Jiuay
The department of Arequipa is home to an unblemished beach with white sand, blue sea and which is bereft of beach houses. It is visible from Km 594 of the South Pan-American Highway. The upper reaches of the beach feature a great deal of abandoned terracing and the pre-Inca citadel of Ayparipa. North of Jiuay lies Champeque, with a lovely beach, ancient grainhouses and an island (Santa Rosa) teeming with sea lions.
Mollendo
Long the traditional beach haunt of Arequipa residents, Mollendo is a picturesque town lined with quiet streets and sweeping beaches. Those looking for less-frequented beaches, however, can rent a boat at the port of Matarani and head for the cliffs that separate Mollendo from Quilca. The virgin coastline features beaches such as Huayquiray, Arantas, San José, La Huata, Honorato and Punta Hornillos.
Mejía
From Mollendo, a coastal road winds down to Moquegua and Tacna, passing through Mejía, a pretty beach, not just because the town has conserved the old wooden houses dating back to the early twentieth century, but also because it lies in the middle of an exceptional landscape studded with vegetation and lagoons which teem with flocks of migratory birds.
