Best Month to Visit Arequipa

November is the best month to visit Arequipa

November brings 22°C daytime highs, 2mm of precipitation across about 1 wet days and 12.8 hours of daylight — best for hiking, cycling and reliable sunshine. The strongest run of the year is September to November. February is the quietest month: quiet and local, and still good for hiking, cycling and quiet and local.

Long-run climate normals for Arequipa. Month ratings compare months within Arequipa only — they are not a ranking of Arequipa against other destinations, and they are not a forecast for a specific year.

Last updated: · Live forecast data refreshes hourly.

Key numbers for Arequipa

Best monthNovember — Hiking, Cycling, Reliable sunshine
Best 3-month windowSeptember–November
Quietest monthFebruary — Quiet and local
Driest monthMay — 0mm
Wettest monthFebruary — 22mm
Warmest / coolestJanuary 22°C / October 21°C
SeasonalityFairly even across the year
Annual rainfall102mm over roughly 16 rain days

What the data actually tells you

Rainfall swing

February gets roughly 1000% more precipitation than November — 22mm against 2mm. That difference, more than temperature, is what changes how a day here feels.

Temperature spread

Daytime highs only move 1°C across the whole year (21–22°C), so timing matters far less here than rainfall does.

Driest window

May is the driest month at 0mm across roughly 0 wet days, while February peaks at 22mm.

Shoulder alternative

October is almost as good as November, but usually quieter and cheaper. If your dates are flexible, it is the easier trip.

Season strength

Arequipa stays fairly consistent all year, so there is no month you need to avoid. What you plan to do matters more than when you go.

What each month in Arequipa is good for

Ratings compare months within Arequipa, not against destinations worldwide: five stars means the best time to be here, not that Arequipa beats anywhere else. Tags describe what the conditions actually suit.

MonthRatingHigh / LowPrecipitationWet daysSunDaylightBest for
January★★★☆☆22°C / 8°C18mm47h12.9hHiking · Cycling
February★★☆☆☆22°C / 8°C22mm55h12.5hHiking · Cycling · Quiet and local
March★★☆☆☆22°C / 8°C12mm35h12.1hHiking · Cycling · Autumn colour
April★★★☆☆22°C / 7°C3mm14h11.6hHiking · Cycling · Autumn colour
May★★★☆☆21°C / 7°C0mm06h11.2hHiking · Cycling · Autumn colour
June★★★★☆21°C / 6°C0mm08h11hHiking · Cycling
July★★★★☆21°C / 6°C0mm08h11.1hHiking · Cycling
August★★★★☆21°C / 6°C0mm08h11.5hHiking · Cycling
September★★★★☆21°C / 6°C0mm08h11.9hHiking · Cycling · Spring greenery
October★★★★☆21°C / 7°C1mm19h12.4hHiking · Cycling · Reliable sunshine
November★★★★☆22°C / 7°C2mm110h12.8hHiking · Cycling · Reliable sunshine
December★★★☆☆22°C / 8°C8mm27h13hHiking · Cycling

Best month by what you came for in Arequipa

You are planningPickWhy
Sun & beach daysNovember10h daily sunshine, 22°C highs and only 1 rain days.
City walking & sightseeingMay21°C highs with 11.2h of daylight — long days without heat fatigue.
Photography & lightNovember10h of sun and 12.8h daylight give the widest window for golden-hour work.
Value & fewer crowdsSeptemberScores 89/100 — close to peak conditions but outside the busiest window.
Cooler-weather travelMay21°C highs and 7°C nights suit anyone who dislikes heat.

Risks worth planning around in Arequipa

How the month ratings are worked out

Each month in Arequipa is described from long-run climate normals and then rated relative to the other eleven months in the same city. A five-star January in a cold destination means January is one of the best times to be there — not that it beats a Mediterranean summer.

FactorWeightWhat it measures
Temperature Described Average daytime high and overnight low for the month, shown as measured rather than judged.
Precipitation Described Monthly millimetres and wet-day count, labelled as snow or rain/snow where temperatures make that the likely phase.
Sunshine & daylight Described Average daily sunshine hours and astronomical daylight length at mid-month, from the city’s latitude.
“Best for” tags Derived Applied only when the conditions genuinely support the activity — snow depth-friendly cold for skiing, 13–24°C and low rain risk for hiking, dark evenings at high latitude for aurora. A month with few strong use cases gets fewer tags rather than padded ones.
Star rating Relative Ranks the month against the other eleven months in the same city. Never a comparison between cities.

Figures are long-run climate averages, not a forecast for a specific year. Where a month lacks sourced rainfall or humidity, the value is modelled from temperature range and rain frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best month to visit Arequipa?

November is the best all-round month in Arequipa: 22°C highs, 2mm of precipitation and 12.8 hours of daylight, which suits hiking, cycling and reliable sunshine. The strongest three-month window is September to November.

What is the quietest month in Arequipa?

February — 22°C highs, 22mm of precipitation over roughly 5 days and 12.5 hours of daylight. It is the cheapest and least crowded time to go, and it still works for hiking, cycling and quiet and local.

When is the driest time to visit Arequipa?

May is the driest month at 0mm over about 0 rain days, against 22mm in February. Across the year Arequipa records around 102mm.

Is Arequipa a year-round destination?

Yes — conditions in Arequipa stay fairly even all year, so there is no month you need to avoid. What you plan to do matters more than when you go.

How many daylight hours does Arequipa get?

Daylight ranges from 11 hours in June to 13 hours in December, calculated from the city's latitude.

Related forecasts for Arequipa

Explore Snap Weather