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CIRQA

Arequipa, Peru • Historic Centre • SPLURGE

avg. $412 / night

Includes $22 / night in cash back

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Free breakfast

Breakfast-included rate options available

Room upgrades

Complimentary room upgrades (subject to property availability)

Extend your stay

Early check-in and late check-out (subject to property availability)

Part of Relais & Châteaux

Location

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At a glance

A seventeenth-century sillar mansion converted into a sixteen-room hotel with original baroque details and raw stone walls.

Best for: Architecture enthusiasts visiting Peru's colonial heartland

Highlights:

  • Seventeenth-century sillar mansion in UNESCO historic centre
  • Original baroque portal, bell tower, and painted ceiling frescoes intact
  • Raw stone walls paired with iron-frame beds and salvaged timber
Colonial-industrialaustere

PB hotel design editorial

Sillar — the pale volcanic stone quarried from the slopes of El Misti that gives Arequipa its nickname, the White City — forms every wall, arch, and colonnade of the colonial mansion that became CIRQA. The seventeenth-century building sits within the UNESCO-protected historic centre, its carved baroque entrance portal and iron fanlight intact, a bell tower from an adjacent church visible over the compound wall. The conversion, completed around 2019, treated the fabric with deliberate restraint: barrel-vaulted ceilings were left raw and pitted, sillar block walls stripped to their quarried surface, original painted ceilings — ochre, sage, and terracotta botanical friezes — preserved as found above some of the hotel's sixteen rooms. The interiors place contemporary objects against this ancient ground without apology. Iron-frame beds, easel-mounted televisions, and salvaged timber chests furnish rooms whose walls have never seen plaster. The central courtyard, arcaded on one side in a run of sillar arches, is shaded by billowing linen sail canopies stretched between steel cables, with taupe metal dining chairs and stone-slab tables giving it the atmosphere of a working cloister repurposed for breakfast. The restaurant pushes the conversation further: a full-height steel-and-glass wall opens onto the courtyard while drum-shaded chandeliers hung with crystal drops hang above a long marble communal table — colonial grandeur and industrial precision sharing the same room without either conceding ground.

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Amenities

Internet

Restaurant

Bar/Lounge

Airport transportation

Free Wifi

Dry cleaning

Non-smoking rooms

Concierge

Air conditioning

Safe

CIRQA Reviews

103 reviews

"We (two couples) stayed two nights at Cirqa as the last stop on a private tour of Peru; the property was booked for us by our tour company. We had Boveda rooms. We really liked Cirqa and thought it was a relaxing and luxurious end to the trip. The décor was gorgeous with a mix of contemporary elements and natural finishes. Sometimes this veered over into the “style over substance” as the arty white bathtub plonked in the room was super slippery, sloshed water all over the floor when you got out and had a water temperature limiter so a proper hot bath wasn’t happening (the shower fortunately didn't have this temperature issue.) The room’s beautiful white fluffy rug definitely could have used a proper cleaning. There was a neat circular skylight in the room that was utterly dark at night but let in light during the day. The room’s “safe” was a dorky treasure chest-type thing that is obviously for looks vs security, but the hotel is small and completely secure from outside intruders, and so we certainly didn’t ever feel like we and our goods were at risk. Our bed was super comfy and with the room’s darkness and great temperature control, we slept great. The floating bathroom was really cool, and the shower was awesome. The light switches aren’t particularly intuitive but that is hotel design du jour. The room had conveniently located USB ports by the bed but charging is sloooow. There’s no coffee maker in the room but they’ll make you up a tray with coffee/cream etc if you go up to the restaurant. There are also no phones in the room – you provide your WhatsApp info in order to communicate with the front desk. This presents a problem if you’re not on WhatsApp, of course… The food at Cirqa was terrific. We’re not sure if breakfast and dinner are automatically included with all the rooms, but that is what we got with our booking, and we thought both were done extremely well. Breakfast was quite a spread with the epic breakfast tray plus a huge assortment of items you could order off the menu. At dinner, we thought every course was great – we especially loved the fish and the delish cacio e pepe. The two cocktails/glasses of wine included with dinner were all terrific. (The complimentary snacks in the room were very tasty, too.) The ambiance in the dining room was very lovely. We enjoyed hanging out on the rooftop patio as well as in some of the common lounge areas. Cirqa’s location is excellent, although check in was quite chaotic as there’s no place to park, and so you and your luggage basically get dropped off in the middle of the narrow street with cars piling up and honking behind you. Staff of course helped with the process, and staff were all generally very cordial and helpful during our stay. All in all, except for a couple quirks, we very much enjoyed our stay at Cirqa and would recommend it to anyone visiting Arequipa."

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Jul 24, 2026

"We loved Cirqa. It’s an incredibly stylish hotel, perfectly located in the centre of Arequipa. The team are efficient and friendly. And the quality of the food, both breakfast and dinner, was exceptional. I can’t imagine there is a better place to stay when visiting the wonderful city of Arequipa."

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Jun 09, 2026

"Stunningly curated hotel in the centre of the White Ciry of Arequipa. Beautiful rooms with high quality bedlinen. Phenomenal breakfast and delicious dinner. Attentive staff - loved the what’s app service! Nice roof top terrace with afternoon coffee & cake service. Only down side is that the pool is very small ( plunge pool) and no real outside sun lounging area. Wine list could be improved as many of the wines were out of stock/ unavailable which was a shame."

A Tripadvisor traveler review

May 29, 2026

"Very elegant place to stay and eat. Location is great also, easy to come and go...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................."

A Tripadvisor traveler review

May 29, 2026

"If you are looking for a peaceful retreat right in the heart of Arequipa, Cirqa is unmatched. The location is absolutely perfect—tucked away just a short walk from the main town square and the city’s top tourist attractions, yet it feels worlds away from the urban bustle the moment you step inside. The design of the property is spectacular. It occupies a beautifully preserved historic monastery, and the impeccable decor seamlessly blends the old with the new. Bold, modern elements like sleek black metal and floor-to-ceiling glass contrast beautifully against the centuries-old volcanic sillar stone, creating a stunning, sophisticated aesthetic. The rooms offer an incredible sanctuary after a day of exploring, featuring exceptionally comfortable beds that guarantee a perfect night’s rest. What truly elevates the experience, however, is the team. The staff are incredibly kind, welcoming, and attentive to every detail without ever being intrusive. To top it all off, the on-site restaurant is an absolute must-visit. We traveled extensively throughout the country, and the meals we had at Cirqa were hands-down the best food we tasted in all of Peru. For anyone visiting the White City, Cirqa offers an exquisite blend of history, modern luxury, and world-class hospitality. It is worth every star."

A Tripadvisor traveler review

May 24, 2026

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