Arequipa Weather and Climate: A Comprehensive Guide
Arequipa is located in the Arequipa region in southern Peru. The city sits at an altitude of 2,000 meters (6,561 feet) above sea level, surrounded by volcanic mountains. As a result, many old colonial buildings were constructed using volcanic rock, earning Arequipa the nickname "The White City."
Arequipa has a cold desert climate. Although daytime temperatures rarely drop below 20°C, nights can be very cold, with temperatures sometimes falling as low as 5°C. The city remains dry and sunny almost all year round.
Average maximum day and minimum night temperature
In Arequipa temperatures are generally consistent throughout the year. On average, daytime temperatures range from a pleasant 20°C in October to a moderate 16°C in July.
Nighttime temperatures can drop, with average lows reaching 5°C in July.Check out our detailed temperature page for more information.
Temperature ranges by month
Precipitation and rainy days
On average, Arequipa receives a reasonable amount of rainfall, with an annual precipitation of 909 mm. The seasons in Arequipa, bring significant changes in precipitation. The wettest month, February, receives heavy rainfall, with an average of 252 mm of precipitation. This rainfall is distributed across 23 rainy days.
In contrast, the driest month, June, experiences much less rainfall, totaling 2.5 mm over 0 rainy days. These distinct seasonal differences provide diverse experiences throughout the year. For more details, please visit our Arequipa Precipitation page.The mean monthly precipitation over the year, including rain, hail and snow
The average number of days each month with precipitation
Sunshine over the year
Arequipa enjoys sunny spells year-round. August sees up to 10.4 hours of daily sunshine, perfect for a sunny trip. February, the least sunny month, still offers a generous 6.3 hours of sun despite this cloudier time of the year.
Visit our detailed sunshine hours page for more information.
Monthly hours of sunshine
Daily hours of sunshine
Average humidity
The relative humidity is moderate throughout the year in Arequipa.
The city experiences its highest humidity in February, reaching 59%. In October, the humidity drops to its lowest level at 39%. What does this mean? Read our detailed page on humidity levels for further details.
Relative humidity over the year
Average wind speed
The mean wind speed over the year ranges from 3 m/s in February, March, April and November to 4 m/s in January, May, June, July, August, September, October and December.
The mean monthly wind speed over the year (meters per second)
Forecast for Arequipa
Select a Month of Interest
Check the conditions for any month of the year.
The best time of year to visit Arequipa in Peru
The best time to visit is during the drier months: May, June, July, August, September, October and November.Other facts from our historical weather data:
Most rainfall (rainy season) is seen in January, February and March.
Yes, the months of May, June, July, August, September and October are very dry.
October has an average maximum temperature of 20°C and is the warmest month of the year.
The coldest month is July with an average maximum temperature of 16°C.
February tops the wettest month list with 252 mm of rainfall.
June is the driest month with 3 mm of precipitation.
November is the sunniest month with an average of 311 hours of sunshine.
No idea where to travel to this year? We have a tool that recommends destinations based on your ideal conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.
