CIRQA Parador - Arequipa, Peru
Unique, design-forward boutique hotels are popping up everywhere. Where once these creative accommodations were funky alternatives to big city heavy hitters, thoughtfully designed small hotels are increasingly luring travelers to smaller, more off-the-grid destinations.
As values like sustainability and authenticity continue to be important drivers in travelers’ decision making, boutique hotels have flourished. Often located outside of major tourist sites, these boutique properties help decrease the ecological footprint of major attractions and provide an enormous economic opportunity to areas that might otherwise go overlooked.
One such property is the newly opened CIRQA. Located in the heart of Arequipa, Peru’s colonial “White City,” the 11-room, Relais & Chateaux parador honors the original architecture of the former monastery estate. High vaulted ceilings, heavy columns and narrow walks to the central patio lounge area remind guests of the colonial history of the city. Juxtaposed against steel and glass touches, high tech in-room lighting and an organic rooftop garden create for an inspired experience.
Dining at Cirqa is simple and delicious. A focused menu highlights fresh, seasonal ingredients. Dietary restrictions are seamlessly accommodated. From the bar, the Coca Sour is a tasty twist on Peru’s national beverage, with an argument to be made that the cocktail helps with the altitude.
The city itself is full of character. In true Spanish colonial style, the old town is set on a grid. Narrow cobblestone streets are lined with low, sillar ash-brick buildings and churches dating back to the founding of the city in 1540. At the center of town, Arequipa’s bustling central plaza is filled with families from the countryside eating ice cream and taking family photos on old-school cameras. The regional cathedral is stunning day and night and continues to offer multiple daily mass services.
The real highlight of the city is the Monasterio de Santa Catalina. Far from being “just another church,” the Dominican monastery has operated since the founding of the city and was, at its height, home to over 450 nuns and their attendants. The monastery is visually stunning and a private tour through the living monastery reveals a fascinating and complex history of Arequipa. Beautiful gardens cheerfully lit by sunshine 364 days of the year. Well preserved frescoes line the corridors and small dormitory rooms give insight into daily life.
Arequipa is the gateway to the south of Peru and in my opinion, an often underrated, and overlooked, part of Peru. You will not see tour buses here—Arequipa is yet to be discovered by international travelers. Multiple flights are offered daily from Lima and Cusco. The city is a perfect place to spend a few days before embarking on the Belmond Andean Explorer or traveling on to Lake Titicaca…or both!
