About this hotel
General information
CIRQA is a small parador in Arequipa, set on a plot first allotted when the city was founded in 1540 and later home to the Augustinian order, whose cloisters, patios and gardens still shape the place. Walls, vaults and arches are of white volcanic sillar, and the restoration chose to let the old architecture carry on living rather than freeze it as a monument, with modern comforts fitted in quietly. It is a member of Relais & Châteaux.
There are just 11 rooms around a central patio, so the mood is hushed and the service discreet. The name works on two levels: “circa”, for a sense of time kept loosely, and “sirca”, the Arequipa word for the veins of the fiery rocoto pepper at the heart of local cooking. Guests choose between half board – breakfast, lunch or dinner and afternoon tea – and full board, which adds all meals, a welcome drink and afternoon cocktail, a hamper of snacks and drinks, airport transfers and selected excursions.
Location
The hotel is at Calle Sucre 104 in Arequipa, among the white sillar façades of the colonial city. Its rooftop, El Techo de CIRQA, looks out over the city and the landscape beyond. Airport transfers are included with full board.
Spa
Massages can be arranged for guests.
Sports & leisure
The hotel runs guided walks through the city and outings into the surrounding countryside, most of them daily and suitable for children:
- Santa Catalina Monastery – a 16th-century citadel within the city, all narrow lanes and brightly painted sillar walls, 1–1.5 hours
- Colonial Arequipa – the Plaza de Armas, San Camilo market and the cloisters of La Compañía, about 2.5 hours
- the Sillar Route and Culebrillas – volcanic quarries and petroglyphs in the valley, 3.5 hours
- Colca Canyon – viewpoints, the highland villages of Maca and Yanque and Andean condors, a full day of about 15 hours on request
- Santa Teresa Monastery and a countryside trip to the Sabandía mill
For children
Families are welcome, with babysitting, connecting rooms, cots and highchairs, a children’s menu, early dinners and snacks. Several of the city excursions are marked as suitable for children.
Restaurants & bars
The kitchen reinterprets Arequipa’s picanterías – the countryside eating houses known for bold spice and time-honoured recipes – through a seasonal menu of local produce developed with chef María Fé García. Meals are served in several settings:
- Salón – the vaulted dining room, candlelit in the evening
- Terraza – the terrace, for eating in the open air
- El Techo de CIRQA – the rooftop, with views across the city
Swimming
The hotel has a heated outdoor pool.
Rooms
The 11 rooms, in three categories – Bóveda, Aposento and Claustro – are arranged around the central patio. Vaulted ceilings and textured stone recall the former monastic cells, and no two rooms are quite alike.
A walk-in shower, CIRQA organic toiletries and Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.
Bóveda
The largest rooms, with the highest stone vaults and the original proportions of the monastery’s chambers. A king-size or two twin beds, a sitting area, a freestanding bath and walk-in shower; up to three guests.
Aposento
High-ceilinged rooms, each laid out a little differently, with a reading corner, walk-in shower and separate WC. A king-size or two twin beds; up to three guests.
Claustro
The most intimate rooms, on the scale of the monks’ cells, with a queen-size bed, reading chair, walk-in shower and separate WC; for two guests.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.