Do Arequipa rainy season tours still run? Yes. At Turismo Liberty our main departures stay daily through the southern summer: the Colca Canyon Full Day is $27 per adult, and the city and countryside tours start from $12. Between December and March the only thing that changes is the weather, and with a rain jacket and a little planning you will enjoy it just as much. If you already have dates, message us on WhatsApp +51 959 175 901 and we will confirm availability in under 5 minutes.
Headlines about the 2026-27 El Niño have left many travelers wondering if Arequipa is still a good bet. This guide separates what the official agencies say from what it actually means for your itinerary: when it rains, how each tour is affected, what your plan B looks like in the city, what everything costs, and what to pack. Our main tours depart every day. If a road condition affects safety, we tell you and offer another date or an alternative.
🌧️ Quick Answer: Do Arequipa Tours Run in the Rain?
Short answer: yes. Arequipa is one of Peru’s sunniest cities, and even in the wet season rain usually arrives as showers rather than weeks of storms. Here is the snapshot of the Colca Canyon Full Day, our most requested tour:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Main tour | Colca Canyon Full Day from Arequipa |
| Price | $27 per adult · $22 per child |
| Duration | 1 day — pickup 2:30–3:00 AM, back around 6:00 PM |
| Starting point | Hotels near the Plaza de Armas (historic center of Arequipa) |
| Included | Hotel pickup, tourist transportation, professional guide, breakfast and ongoing assistance |
| Not included | Lunch, Colca Valley entrance (S/70 for foreigners) and Chacapi hot springs (S/15) |
| Difficulty | Moderate — maximum altitude 4,900 m (16,075 ft) at Mirador de los Volcanes (Patapampa) |
🌤️ What the 2026-27 Rainy Season Looks Like in Arequipa
According to SENAMHI, Peru’s national weather and hydrology service, rain in the city of Arequipa is mainly concentrated from January to March, with February the wettest month. Some sources stretch the season from November to March, but heavy rain is uncommon before January. In practice, December is a transition month, January brings light rain from the first week, and March is already gentler.
| Month | What to expect | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| December | Transition: some cloudy days and occasional rain | Bring a light rain jacket |
| January | Light rain starting the first week | Rain jacket and shoes with good grip |
| February | Wettest month of the year in the city | Book with flexibility and keep a city plan B |
| March | Gentler rain; the landscape is very green | Great time for photos of green hillsides |
🌊 El Niño 2026-27: What It Really Means for Arequipa
Peru’s ENFEN committee maintains a Coastal El Niño alert, with a high probability of extraordinary magnitude between September 2026 and January 2027. Those effects are expected mostly on the northern coast. For the southern highlands, where Arequipa sits, rainfall forecasts point to normal or below-normal levels, and some researchers even warn of a possible rain deficit in the Andes. Senamhi and Cenepred note that in past events the southern Andes received less rain, not more.
The real risk is localized: heavy showers, flash flows in dry riverbeds (huaicos) and temporary road blockages. That is why Peru declared an emergency in hundreds of districts, including some in Arequipa. For you as a traveler, it boils down to one rule: check road conditions the day before, and trust an operator who does it for you. For canyon details, read our guide to Colca Canyon in the rainy season and El Niño.
🗺️ Tour by Tour: What Changes When It Rains
Not every tour reacts to weather the same way. This comparison helps you choose by date, pace and budget:
| Tour | Price | Duration and departure | What changes in the rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colca Canyon Full Day | $27 | 1 day · pickup 2:30–3:00 AM | Bring a rain jacket and warm layers; more cloud is possible at viewpoints |
| Historic Walking City Tour | $30 | 4 hours · private, flexible schedule | Runs as normal; several stops are indoors (church, market, monastery) |
| Countryside City Tour | $15 | 4 hours · groups up to 18 | Viewpoints and mill are outdoors; a rain jacket helps |
| Sillar Route and Culebrillas | $12 | 4 hours · departures 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM | Cooler at the quarry; wear shoes with good grip |
| Peruvian Cooking Experience | $45 | 2 hours · 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM (Mon–Sat) | Indoors: the best plan B for a rainy day |
If you want more day-trip options from the city, see our full-day tours in Arequipa and the guide to Colca Canyon prices and tickets.
☔ What to Do in Arequipa When It Rains: Indoor Plan B
A rainy day in Arequipa does not ruin a trip: the city has plenty to see under a roof. These are the ideas we recommend most, and you can extend the list with our guide to things to do in Arequipa 2026:
- San Camilo Market: try queso helado, fresh fruit juices and regional dishes in one of the city’s most traditional markets.
