Tour + Hike to the Sillar Route and Culebrillas in Arequipa

Arequipa’s famous white buildings begin in a dusty quarry outside the city, where stonemasons cut volcanic ashlar by hand. This Sillar Route tour takes you to Añashuayco and Culebrillas, then adds a volcano viewpoint and a short canyon walk.

I like two things here: you get a close look at living stonework rather than only admiring finished churches, and the small Culebrillas canyon packs a surprising amount into a 20-minute walk. The main drawback is the rushed format. Four hours includes a lot of van time, and the quarry can be active and dusty.

Key points to know before booking

• Añashuayco Quarry: See the tall ignimbrite walls created by years of ashlar extraction.
• Hands-on stonework: A local stonemason may explain the trade and let you try cutting a stone block.
• Culebrillas canyon: Walk between walls 15 to 20 meters high and look for Wari petroglyphs.
• Volcanoes and Chilina Valley: Stop at a viewpoint for broad views toward Arequipa’s volcanoes.
• Short, inexpensive outing: The tour lasts four hours and costs $14, with a separate 10 soles entrance fee.
• Bilingual guiding: Tours are offered in English or Spanish, with transport from central Arequipa.

Why Arequipa’s white stone begins in a quarry

Arequipa is often called the White City because ashlar, known locally as sillar, appears throughout its churches, mansions, walls, and older public buildings. This pale volcanic stone came from deposits formed by ancient eruptions. The city’s grand architecture is only half the story. The other half is the work done outside town to cut, shape, and transport the blocks.

That is what makes the Sillar Route useful. You are not simply taken to a photo stop with a dramatic name. You see the source material and learn how it became part of Arequipa’s identity.

The journey begins at the office on C. Álvarez Thomas 115, near the center. Your name is checked against the list, and the group receives basic instructions before leaving in a tourist van. The first drive takes about 50 minutes, though the full route includes several transfers and stops.

At $14 per person, this is a low-cost half-day outing. The price covers tourist transport and a professional guide, but not the entrance fee of 10 soles. You should carry small cash for that charge. The value is strongest if you want to see more than central Arequipa but do not want to spend a full day on a distant excursion.

The first stop: volcanoes, terraces, and the Chilina Valley

The route includes a short stop at a strategic viewpoint where you can see Arequipa’s volcanoes and the Chilina Valley. The tour information also refers to a Volcanoes and Andenerias Viewpoint, with andenerias meaning agricultural terraces.

The exact position of this stop can vary by season. It may come near the beginning, or appear later in the route after Culebrillas. That flexibility is practical, since visibility and local operating conditions can affect how the trip is arranged.

Do not expect a long scenic walk here. This is a brief pause for photographs and an introduction to the setting around Arequipa. The view helps you understand the city’s location among volcanic peaks and cultivated valleys. It also gives you a useful contrast: the next stops focus on the pale stone beneath your feet, while this one opens your view toward the wider region.

Bring a hat and water. The supplied information does not specify shade at the viewpoints, and the quarry and canyon are open-air sites. A short stop can feel quite exposed in strong sun.

Añashuayco Quarry and the walls made by extraction

After about 45 minutes of driving, you reach Añashuayco Quarry. This is the main stop, with about 45 minutes set aside for the visit, guided explanation, photographs, and a look at the quarry work.

The quarry is still in operation. The tall cliffs are not natural canyon walls in the usual sense. They are ignimbrite walls shaped by the removal of blocks over time. The result is a huge cut through pale volcanic material, with surfaces and layers that show how much stone has been taken out.

I like this stop because the setting explains Arequipa’s architecture in a direct way. Once you have seen the quarry, the white façades around Plaza de Armas feel less decorative and more connected to local labor and geology.

Your guide explains the history of ashlar, how it is produced, and how it has been used. The details matter. A block of stone may look simple in a finished wall, but here you can see the physical effort behind its creation.

Meeting a stonemason at work

One of the more unusual parts of the visit is the chance to meet a stonemason. The worker can explain the daily process and may let you try cutting one of the stone blocks yourself.

This is not a full workshop, and the time is limited. Still, even a short attempt gives you a better sense of the trade than a display case could. The work is practical, repetitive, and closely tied to the city’s buildings. You also get a chance to support attention toward a craft that remains active rather than treating the quarry as an abandoned archaeological site.

The quarry includes a megacarving of the Church of the Company of Jesus, made by the stonemasons. It is a strong photo subject and connects the raw stone to one of Arequipa’s recognizable religious buildings.

Expect an industrial working site, not a polished museum. Dust, uneven ground, and active quarry conditions are part of the setting. Wear closed shoes and clothes that can handle dust. The information provided does not state a required fitness level, but sensible footwear will make the stop easier.

Culebrillas canyon and the Wari petroglyphs

From Añashuayco, the van takes about 30 minutes to Quebrada de Culebrillas. The walk inside the canyon lasts about 20 minutes. Its walls rise roughly 15 to 20 meters, and they become taller as you move farther in.

The canyon was formed by the passage of water. That gives the stop a different character from Añashuayco. The quarry shows human extraction, while Culebrillas shows the force of water cutting through volcanic material.

The walk is short, but it is the part of the tour where you get out of the vehicle and move through the setting at a slower pace. The walls narrow the view and create a clear sense of entering a separate space. You may find the canyon more atmospheric than the quarry, though the tour does not provide a long hike.

At the end of the walk, you can see petroglyphs attributed to the Wari culture and dated more than a thousand years old. The carvings are an important reason to pay attention during the walk. They are not presented as a large archaeological complex, so follow the guide’s directions and avoid touching the rock surfaces.

