🇵🇪 Arequipa, Peru
Hostal Mirasol
📍 641, Rivero, Arequipa
Your stay — Hostal Mirasol
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The Property — Hostal Mirasol
Hostal Mirasol is a no-frills two-star in Arequipa’s historic centre, a converted colonial townhouse with a small courtyard and rooms that are basic but clean. The lobby is tiled and quiet, with a worn sofa and a receptionist who gives you a key on a wooden fob. It suits budget travellers who want to be a five-minute walk from the Plaza de Armas and don’t mind cold showers and thin blankets. The USP is location and price, not comfort or charm.
Chronicles of Arequipa
Arequipa was founded in 1540 by Spanish conquistadors on land that belonged to the Aymara and Inca peoples, earning the name 'Ciudad Blanca' from the white volcanic sillar stone used in its colonial buildings. The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a baroque cathedral and Santa Catalina Monastery standing as its architectural highlights. After devastating earthquakes in the 19th and 20th centuries, the city rebuilt using traditional sillar masonry, giving it a unified, pale-gold appearance. Today Arequipa is Peru’s second-largest city and a cultural hub, known for its spicy rocoto relleno, the nearby Colca Canyon, and a relaxed, student-heavy energy.
Best Time to Visit
Full Arequipa guide →Best months
April to October: clear skies, cool days around 22°C, and almost no rain, making it ideal for exploring the city and trekking in the canyon. June and July are particularly good for sunny weather.
Peak / festival surge
August is the busiest month, driven by the Día de Arequipa festivities on 15 August (parades, folklore shows, food fairs). Hotel prices can rise 20–30% from their low-season average. Semana Santa (Easter week) also sees a spike in domestic tourism.
Budget shoulder season
March and November offer mild weather (some afternoon showers in March, still nice in November) with lower room rates and fewer tourists. December is also quiet, with Christmas lights but no big crowds.
Weather & packing
Arequipa sits at 2,335 metres and has strong UV and big temperature swings: sunny 20°C afternoons, then 5°C nights. Pack layers: a fleece or jacket for evenings, a sun hat and SPF50+ for daytime, plus a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated at altitude.
Live City Briefing — Arequipa
- Arequipa’s bus terminal (Terminal Terrestre) completed a renovation in early 2025; expect cleaner facilities but the same chaotic queue system for tickets to Cusco, Puno and the Colca Canyon.
- The Plaza de Armas pedestrianisation project continues in 2026, with more streets around the square closed to traffic on weekends. Check road closures if you’re arriving by taxi.
- July is winter in the southern hemisphere, so temperatures dip low at night. The Yanahuara viewpoint is often windy after 4pm; go earlier for a clear sunset view with fewer gusts.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hostal Mirasol, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third floor (floor 3) facing the rear courtyard. This is likely the quietest position, away from Rivero street traffic and the stairwell noise from lower floors.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor (floor 1) and any room facing Rivero street. First-floor rooms suffer from street noise and foot traffic from the entrance. Street-facing rooms get vehicle noise from 641 Rivero, a narrow one-way road with frequent buses and taxis.
Best views
The best view is from a rear-facing room on floor 4 (top) overlooking the courtyard or adjacent rooftops, offering glimpses of Arequipa's volcano (Misti) on clear days. Street-facing rooms simply look into other colonial buildings on Rivero.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 (top floor) are quietest, as they're furthest from street-level noise and lift machinery (assuming a basic lift shaft runs through the building core).
🔊 Noise notes
Rivero street is a main cobblestone pedestrian-vehicle mix in the historic centre. Expect mototaxis, tour buses, and street vendors from early morning (6am) until late evening (10pm). The hostal's entrance may echo in the stairwell. No bar or restaurant inside, so no music noise.
Insider tips
1) Check-in after 2pm to allow staff to assign a courtyard-facing room (request in advance via email). 2) No parking on-site; use the public car park at Plaza de Armas, a 3-minute walk away, costing ~10 soles per night.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Hostal Mirasol
Free Wi-Fi, about 4 Mbps download, reliable in common areas but weak in far rooms. No password—connect to 'Hostal Mirasol' network.
No lift. Three-storey colonial building with stairs only.
No newspapers. TV in common lounge shows local channels. Building was a 19th-century merchant's house—original stone archways intact.
Standard check-in 13:00, check-out 11:00. Early bag drop free. Late check-out until 14:00 costs PEN 30, after 14:00 full extra night.
Free luggage storage behind reception; open 07:00–22:00. After hours, bags kept in a locked office.
No step-free entry. Two steps at front door; narrow doorways throughout. No accessible rooms or bathrooms.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is 'Estacionamiento San Camilo' at Calle San Camilo 112, PEN 12 per night. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 18% IVA on room rate plus 10% service charge; no separate tourist tax
Deposit & card hold: First night charged at booking; PEN 100 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: San Francisco (505 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Lacomunidad (572 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: El Aposento Alto (795 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia de Santa Teresa (807 m · ~10 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Los Perales — 742 m · ~9 min walk
San Lázaro — 245 m · ~3 min walk
Mundo Alpaca — 203 m · ~3 min walk
Teatro Umbral — 831 m · ~10 min walk
Icombat Perú — 771 m · ~10 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Botica Mariangel — 287 m · ~4 min walk
El Super — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Estación de buses La Joya — 2.0 km · ~26 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Peruvian Sol, PEN
Use ATMs inside banks (avoid airport and tourist-bureau kiosks; they offer poor rates). Bring some USD for exchange at reputable casas de cambio in the city centre.
