Explore the Sillar Route, a unique experience just a few kilometers from Arequipa, where history and nature intertwine in the sillar quarries. This half-day tour takes you on a journey through the past of the "White City", exploring the formations and carvings that define this iconic place. Witness the work of the stonemasons, guardians of a living tradition, and admire the stunning sculptures carved into volcanic stone, shaped by millennia-old eruptions.
Join us on an educational journey to understand how this unique stone, known as ignimbrite, is extracted. Discover the process behind the formation of sillares and meet the local stonemasons, true artisans who keep this generational tradition alive.
Get ready to take breathtaking photographs in the sillar quarries, where majestic landscapes create a setting found only in this region of Peru.
Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind opportunity! Book your Sillar Route Tour today and immerse yourself in an unforgettable adventure full of history, culture, and nature. We look forward to exploring the secrets of Arequipa with you!
| 8:45 - 9:15 | Hotel Pickup in Downtown Arequipa We start with a pickup from centrally located hotels, preparing you for a cultural journey through the Sillar Route. |
| 10:00 | A 45-minute drive takes us to Añashuayco, where you'll be amazed by the towering ignimbrite cliffs. Learn about the history of sillar, its extraction process, and its historical significance. Admire the Megacarving of the Church of the Society of Jesus and meet the local stonemasons. |
| Visit to Culebrillas Ravine | After Añashuayco, we head to Quebrada de Culebrillas, a 30-minute drive away. Here, we embark on a 20-minute hike through a narrow canyon shaped by water erosion, with walls reaching up to 20 meters high. At the end of the trail, discover ancient Wari petroglyphs and Apachetas, stone piles that symbolize gratitude and good fortune. |
| 12:00 | Return to Arequipa We begin our journey back to Arequipa, carrying with us unforgettable memories and knowledge from this cultural experience. |
| 13:00 | Arrival in Arequipa The tour ends in downtown Arequipa, near the iconic Plaza de Armas. |
The afternoon tour follows the same itinerary, with an estimated return to Arequipa between 6:30 PM and 7:00 PM, depending on traffic conditions.
✅ Hotel Pickup
✅ Group Transportation with other passengers
✅ Visit to all locations mentioned in the itinerary
✅ Professional Guide (Spanish/English)
❌ Lunch (in Yura)
The Sillar Route is a unique experience in Arequipa, where visitors explore sillar quarries, blocks of white volcanic stone. Available since 2014, this tour offers insight into history and art, featuring an impressive carving on the quarry walls, paying homage to the Church of the Society of Jesus.
Sillar, an essential element of the Sillar Route, is a handcrafted rectangular block measuring approximately 50cm x 30cm x 20cm. Made of Ignimbrite or Volcanic Tuff, sillar is the result of millions of years of volcanic evolution, transforming viscous magma into the robust stone used today.
No, sillar is made of Volcanic Tuff or Ignimbrite, which is different from volcanic lava. Although both originate from volcanic eruptions, their composition and formation are unique.
While Volcanic Tuff can be found in several regions, only in Arequipa has it been used to carve sillar blocks and construct an entire city.
Out of more than 15 quarries in Arequipa, the Sillar Route includes the most iconic ones: the Cortadores Quarry (Añashuayco) and the Culebrillas Quarry, seen from a unique perspective.
We visit two main quarries: the Cortadores Quarry and the Culebrillas Quarry, where ancient petroglyphs and a picturesque canyon are the main attractions.
The Añashuayco quarry is only 45 minutes away, while the Culebrillas quarry is about an hour from downtown Arequipa.
A stonecutter is an artisan who transforms volcanic tuff into sillar blocks. On the Sillar Route, you will see this ancestral tradition that has been passed down for generations.
Meals are not included, but there are snack options along the way. We can also recommend excellent nearby restaurants at the end of the tour.
There are restrooms available at the main quarry in Añashuayco. However, there are no facilities at the Culebrillas Quarry.
Yes, especially due to the reflection from the white sillar blocks. We recommend using sun protection, especially during the rainy season.
The altitude is similar to downtown Arequipa, with a slight elevation, making it comfortable for most visitors.
Definitely! The Sillar Route is a fun and educational adventure for children, with many opportunities for memorable photos.
At the quarries, you will find a variety of sillar crafts, from keychains to replicas of the Arequipa Cathedral, all handcrafted from this unique material.
