Official Languages
Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: valenciatravelcusco.com, newperuvian.com
Overall3.5/10Less English-friendly than about 95% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Tourism workers in Arequipa often speak basic to fluent English, but prepare to speak Spanish for everyday interactions outside hotels and tourist restaurants.
- Many Peruvians enjoy practicing their English with visitors, though few speak it fluently.
- Peruvian Spanish incorporates unique local words like 'pata' (friend), 'chamba' (job), 'bacán' (cool), and 'chela' (beer).
- Peruvian Spanish is generally considered clear and easier to understand than some stronger regional accents found elsewhere.
- Peru instituted protection over all indigenous languages in 1975, so you may encounter Quechua in everyday settings, especially outside the city center.
Official Languages
Spanish
- Status
- official
- Notes
- Peru has three official languages: Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara. About 84 percent of people living in Peru speak Spanish.
Quechua
- Status
- co-official
- Notes
- Quechua and Aymara are co-official wherever they predominate. About 13 percent of the population speak Quechua.
Aymara
- Status
- co-official
- Notes
- Only about 1.7% of Peruvians speak Aymara, making it the nation's third-most spoken first language.
English In Arequipa
- Tourism Sector
- Tour operators, guides, hotel and hostel staff, and people working in tourism in places like Cusco, Puno, and Arequipa are much more likely to speak at least basic English, with many speaking it fluently.
- General Population
- You won't find a lot of people who speak English in Arequipa. You will likely have English speakers working at your hotel, and at some of the restaurants, but it will help you a lot if you know a little bit of Spanish.
English Proficiency
- Country Ranking
- According to the Education 'First English Proficiency Index', the Peruvian population has a low proficiency in English. Out of 72 countries, it ranks at 45.
- National Speakers
- A 2015 study by the market research company GfK Perú found that only 8% of people surveyed said they spoke English. Half of those English speakers lived in Lima and almost a third were under 25 years of age.
- Overall Country Level
- Low
Spanish Characteristics
- Variant Spoken
- The coastal dialect can be heard in Arequipa Province (Arequipa City).
- Ease Of Understanding
- Peruvian Spanish is clear and relatively easy on the ear — many travelers find it gentler than the rapid-fire accents elsewhere in the region.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this language & english friendliness research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Arequipa
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.