Arequipa - Getting To and Away

By Amanda Massello

Daily flights are available to and from Lima, on Lan or Tans, as well as to and from Cusco on Lan. The Rodríguez Ballón airport is located about 8km away from the city center (for info call 51-54-443-464). Terminal Terrestre (Av Andrés Avelino Cáceres) houses all the long distance bus companies, however some buses also depart from the smaller Terrapuerto next door. Both are located 10-15 minutes by bus or taxi ($1) headed south from downtown. Fares from Cusco run from $7.50-$21, 17 hours on average. Headed towards Puno, buses cost $4.50 and take six hours. It is best to avoid overnight buses to and from Arequipa as many accidents and hijackings have been reported in the surrounding area. Perúrail (Arica 200 y Av Tacna, www.perurail.com or call 51-54-215-350) also runs rail service to Arequipa from Cusco via Juliaca as well as from Puno although at the time of writing these had been suspended except for chartered groups.