Uncertain about how long I'll stay in Arequipa

June 24, 2024

I arrived in Arequipa, Perú on April 23, 2024, and moved into an apartment on May 3. Today is June 24, so I have now been in Arequipa for 2 months and this is how I'm feeling—uncertain about staying for long. Yes, I signed a one-year contract for the apartment, but I'm finding it difficult to acclimate to this area. The problem? The altitude and the climate, both. The altitude here at my apartment is 2446 meters, which is 8026 feet. That's high, and all of my life prior to Arequipa I've always lived below 1000 meters, actually the prior high elevation was 960 meters (3150 feet), and that was only about a year-and-a-half. Tucson, AZ, where I lived for about 7 years is at 728 meters (2389 feet), and prior to there I was in the Seattle area, near sea level. So, with all that said, my body is not acclimating to the high altitude of Arequipa even at 2 months.

Then there is the climate. The temperature ranges from the nightly lows of the mid-upper 40s F° to the low 70s F°. After living in Several hotter area for the past 18 years I am also not acclimating to these lower temps. The afternoon temps in the low 70s F° feel good for a couple of hours but then it cools off quickly. And I know there are a lot of people who would say something like, "You're complaining about those temps? They sound perfect!" But that is only if you are accustomed to those temps. I lived for the previous 18 years in areas with temps of 90° F up to 100+° F, and with night temps in the upper 60s° F. So, yeah, I feel cold all day and very cold at night.

I will continue here as long as I can bear it or until the lease for the apartment ends, then I will look at moving to a lower elevation and warmer climate. I like the town of Moyobamba in northern Perú on the east side of the mountains. It's a much lower elevation mountain valley and much warmer. Then there's also Encarnación, Paraguay, which I like a lot, also. But, I am in the process of getting my residence visa here in Perú and that is getting close to finishing, so there is that to consider. As much as I like Arequipa, I just don't see it as the city where I can make my permanent home.