Cirqa - Relais & Châteaux

We stayed two nights in a Bóveda Room in May 2025. The hotel is in a beautifully repurposed old monastery and is ideally located—very central, with everything within walking distance. The decor is full of character and flair, though at times it felt a bit too modern for the historic setting, in my opinion. At night, the property is stunning, with real candles and firepits adding a magical touch. As all the rooms face interior courtyards, natural light is limited, ranging from modest to minimal. The windows also look out onto shared spaces, so for privacy, you’ll likely need to keep the curtains or shades drawn. This wasn’t an issue for us, but it’s something to be aware of. Service was excellent—attentive but never intrusive. My only small suggestion would be to shift turndown service to the dinner hour rather than the 4–6 p.m. window. The on-site restaurant was fantastic—probably the best dinner we had in town. We also stayed at their sister property in the Colca Valley (Puqio), and the staff made the transfer between the two hotels seamless.

We stayed at Cirqa for one night in September, and even though it was a very short stay, it was very memorable. The service was great from beginning to end. We were picked up from the airport and it was a short, comfortable 30 minute ride. The car was equipped with wet towels and water, which was very welcome after a long flight. Once we arrived, we were greeted like family, and that feeling didn’t end until we left. The hotel overall is very quiet and serene even though it is walking distance to so much in the historical centre. We often it felt like we were one of just a few guests there. We stayed in the Boveda room (room 11), which was very spacious and beautiful. Once we settled in, we went to lunch, and David greeted us by name before we were able to introduce ourselves. He knew that we were vegetarians and provided great suggestions for what to eat and what drinks paired well. We enjoyed all of the meals we had there, especially in the outside setting. We booked a massage and it was very nice after a day of exploring Arequipa. Communicating via whatsapp, whether it was to book the massage, grab a cup of tea, or asking for a forgotten toiletry made everything very easy. We would absolutely recommend Cirqa to anyone who wants a relaxing stay. Our only regret was that we couldn’t stay longer.

Cirqa has been a unique and amazing place to stay—thoughtfully designed, peaceful even though its in the city, and with amazing service. The staff is always attentive and makes sure you are taken care of, with snacks and surprises. The food is excellent and the rooms are impresive, comfortable, and perfectly kept. Plus, the location is great for exploring Arequipa. Definitely a stay worth experiencing.

Arrival was efficient and we were led to a wonderful outdoor courtyard to have some welcome drink whilst the room was given the final preparation. Shortly thereafter we were brought to a very nicely furnished room in the old monastery. The room had all necessary amenities and was very nicely decorated. The outdoor courtyard was a pleasant and relaxing area to chill. The dinner served in the main dining room was tasty and the staff very helpful and friendly. A very nice hotel and definitely one to come back to when in the area.

This has to be one of the best hotels that we have ever stayed in. The staff were so pleasant and attentive, the food was excellente and the room was large and the bed was comfortable. The only downside was that there was a step up to the bathroom area and in the middle of the night there wasn't a light to stop you tripping up. Room no. 5

We had a brilliant experience at CIRQA and it is undeniably the best hotel we stayed in Peru. It is the perfect place to unwind, relax and pamper yourself (especially after a tour or trek!). The attention to detail, from the architecture to the luxury amenities have been well thought of and makes this a truly unique hotel stay. I was also so impressed with the service as the staff are extremely attentive and friendly and really makes you feel well-looked after. They also gave us some great recommendations on places to go in the area and on excursions. We will definitely be coming back to stay here one day and also can’t wait to try out its sister hotel in Lake Titikaka.