The stop also includes apachetas, small stone formations made by placing stones one on top of another. They are described as signs of gratitude toward nature and symbols of good luck. For some people, this will be a spiritual moment. For others, it is a brief cultural detail that adds meaning to the route.

The canyon walk is the most physically active part of the tour. The distance is short, but the ground may be uneven. If you need more time for a careful walk or photographs, tell the guide early. The schedule leaves limited room for lingering.

Transport, timing, and the shape of the day

The advertised duration is four hours. The morning departure begins at 9:15 am, with arrival back in central Arequipa around 1:30 pm. The route also has a 2:00 pm afternoon departure, so you can choose a later start if that fits your plans.

The listed route includes:

• Tourist van from C. Álvarez Thomas 115
• A drive of about 50 minutes
• Around 45 minutes at Añashuayco Quarry
• About 30 minutes by van to Culebrillas
• Around 30 minutes at the canyon, including the walk
• A return drive of about 50 minutes
• A viewpoint stop of about 20 minutes, depending on the route arrangement
• Arrival near Av. La Marina in Arequipa

The timing shows the tradeoff clearly. You spend a substantial part of the outing in the van, but that is the cost of reaching two sites outside the city in a short morning. If you have only one day in Arequipa, this tour gives you a quick regional outing without taking up an entire day.

The finish point is near Av. La Marina rather than necessarily at the original office. Plan your afternoon with that in mind. The tour description says you may also be left near Arequipa’s main square on the return, but the stated finish point is Av. La Marina. Ask for the exact drop-off arrangement at the office.

Language, music, and the practical mood of the ride

The live guide is available in English or Spanish. No guide name is provided, so you cannot request a particular guide in advance from the supplied details. The quality of the experience will depend partly on how clearly the guide handles the quarry explanation and the petroglyph stop.

There is one important comfort issue to know about. A verified participant reported that local music played during the drive, including a song with racist and sexually explicit lyrics. That person found the choice offensive, especially with families and children in the group.

This does not establish that the same music will be played on every departure, but it is a fair concern. If you are traveling with children or prefer a quiet ride, ask the guide or driver to change the music if something offensive comes on. The van journeys are long enough that the soundtrack can affect the mood of the whole outing.

The overall rating is 4.1 from five submitted ratings, which is a small sample. I would treat it as a useful indication, not a firm measure of consistency. The strongest reasons to choose the tour are the quarry access, the stonemason encounter, and the combination of geology and cultural history in one short trip.

Who will get the most from this $14 excursion

I would choose this tour if you want a budget-friendly look at the source of Arequipa’s white stone. It fits well between city sightseeing and a longer regional trip, especially if your schedule does not allow a full day outside Arequipa.

It is also a good match for families who want a simple mix of transport, photos, a short walk, and a cultural explanation. The music issue means I would ask about the van soundtrack at the start, particularly if children are with you.

You should think twice if you want a quiet, private, or slow-paced outing. The tour uses shared transport, includes several driving stretches, and allows only a short time at each stop. It is not designed for a long canyon hike or extended quarry photography.

The walk at Culebrillas is brief. If your main goal is strenuous hiking, this will feel too light. If your goal is to add a little movement to a geology and culture trip, it is about the right amount.

What to bring and how to prepare

Wear closed, sturdy shoes for the quarry and canyon. Carry water, sun protection, and a hat, since the supplied details do not promise shade at the stops.

Bring a camera, but also watch the ground. The quarry is a working site, and the canyon has uneven walking surfaces. Small cash is useful for the 10 soles entrance fee.

If you want to try stonecutting, listen carefully to the instructions from the stonemason. The chance to handle the material is a highlight, but it should be treated as a short supervised activity, not an independent workshop.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and allows you to reserve while paying later. Those terms are helpful if your Arequipa schedule may change, but the main booking decision is still about pace and subject matter.

Should you book the Sillar Route and Culebrillas tour?

Book it if you want an inexpensive, focused introduction to the stone, workers, volcanic setting, and older cultures connected with Arequipa. Añashuayco gives you the clearest link to the city’s buildings, while Culebrillas adds a short walk, Wari petroglyphs, and apachetas.

Skip it if you want a long hike, a private vehicle, or a polished museum-style visit. The tour is short, shared, and practical. Its appeal comes from seeing working quarries and modest cultural sites in person, not from comfort or extended time at one location.

At $14 plus 10 soles for entrance, I consider it good value for a half-day outside the city. Go with realistic expectations, wear proper shoes, and ask about the music before the van leaves. For many visitors, those small preparations will make the difference between a useful outing and a rushed one.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts four hours. The morning schedule begins at 9:15 am and returns to central Arequipa around 1:30 pm.

What is the tour price?

The listed price is $14 per person. An additional entrance fee of 10 soles is not included.

What is included in the price?

Tourist transport and a professional guide are included.

What languages are available?

The live tour guide is available in English and Spanish.

Where does the tour begin?

The meeting point is the main office at C. Álvarez Thomas 115 in Arequipa. The coordinates provided are -16.4003911, -71.53703469999999.

What will I see at Añashuayco Quarry?

You will see the working quarry, tall ignimbrite walls formed by ashlar extraction, an ashlar explanation, and a megacarving of the Church of the Company of Jesus. You may also meet a stonemason and try cutting a stone block.

How long is the walk at Culebrillas?

The walk inside Quebrada de Culebrillas lasts about 20 minutes. The canyon walls are approximately 15 to 20 meters high, and Wari petroglyphs can be seen at the end.

Is there an afternoon departure?

Yes. An afternoon shift is available at 2:00 pm. Availability should be checked for the date you want.