Appropriate clothing for hiking
Mosquito repellent
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Bottled water
Comfortable walking shoes for short hikes
Explore the Sillar Route, a unique experience just a few kilometers from Arequipa, where history and nature intertwine in the sillar quarries. This half-day tour takes you on a journey through the past of the "White City", exploring the formations and carvings that define this iconic place. Witness the work of the stonemasons, guardians of a living tradition, and admire the stunning sculptures carved into volcanic stone, shaped by millennia-old eruptions.
Join us on an educational journey to understand how this unique stone, known as ignimbrite, is extracted. Discover the process behind the formation of sillares and meet the local stonemasons, true artisans who keep this generational tradition alive.
Get ready to take breathtaking photographs in the sillar quarries, where majestic landscapes create a setting found only in this region of Peru.
Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind opportunity! Book your Sillar Route Tour today and immerse yourself in an unforgettable adventure full of history, culture, and nature. We look forward to exploring the secrets of Arequipa with you!
| 8:45 - 9:15 | Hotel Pickup in Downtown Arequipa We start with a pickup from centrally located hotels, preparing you for a cultural journey through the Sillar Route. |
| 10:00 | A 45-minute drive takes us to Añashuayco, where you'll be amazed by the towering ignimbrite cliffs. Learn about the history of sillar, its extraction process, and its historical significance. Admire the Megacarving of the Church of the Society of Jesus and meet the local stonemasons. |
| Visit to Culebrillas Ravine | After Añashuayco, we head to Quebrada de Culebrillas, a 30-minute drive away. Here, we embark on a 20-minute hike through a narrow canyon shaped by water erosion, with walls reaching up to 20 meters high. At the end of the trail, discover ancient Wari petroglyphs and Apachetas, stone piles that symbolize gratitude and good fortune. |
| 12:00 | Return to Arequipa We begin our journey back to Arequipa, carrying with us unforgettable memories and knowledge from this cultural experience. |
| 13:00 | Arrival in Arequipa The tour ends in downtown Arequipa, near the iconic Plaza de Armas. |
The afternoon tour follows the same itinerary, with an estimated return to Arequipa between 6:30 PM and 7:00 PM, depending on traffic conditions.
✅ Hotel Pickup
✅ Group Transportation with other passengers
✅ Visit to all locations mentioned in the itinerary
✅ Professional Guide (Spanish/English)
❌ Lunch (in Yura)
The Sillar Route is a unique experience in Arequipa, where visitors explore sillar quarries, blocks of white volcanic stone. Available since 2014, this tour offers insight into history and art, featuring an impressive carving on the quarry walls, paying homage to the Church of the Society of Jesus.
Sillar, an essential element of the Sillar Route, is a handcrafted rectangular block measuring approximately 50cm x 30cm x 20cm. Made of Ignimbrite or Volcanic Tuff, sillar is the result of millions of years of volcanic evolution, transforming viscous magma into the robust stone used today.
No, sillar is made of Volcanic Tuff or Ignimbrite, which is different from volcanic lava. Although both originate from volcanic eruptions, their composition and formation are unique.
While Volcanic Tuff can be found in several regions, only in Arequipa has it been used to carve sillar blocks and construct an entire city.
Out of more than 15 quarries in Arequipa, the Sillar Route includes the most iconic ones: the Cortadores Quarry (Añashuayco) and the Culebrillas Quarry, seen from a unique perspective.
We visit two main quarries: the Cortadores Quarry and the Culebrillas Quarry, where ancient petroglyphs and a picturesque canyon are the main attractions.
The Añashuayco quarry is only 45 minutes away, while the Culebrillas quarry is about an hour from downtown Arequipa.
A stonecutter is an artisan who transforms volcanic tuff into sillar blocks. On the Sillar Route, you will see this ancestral tradition that has been passed down for generations.
Meals are not included, but there are snack options along the way. We can also recommend excellent nearby restaurants at the end of the tour.
There are restrooms available at the main quarry in Añashuayco. However, there are no facilities at the Culebrillas Quarry.
Yes, especially due to the reflection from the white sillar blocks. We recommend using sun protection, especially during the rainy season.
The altitude is similar to downtown Arequipa, with a slight elevation, making it comfortable for most visitors.
Definitely! The Sillar Route is a fun and educational adventure for children, with many opportunities for memorable photos.
At the quarries, you will find a variety of sillar crafts, from keychains to replicas of the Arequipa Cathedral, all handcrafted from this unique material.
Appropriate clothing for hiking
Mosquito repellent
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Bottled water
Comfortable walking shoes for short hikes
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