# Characato District, Arequipa Province, Arequipa Department > Source: https://wherepedia.org/peru/arequipa/arequipa/characato/ District · Arequipa Province # Characato Characato is a district of Peru in Arequipa Province, Arequipa Department. It covers **86.1 km²**. 22 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 41 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 86.1km² - 41mapped services - 2,521 mtypical elevation ## Where is Characato? Characato lies in [Arequipa Province](https://wherepedia.org/peru/arequipa/arequipa/), [Arequipa Department](https://wherepedia.org/peru/arequipa/), [Peru](https://wherepedia.org/peru/). It borders 6 other districts: [Chiguata](https://wherepedia.org/peru/arequipa/arequipa/chiguata/), [Mollebaya](https://wherepedia.org/peru/arequipa/arequipa/mollebaya/), [Pocsi](https://wherepedia.org/peru/arequipa/arequipa/pocsi/), [Sabandia](https://wherepedia.org/peru/arequipa/arequipa/sabandia/), [San Juan de Tarucani](https://wherepedia.org/peru/arequipa/arequipa/san-juan-de-tarucani/) and [Socabaya](https://wherepedia.org/peru/arequipa/arequipa/socabaya/). By area it is the 1437th largest of 1,873 districts in Peru. It covers 0.9% of [Arequipa Province](https://wherepedia.org/peru/arequipa/arequipa/). The centre of Characato is about 783 km in a straight line from Lima, the capital. It is about 20 km from Arequipa, the main town of Arequipa Province. The centre point is at 16.4487° S, 71.3592° W. Source: [Instituto Geográfico Nacional - IGN via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-per). ## Things to see in and around Characato ### Nearby, outside Characato - Mirador El Alto - Chiguata · viewpoint, Chiguata6.6 km - Maucallacta · archaeological site, Polobaya13 km - Pichu Pichu · volcano, San Juan de Tarucani13 km - Arequipa zoo · zoo, Paucarpata13 km - AQP AQUARIUM · aquarium, Paucarpata13 km - Monumento a Manco Capac · memorial, Paucarpata14 km - Sogay Waterfalls · waterfall, Quequeña15 km - Paseo a caballos · attraction, Sabandia15 km - Molino de Sabandía · theme park, Sabandia15 km - Mill of Sabandia · attraction, Sabandia15 km - Cruz Blanca Jerusalen · monument, Mariano Melgar15 km - Cristo · monument, Quequeña15 km Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright). Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed. ## Know before you go: Characato - Time zoneUTC−5, no daylight saving · America/Lima - CurrencySol (PEN) - Country calling code+51 - LanguagesSpanish, Quechua, Aymara - Plug typesType A, B, C · 220 V - Driving sideRight - Postcode format5 digits (#####) ### Nearest airports - Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (AQP) · Arequipa25 km - General Jorge Fernandez Maldon Airport (ILQ) · Ilo139 km ### Nearest railway station South Peru Rail (Arequipa), about 20 km from the centre. ### Daylight Days are longest in Dec (about 13.1 hours, sunrise around 05:07) and shortest in Jun (about 11.2 hours, sunrise around 06:10, sunset around 17:20). Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-02](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/). Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling. ## Villages and localities in Characato Open gazetteers list **22 villages, towns and localities** in Characato. The largest with a recorded population: Cerrillo (355), Cacapata (278), Yanayaco (204), Buena Vista (194), La Huaylla (167) and Mosopuquio (87). Settlements here lie between about 2,489 m and 3,389 m above sea level (median 2,521 m). - Buena Vista - Cacapata - Cancahuane - Caripata - Cerrillo - Characato - Clarira - El Nopal Casa Club - El Punque - Gustavo Mohme - Horacio Zeballos Gámez - La Huaylla - Morocancha - Mosopuquio - Murucancha - Quisco - San Cosme - San Francisco - Santa Ana - Sector C, Zona 12, Horacio Zeballos G. - Yanayaco - Zona 10, Sector D, H. Z. G. Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright). ## Landscape and landmarks of Characato Named natural and historic features inside Characato, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Hills and mountains 7 mountains; 1 hill. - Cerro Horquetilla · 5,473 m - Lomada de Llulluchayoc · 4,572 m - Cerro La Loma · 3,454 m - Cerro Buena Vista · 3,404 m - Cerro Carahualla · 3,293 m - Cerro Protejillas · 3,253 m - Cerro Chachacoma · 3,164 m - Cerro Coronado · 2,605 m Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/). Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate. ## Weather in Characato and the best time to visit Using the climate of Arequipa Province, the warmest month is Feb (average 21 °C) and the coolest is Jul (18 °C), after allowing for this place being about 515 m lower than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). About 98 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Feb (40 mm) and the driest Jun (0 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to December**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 21 27 Feb 21 40 Mar 21 18 Apr 20 2 May 19 1 Jun 18 0 Jul 18 2 Aug 18 0 Sep 19 1 Oct 19 1 Nov 20 1 Dec 20 5 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Characato Need Nearest mapped Distance Hospital Posta de Jerusalen · Mariano Melgar 15 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-16.40136&mlon=-71.48886#map=17/-16.40136/-71.48886) Bank Alfin Banco · Paucarpata 16 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-16.41284&mlon=-71.50642#map=17/-16.41284/-71.50642) ATM Caja Arequipa · Characato 13 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-16.47055&mlon=-71.48262#map=17/-16.47055/-71.48262) Petrol pump JESUS · Paucarpata 13 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-16.41429&mlon=-71.47287#map=17/-16.41429/-71.47287) Hotel La Posada de Cristo · Paucarpata 13 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-16.41258&mlon=-71.47534#map=17/-16.41258/-71.47534) Mall Belaúnde Hub · Paucarpata 15 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-16.42525&mlon=-71.50219#map=17/-16.42525/-71.50219) School Institución Educativa No. 40617 · Chiguata 2.2 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-16.42993&mlon=-71.35186#map=17/-16.42993/-71.35186) College Instituto Geofísico de la UNSA · Characato 14 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-16.46544&mlon=-71.49312#map=17/-16.46544/-71.49312) Police station Comisaría Chiguata · Chiguata 6.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-16.40277&mlon=-71.39314#map=17/-16.40277/-71.39314) Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km. ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Characato Places mapped inside Characato in open map data, by type. - ATMs1 - Hotels1 - Schools14 - Colleges and universities1 - Restaurants23 - Police stations1 Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown. ## Other districts in Arequipa Province - Alto Selva Alegre - Arequipa - Cayma - Cerro Colorado - Chiguata - Jacobo Hunter - Jose Luis Bustamante y Rivero - La Joya - Mariano Melgar - Miraflores - Mollebaya - Paucarpata - Pocsi - Polobaya - Quequeña - Sabandia - Sachaca - San Juan de Siguas - San Juan de Tarucani - Santa Isabel de Siguas - Santa Rita de Siguas - Socabaya - Tiabaya - Uchumayo - Vitor - Yanahuara - Yarabamba - Yura ## Quick answers - Where is Characato?In Arequipa Province, Arequipa Department, Peru - What borders Characato?Chiguata, Mollebaya, Pocsi, Sabandia, San Juan de Tarucani and Socabaya - What is there to see in Characato?Mirador El Alto - Chiguata, Maucallacta, Pichu Pichu, Arequipa zoo - What time zone is Characato in?UTC−5 - What currency is used in Characato?Sol (PEN) - What language is spoken in Characato?Spanish, Quechua, Aymara (main languages nationally) - How many villages are in Characato?22 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap) - What is the elevation of Characato?Settlements lie between 2,489 m and 3,389 m - What is the highest point in Characato?Cerro Horquetilla (5,473 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Characato?January to December - Where is the nearest hospital to Characato?Posta de Jerusalen, about 15 km from the centre - Where is the nearest bank to Characato?Alfin Banco, about 16 km from the centre - Where is the nearest ATM to Characato?Caja Arequipa, about 13 km from the centre - Where is the nearest petrol pump to Characato?JESUS, about 13 km from the centre - How many ATMs are in Characato?1 mapped - What is the P-code of Characato?PE040105 (OCHA common operational dataset)