Airport arrival · AQP

AQP (Arequipa Rodríguez Ballón) Arrival Guide: Official Taxis & Transfers

Arequipa's Rodríguez Ballón (AQP) is a small airport close to the city — about 20 minutes from the historic centre. The one habit that matters is using an official or pre-booked taxi rather than a random tout, the standard Peru precaution.

2026-08-27

The calm version

Arequipa’s Rodríguez Ballón (AQP) is a small airport close to the city — ~15–25 minutes from the historic centre. The one habit that matters is using an official or pre-booked taxi (or a ride app) rather than a random tout — the standard Peru precaution. Then the short run into the White City is easy.

Getting to the city

Official airport taxi desk. Book and pay inside the terminal — set fare, registered driver.
Pre-booked transfer. A driver waiting with your name — the smoothest, good for early flights.
Ride app. Uber, inDrive, or Cabify fix the fare in-app (may be a short walk to pickup).

The small habits that matter

Use the official desk, a transfer, or an app — not a tout who approaches you in the hall.
Confirm the fare (the desk and apps set it); carry small soles.
Choose soles on card terminals; use bank/mall ATMs in the city, shield your PIN.
Onward: keep using booked radio taxis or apps in town, and read the city brief on altitude before a Colca tour.

What it looks like

AQP is an easy, short arrival — the only real rule is Peru’s standard one: use the official taxi desk, a pre-booked transfer, or a ride app, not an unofficial tout. That set-fare, registered ride into the nearby centre is the whole arrival; carry small soles and choose soles on terminals.

Do this instead

Book at the official airport taxi desk, use a pre-booked transfer, or take a ride app (Uber/inDrive/Cabify) from AQP into Arequipa — never an unofficial tout. Confirm the fare, carry small soles, and choose soles on terminals. That’s the whole AQP arrival, into a relatively safe highland city.

If something needs sorting

Touts: don’t engage; use the official desk, a transfer, or an app.
Card issue: choose soles on terminals; use bank/mall ATMs in the city.
Onward safety: the Arequipa city brief covers the risk list — booked taxis, petty theft, altitude, and Colca Canyon tours.

Arrive prepared

The services this guide's advice points to — sorted before you land, not in the arrivals hall.

Airport transfer Welcome Pickups
A licensed, fixed-price driver waiting with your name — the pre-booked ride these guides recommend for late or first-time arrivals.
Pre-book a licensed transfer →
Arrival data Airalo eSIM
Working data the moment you land, so your map, ride app, and this guide all work before you leave the arrivals hall.
Get an arrival eSIM →
Travel insurance SafetyWing
The police report in these guides is for a claim — this is who you claim from. Covers theft, medical, and trip disruption.
Compare travel cover →
Anti-theft gear Anti-theft gear guide
The crossbody bags, RFID sleeves, door alarms, and hidden pockets behind the two-pocket system — what to look for, and where to get it.
See the gear guide →

Some links below are partner links: if you book or buy through them, Arrival Brief may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only list services that match the advice on this page, and money never changes what a brief recommends. More →

Quick answers

How do I get from Arequipa Airport (AQP) to the city?

Arequipa's Rodríguez Ballón Airport (AQP) is only about 7–8 km northwest of the centre — roughly a 15–25 minute drive. The safe, easy options are the official airport taxi desk inside the terminal (you book and pay at the counter, so the fare is set and the driver is registered), a pre-booked hotel transfer (a driver waiting with your name — the smoothest, and good for early flights), or a ride app (Uber, inDrive, and Cabify operate in Arequipa, fixing the fare in-app — you may walk to a pickup point). The standard Peru precaution applies: don't take an unofficial taxi from a tout who approaches you — use the official desk or an app. Carry small soles for the fare, and choose soles on any card terminal. The run into the White City is short and easy.

Are taxis at Arequipa airport safe?

They're safe if you use the right ones — book at the official airport taxi desk inside the terminal (registered driver, set fare) or use a ride app (Uber/inDrive/Cabify), rather than accepting a ride from someone who approaches you in the hall. This is the standard Peru precaution against robbery and the rare 'express kidnapping' associated with unofficial taxis, and at a small airport like Arequipa it's simple to follow. A pre-booked hotel transfer is the easiest of all, especially for early or late flights. Confirm the fare (the desk and apps set it), carry small soles, and keep your bags with you. The drive to the centre is short. Once in town, keep using booked radio taxis or apps rather than street-hailed cabs.

Is there a bus from Arequipa airport into town?

There's no convenient dedicated airport bus for most visitors — while public city buses (combis) pass nearby, they're not practical with luggage and aren't the tourist tool here. Because the airport is close to the centre and official taxis and apps are cheap, almost everyone takes the official airport taxi, a ride app (Uber/inDrive/Cabify), or a pre-booked transfer, which is both the safe and the easy choice. Book at the official taxi desk inside the terminal or open your app; avoid unofficial touts. Carry small soles, choose soles on card terminals, and use bank/mall ATMs in the city. The short, safe run into the White City takes about 15–25 minutes.