy Spa Room
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RATES
From $473 per room, per night
Starting Full Board
LOCATION: AREQUIPA, Peru
Closest Domestic Airport:
Arequipa (AQP) receives almost hourly flights from Lima daily and also offers direct flights to/from Cusco roughly twice a day. JetSmart airlines also offers seasonal flights direct to/from Santiago, Chile. The hotel is only one block from the main square in Arequipa and is approximately 25 minutes from the airport. Airport transfers are included in the fully inclusive rates or can be arranged at additional cost for guests booking half board.
Cirqa is the sister property of Puqio in the Colca Canyon and Titilaka on Lake Titicaca. When combining the three properties you can check in at one of the properties and out at the other. Arequipa makes a great stopover to acclimate for travelers in Peru prior to heading on to Cusco or Lake Titicaca. This property combines into a fantastic Southern Peru Travesia Itinerary
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WHEN TO VISIT
Located at 7,600ft and and on the edge of the Atacama desert, Arequipa offers over 300 days of sunshine a year and a very enjoyable year round climate. Temperatures during the day rarely exceed 75F (25C) and nighttime lows seldom fall below 41F (5C). Rain seldom falls here but afternoon clouds are possible during the December-March period when scant amounts of rainfall are recorded. There really is not a bad time of year to visit Arequipa.
FOR FAMILIES
Arequipa is a much more manageable city to explore with children than Lima due to its size and climate. Children delight in exploring the labyrinth of the Santa Catalina Monastery and wandering through the local markets. There are fun outdoor activities to enjoy in the are which include hiking, mountain biking and river rafting on the Rio Chili which offers fun but not dangerous Class III rapids.
RECOMMENDED LENGTH OF STAY
The minimum suggested stay is 2 nights to acclimate and get a taste of Arequipa. With 3 nights it will allow visitors to dive a bit deeper into all that Arequipa offers. However, usually planning a stay at Cirqa is combined with an overnight visit to the Colca Canyon or an overland trip to Lake Titicaca so factoring in 3-5 nights for this journey is recommended. Arequipa is such a lovely place that it is hard to leave once you have arrived.
UNIQUE SELLING POINTS
Arequipa is a fantastic place for visitors to begin their trip in Peru, the wonderful sunny climate and elevation at 7,600ft is conducive for recuperating after a long flight and acclimating before heading onto the higher elevations around Cusco and Lake Titicaca.
For those that enjoy cities; great food, museums, architecture and history, but feel overwhelmed by the size, sprawl and grey foggy weather of Lima (10 million people) . Arequipa is a perfect alternative that boats an incredible culinary scene, wonderful museums, perfect weather, outdoor activities and is a very manageable size with only one million residents.
The Andean Sanctuary Museum in Arequipa contains “Juanita the Ice Maiden”
Cirqa is the only high end boutique hotel in the city of Arequipa and is located just one block from the main Plaza de Armas.
Arequipa is the closest city and the gateway to accessing the Colca Canyon and makes for a great start/end point for overland trips to Lake Titicaca.
BEST COMBINED WITH
Arequipa is a wonderful place to relax and acclimate for a few nights prior to going to Cusco. There are flights almost every half hour between Lima and Arequipa and twice daily direct service to Cusco.
A few nights in Arequipa and a few nights in the Colca Canyon is a perfect combination.
Combining Arequipa, the Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca makes a perfect overland trip. This can be done prior to going to Cusco (continuing on from Lake Titicaca) or can be done in reverse - departing Cusco and visiting Lake Titicaca, then the Colca Canyon en route to stop in Arequipa and then finish in Lima
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What have the staff at Awasi been up to during the pandemic? Setting the table for a spectacular reopening.