Romantic Hotels and Sunsets in Arequipa
Romance in a white-stone city
Arequipa suits couples who like old buildings, long dinners and mountain views at dusk. The best moments are small: a room in a restored church, a sunset at a stone viewpoint, a slow lunch in a family restaurant. At about 2,335 m, the pace is gentle by necessity. Prices are in Peruvian soles (S/).
Hotels in restored buildings
- CIRQA, a Relais and Châteaux hotel at Calle Agustín Goyeneche 312, has 11 rooms inside the restored 16th-century church of San Agustín, arranged around two patios.
- Casa Andina Premium, at Calle Ugarte 403, fills a colonial house known as the Casa de la Moneda, dated about 1794, with a chapel and a courtyard.
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Sunset at the Yanahuara viewpoint
Cross the Chili River to Yanahuara and walk to the mirador, a row of sillar arches carved with verses. The view takes in El Misti and Chachani. Entry is free. The plaza next door has the church of San Juan Bautista, and vendors sell queso helado, a hand-churned frozen dessert flavoured with cinnamon and coconut.
Dinner at a picantería
Two family-run restaurants suit a long, unhurried dinner. La Nueva Palomino, at Leoncio Prado 122 in Yanahuara, cooks rocoto relleno and adobo on stone and wood fire and serves chicha de guinapo. La Capitana, at Los Arces 209 in Cayma, has a carved date of 1899. Hours change, so check before you go. If chupe de camarones tempts you, remember that river shrimp are off the menu from early January to 31 March.
Two nights in the Colca Valley
The Colca Valley has two lodges built around hot water. Both are at Yanque, in the valley below the pass.
- Las Casitas, a Belmond hotel, has 20 casitas with private hot tubs and a spa. Listings credit it with three MICHELIN Keys in 2025.
- Colca Lodge Spa and Hot Springs, at Fundo Puye, has riverside hot-spring pools for guests only. The pools are shared, not private to each room, and there is a spa.
Allow at least two days from Arequipa. The road crosses a pass at about 4,800 m, so drink water and avoid heavy drinking the night before the drive. For a simple soak by the road, the La Calera springs near Chivay cost about S/15.
A free hour of art
Casa Tristán del Pozo, at San Francisco 108, is a colonial house with a free exhibition space. It makes a calm stop before dinner.
Practical notes for couples
- Take hotel-booked taxis after dark and agree the fare first.
- The US government gives Peru Level 2 for increased caution. Protests in the south can block roads, so check the day before any transfer to Colca.
- The sun is very strong at altitude, so pack sunglasses and sunscreen.
- Go slowly on the first day. Altitude affects everyone, and ask your doctor before travelling if you have concerns.
Read more: Couple activities in Arequipa and Sightseeing in Arequipa . The Arequipa place guide has background on the city. Check UK government travel advice for Peru before you book.