Visa/Mastercard widely accepted in supermarkets, mid-range restaurants and hotels; American Express less so. Contactless is common, but mobile pay only in large chains. Always carry small soles for markets and taxis.
No expectation, but round up in taxis and leave 5-10% in sit-down restaurants if service is good. Hotel porters: 2-5 soles per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A basic filter coffee or espresso from a juice stand or panadería goes for 3-5 soles.
A set menu (menú) with soup, main and a drink at a local comedor: 10-15 soles.
A main course of grilled chicken or fish at a casual pollería or cevichería: 15-25 soles.
Look for anticuchos (grilled hearts), salchipapas, and empanadas outside the Plaza de Armas or along calle Mercaderes; also try the stalls inside the San Camilo market.
Plaza Vea and Metro are the main supermarket chains; there’s a Metro supermarket on calle Rivero itself.
The shopping arcades on calle Mercaderes and the Real Plaza mall offer affordable fast-fashion chains.
Buses cost 1.50 soles per ride; taxis within the district are 5-10 soles (agree fare upfront). From the airport, take a colectivo or bus to the city centre for 2-5 soles, or a taxi for about 30 soles.
Eat lunch at local menú places rather than tourist restaurants. Use ATMs inside bank lobbies, not standalone ones. Carry small change to avoid being short-changed by taxi drivers.
Good to know — Arequipa
Type A/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ PEN 3.39 · PEN
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Arequipa, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hostal Mirasol
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk — pharmacy · Botica Mariangel — 287 m · ~4 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Airport stop (outside terminal, left side) → Plaza de Armas (2 blocks from Hostal Cleofé)
💡 Flag the blue-and-white minibus with 'Ciudad' on the windscreen. It runs along Avenida Ejército then down to the plaza. Ask driver to drop you at Plaza de Armas, walk east two blocks on Jerusalén.
Calle Jerusalén (at cross street Avenida Independencia) → Sabandía Mill
💡 Shared minibuses marked 'Sabandía' depart from the corner of Jerusalén and Independencia. They're cramped but cheap. Exact change required; pay as you board.
Rodríguez Ballón International Airport → Hostal Cleofé (Calle Jerusalén)
💡 Use the official taxi stand just outside arrivals. Unofficial drivers outside the fence often overcharge by triple. Pay in soles, not dollars.
Hostal Cleofé (Calle Jerusalén) → Yanahuara viewpoint
💡 Don't hail moving taxis. Use a radio taxi app like Taxi Arequipa or ask hostel reception to call one. Negotiate fare before getting in.
About Arequipa
Wikipedia ↗
Arequipa is a city in southern Peru and the capital of Arequipa Province and the Department of Arequipa. With a projected population of 1,195,700 in 2025, it is the country's second most populous city after Lima. It is the official seat of the Constitutional Court of Peru and is known as the "Legal ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hostal Mirasol?
Request a room on the third floor (floor 3) facing the rear courtyard. This is likely the quietest position, away from Rivero street traffic and the stairwell noise from lower floors.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hostal Mirasol?
Avoid rooms on the first floor (floor 1) and any room facing Rivero street. First-floor rooms suffer from street noise and foot traffic from the entrance. Street-facing rooms get vehicle noise from 641 Rivero, a narrow one-way road with frequent buses and taxis.
Is Hostal Mirasol noisy?
Rivero street is a main cobblestone pedestrian-vehicle mix in the historic centre. Expect mototaxis, tour buses, and street vendors from early morning (6am) until late evening (10pm). The hostal's entrance may echo in the stairwell. No bar or restaurant inside, so no music noise.
Which rooms have the best views at Hostal Mirasol?
The best view is from a rear-facing room on floor 4 (top) overlooking the courtyard or adjacent rooftops, offering glimpses of Arequipa's volcano (Misti) on clear days. Street-facing rooms simply look into other colonial buildings on Rivero.
What are insider tips for staying at Hostal Mirasol?
1) Check-in after 2pm to allow staff to assign a courtyard-facing room (request in advance via email). 2) No parking on-site; use the public car park at Plaza de Armas, a 3-minute walk away, costing ~10 soles per night.
What time is check-in at Hostal Mirasol?
Check-in at Hostal Mirasol is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hostal Mirasol have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi, about 4 Mbps download, reliable in common areas but weak in far rooms. No password—connect to 'Hostal Mirasol' network.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hostal Mirasol?
18% IVA on room rate plus 10% service charge; no separate tourist tax
Where can I eat cheaply near Hostal Mirasol?
A set menu (menú) with soup, main and a drink at a local comedor: 10-15 soles.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hostal Mirasol?
Buses cost 1.50 soles per ride; taxis within the district are 5-10 soles (agree fare upfront). From the airport, take a colectivo or bus to the city centre for 2-5 soles, or a taxi for about 30 soles.
When is the best time to visit Arequipa?
April to October: clear skies, cool days around 22°C, and almost no rain, making it ideal for exploring the city and trekking in the canyon. June and July are particularly good for sunny weather.
Top Attractions in Arequipa
💡 Avoid midday sun—there’s little shade. The Cathedral’s museum (10 soles) has a rooftop view that’s worth the small fee.
💡 Walk from the centre in 20 minutes through the San Lázaro neighbourhood for a pleasant route. Bring a jacket—it’s windy and cool up here.
💡 The rooftop is the main draw—head straight up if you just want the view. The museum takes 20 minutes max.
💡 Tours run every 30 minutes in Spanish and English; check the English schedule when you arrive. No photography inside the mummy room.
💡 Go early (just after 9am opening) to avoid crowds and get quiet photos. The café inside is overpriced—bring water.