Moving to Arequipa Checklist

Moving to Arequipa is more straightforward than it looks from the outside, but it requires specific preparation. This checklist covers exactly what to do and when: before leaving home, the first 48 hours, the first week, and the first month. Following it in order avoids the most common mistakes new arrivals make.

Before You Leave Home — Documents to Bring

Document preparation is what most people leave to the last moment. Do it first, because some procedures take weeks:

• Passport valid for at least 18 months beyond your arrival date. Bring multiple certified copies — you will need them for rental contracts, bank procedures, and Migraciones visits.
• If planning residency: apostilled birth certificate and criminal background check from your country of origin. These documents can take weeks to obtain. Start the process before anything else.
• International health insurance (SafetyWing, Cigna, or similar). Set it up before leaving. Do not arrive in Arequipa without active medical coverage.
• Digital copies of all important documents stored in Google Drive and emailed to yourself. Include passport, credit cards, insurance policy, and any residency documents.
• Bank statements from the last 3–6 months. Required if you apply for the rentista visa later.
• Prescription medications: bring a 3–6 month supply and note the international generic names — Peruvian brand names differ and the pharmacist may not recognize the name you know.

Booking Your First Accommodation

Do not sign a long-term lease before arriving. Book a furnished Airbnb or serviced apartment in Yanahuara for 2–4 weeks. This gives you time to find a permanent apartment in person.

Finding housing from abroad is hard: the best deals are not on Airbnb, and from a listing photo you cannot assess neighborhood noise, natural light, or building quality. The S/.200–300 premium you pay for a short-term furnished place is worth it to sign the right long-term lease. Do not arrive without accommodation booked for at least the first two weeks.

The Airport Arrival

• Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (AQP) is 8km northwest of the city center.
• InDriver (download before arriving, set up with an international card): S/.25–35 to Yanahuara or the Center. The price is negotiated before you get in the car.
• Do not take unmarked taxis outside arrivals. Use InDriver or the official taxi counter inside the terminal.
• If arriving at altitude from sea level (Lima): you may feel slightly breathless getting off the plane. This is normal. Take it slow.

Days 1–3: Acclimatization Protocol

Arequipa sits at 2,335 meters above sea level. Acclimatization is real and demands respect. The protocol that works:

• Day 1: rest, light food, 3 liters of water, Sorojchi Pills if needed (available at any InkaFarma, S/.8), early bed. No hiking, no alcohol, no heavy meal.
• Day 2: gentle walk around Yanahuara neighborhood. Buy a SIM card. Join expat Facebook groups. Walk to the Yanahuara mirador (10 minutes). By the end of Day 2, you will understand the city better than most people who visit for a week.
• Day 3: if feeling good, walk to Plaza de Armas (30 minutes from Yanahuara). First café working session. Start exploring the Historic Center.
• Avoid: alcohol on Day 1, heavy exercise for 3–4 days, aspirin for headaches (use paracetamol/acetaminophen instead — aspirin can worsen altitude symptoms).

Week 1: Basic Setup

• SIM card: Claro or Bitel at any telco shop. Bring your passport. Cost: S/.10 for the SIM + S/.20–30 starter credit. Activates immediately.
• Start apartment hunting: post in Facebook groups + check Urbania.pe + walk the neighborhood looking for "Se Alquila" (For Rent) signs. The best deals are not online.
• Find your working café: walk Yanahuara's streets, try 3–4 cafés, pick one with good WiFi and comfortable chairs as your regular "office."
• Register with your country's embassy (online, 5 minutes). Useful for consular services if you need them later.
• Orient yourself: walk every street in Yanahuara and the Centro in the first week. The city makes sense quickly.

Month 1

• Sign your apartment lease. Negotiate at least 1 month free for a 12-month commitment — this is standard practice and landlords expect it.
• Visit Migraciones (Calle Urquiaga 203) to extend your visa to 183 days if you arrived on a 90-day tourist entry.
• Set up internet in your apartment (Movistar or Claro, 3–7 business day installation).
• Open a bank account at BCP or Interbank if desired — not urgent if you are using Wise for international transfers.
• Save Clínica Arequipa's number in your phone for medical emergencies.
• Find your regular market stall in Mercado San Camilo for weekly produce shopping.

Months 2–3

• Evaluate your visa situation: will you do the Tacna border run, or apply for the rentista visa? Research the requirements well in advance.
• If staying long-term, register your address with Migraciones for future residency applications.
• Get a dental check and cleaning done — cheap and good quality in Arequipa.
• Start Spanish classes if not already fluent.

What to Bring (That People Forget)

• Universal power adapter: Peru uses Type A and C outlets (same as the US, so American visitors are usually fine; European visitors need an adapter).
• Good noise-canceling headphones: city noise (dogs, traffic, Friday night celebrations) can disrupt sleep and focus.
• Sunscreen SPF 50: altitude UV is high. Good sunscreen is hard to find cheaply in Arequipa.
• A light fleece: even in summer, evenings drop to 10–12°C. A good fleece covers all scenarios without needing a winter coat.

What NOT to Bring

• A heavy winter coat: unnecessary even in July. A good fleece and a rain shell cover all scenarios.
• Large quantities of Western food: international products are available in Arequipa though limited. Stock up in Lima if specific items matter.
• Fear: Arequipa's actual danger level for expats in Yanahuara, Cayma, and the Center is minimal. Standard urban awareness is sufficient.