The Sillar Route in Arequipa is a fascinating half-day tour that takes you to the volcanic quarries of Añashuayco and Culebrillas. Walk among massive walls of white sillar stone and learn how this iconic material shaped the historic architecture of Arequipa — known as the White City.
Trip info
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2325 m.a.s.l.
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Pick up from your hotel
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April - December
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Spanish and english
Description
We begin our tour with a visit to Yanahuara Square, a charming traditional area of the city known for its iconic viewpoint overlooking the Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu volcanoes, along with the scenic countryside that surrounds Arequipa.
Next, we travel about 45 minutes to reach the Añashuayco Quarries, which are still active today. Upon arrival, we’ll explore a stunning canyon with towering ignimbrite cliffs formed by years of extraction. Here, you’ll learn the story of “sillar”, the white volcanic stone used to build many of Arequipa’s historic structures. You’ll also get to admire impressive stone carvings created by the quarry workers themselves, including a large-scale sculpture of the Church of the Society of Jesus, among other figures.
We then head to Culebrillas Gorge, about 30 minutes away. There, we take a short 20-minute walk through a narrow natural canyon formed by water erosion, with walls reaching 15 to 20 meters high. At the end of the trail, we’ll discover ancient petroglyphs carved over a thousand years ago by the Wari culture.
Before returning to the city, we’ll pass by several Apachetas—mystical stone piles traditionally placed as offerings to nature and believed to bring good luck. The tour ends near Arequipa’s Main Square.
Highlights
- Yanahuara's Volcanoes viewpoint
- Añashuayco quarries
- Culebrillas gorge and petroglyphs