- La Compañía Church and Cloisters: baroque sillar architecture and, if you like, the local Sistine Chapel (optional S/5 entry).
- Santa Catalina Monastery: S/45 entry. Dress warm and wear comfortable shoes; it is a citadel inside the city, best visited at an easy pace.
- Peruvian Cooking Experience: a 2-hour class for $45 to prepare local dishes. Sessions at 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday to Saturday.
- Michell alpaca complex: a stop on the Historic Walking City Tour, great for learning about alpaca textiles.
🎒 What to Pack for Arequipa in the Rainy Season
With the right bag, rain stops being a problem. Here is the short list for your tours in Arequipa between December and March:
- Light rain jacket or poncho — the official recommendation for the Colca Canyon from December to March.
- Layers — cold mornings, mild midday and real cold above 4,000 m.
- Shoes with good grip — cobblestone streets and wet trails get slippery.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses — UV stays high in Arequipa even with clouds.
- Cash in soles — for entrance fees (Colca S/70 for foreigners, Santa Catalina S/45) and lunch.
- Waterproof pouch for phone and camera — handy at viewpoints and short walks.
- Passport or ID — for entrances and procedures at tourist sites.
For the canyon, we have a more detailed list in what to pack for Colca Canyon 2026.
💰 Prices and What’s Included in Our Arequipa Tours
These are Turismo Liberty’s published prices for the most booked tours in the rainy season. Remember that entrance fees are paid separately, in soles, at each attraction:
| Tour | Price | Entrance fees (extra) |
|---|---|---|
| Sillar Route and Culebrillas | $12 | Añashuayco S/5 · Culebrillas S/5 |
| Countryside City Tour | $15 | Carmen Alto S/5 · Casona Villa S/10 · Sabandía Mill S/12 · Menelik Museum S/8 |
| Colca Canyon Full Day | $27 adult · $22 child | Colca Valley S/70 foreigners · Chacapi S/15 |
| Historic Walking City Tour | $30 (private tour) | Santa Catalina S/45 · Sistine Chapel S/5 (optional) |
| Peruvian Cooking Experience | $45 | — |
Multi-day options exist too: the Colca Canyon 2 days / 1 night from $59 suits travelers who prefer to see the valley at a calmer pace.
📋 Departures, Pickup Point and How to Book
The Colca Canyon Full Day picks travelers up at hotels near the Plaza de Armas between 2:30 and 3:00 AM and leaves for Chivay at 3:00 AM. The return to Arequipa is around 6:00 PM. The city and countryside tours include pickup or transport from the historic center, and the Sillar Route departs at 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM. If you prefer a longer trip, the Colca and Puno 2-day tour connects Arequipa with Lake Titicaca.
To book you only need three details: date, number of travelers and your hotel in Arequipa. If road conditions affect safety on your departure day, we let you know and offer another date or an alternative.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions: Arequipa Rainy Season Tours 2026-27
Yes. Turismo Liberty’s main departures are daily all year. What changes is the weather, so we recommend packing a rain jacket. If a road condition affects safety, we tell you and offer another date or an alternative.
According to Senamhi, rain in the city is mainly concentrated from January to March, with February the heaviest month. December is a transition month with occasional rain.
Published prices start at $12 (Sillar Route), $15 (Countryside), $27 for the Colca Canyon Full Day ($22 for children) and $30 for the Historic Walking City Tour. Entrance fees at each attraction are paid separately in soles.
ENFEN alerts point mostly to the northern coast. For the southern highlands, rainfall forecasts are normal or below normal. The risk in Arequipa is localized: heavy showers, huaicos and temporary road blockages.
Visit San Camilo Market, La Compañía Church and Cloisters, Santa Catalina Monastery (S/45), or book the Peruvian Cooking Experience ($45, 2 hours, indoors).
A rain jacket matters most (recommended December to March), plus layers, shoes with good grip, sunscreen, cash for the valley entrance (S/70 for foreigners) and a waterproof pouch for your phone.
Traveling to Arequipa between December and March is perfectly doable: the rain is moderate, the landscapes turn greener and the tours keep running. With a solid indoor plan B and the right gear, your Arequipa rainy season tours are just as rewarding. Turismo Liberty is with you from $12, with a guide, hotel pickup and support on WhatsApp.
Ready for your Arequipa trip in the rainy season?
Turismo Liberty tours start at $12, and the Colca Canyon Full Day costs $27 with a guide, breakfast and hotel pickup. Daily departures, no middlemen.
