Peru · SILLAR ROUTE & AREQUIPA COUNTRYSIDE
The white stone the whole city is built from is still cut by hand in the quarries at Añashuayco. The 15 below cover the quarry walk, the canyon carvings and the countryside circuits, each priced.
Spend four hours outside Arequipa visiting the working Añashuayco Quarry, its huge stone carvings, and Culebrillas Canyon with a bilingual guide. You will hear how white sillar shaped the city, walk past ancient Wari petroglyphs, and stop at a volcano viewpoint. Guides such as Mike, Jose, Alexandra, and Julia have led recent departures.
“our guide was fun and gave us a lot of info. the bus was clean and wasn't too hot.”
See how Arequipa’s famous white sillar stone is cut, walk the rugged Culebrillas canyon to view ancient petroglyphs, and photograph Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Picchu from Yanahuara. This bilingual group tour costs $19, lasts about four hours, and may feature guides such as Mike, Tony, Alexandra, Christina, or Sandra.
“This tour is a great way to see the Sillar route, and was the best value tour we did all trip. Communication was great beforehand, the driver was very conscientious the whole time (seatbelts and breakglass hammers on the minibus too), our guide Tony was entertaining and knowledgeable and the tour flowed really well. A couple of things to note, we took facemasks because of the dust and were very glad we did as other people were choking a bit, and the Sillar route itself is moderately challenging, especially for older people.”
From central Arequipa, ride to the Añashuayco and Culebrillas sillar quarries with a professional guide. See stonecutting, carvings, a natural pink ashlar canyon, petroglyphs, and volcano views along the way. The tour lasts about three to four hours, carries up to 15 people, and offers morning or afternoon departures.
“Well organised and fantastic value for money. Great tour leader. Gave us a great time. Explained so much. Thank you”
Travel from central Arequipa to the Sillar Route with an English or Spanish-speaking guide. See volcanoes and the Chilina Valley, watch stonecutters at Añashuayco Quarry, try cutting ashlar, then walk 20 minutes through Culebrillas canyon to old Wari petroglyphs and apachetas.
“Véhicule neuf. La visite a eu lieu seulement en espagnol car le guide anglais était malade. On nous a toutefois offert de reporter, mais nous avions autre chose. Le tour a commencé 30 minutes plus tard et nous n’avons pas eu assez de temps pour apprécier totalement.”
Travel from Arequipa’s historic center to the Añashuaycos quarries and Culebrillas Gorge. A bilingual guide explains how white sillar stone is cut, then leads you on a short canyon walk to petroglyphs. The $20 tour includes hotel pickup and transport, but entrance fees and meals cost extra.
“Excelente tour, buena comunicación y se nos apoyó en todo momento sobre dudas del recorrido Recomendado sin problema”
Travel by panoramic bus through Arequipa and its countryside with an English-speaking guide. Visit Yanahuara, Carmen Alto, Incalpaca, Sachaca, Tingo, the Founder’s Mansion, Sabandía Mill, and Paucarpata’s farming terraces. Pickup is included in central Arequipa. The 11 a.m. departure adds an optional lunch stop.
“This tour was really interesting and I am glad I got to see and learn about different aspects of life and history of Arequipa. One of the main reasons that I enjoyed the tour as much as I did is because Giuliana was so attentive and also very knowledgeable, making sure that everyone in the group was given as much information as possible about what we were seeing.”
Leave your Arequipa hotel for the Culebrillas quarries, about 3 kilometers from the city center. In a small group of up to 15, an English- or Spanish-speaking guide explains how volcanic ignimbrite becomes sillar, while masons demonstrate carving. The four-hour outing ends at Plaza de Armas.
“Tour was exactly as described. Got to spend a few hours exploring some interesting things around Arequipa. The Sillar stone tour was interesting. The tour through the small canyon like structures was amazing. Guide was patient and explained things well. Transportation including hotel pick up went well. An afternoon well spent.”
Join a four-hour English or Spanish excursion from Arequipa to the Sillar Route. See volcano views, the Añashuayco Quarry and its carved church, then walk 20 minutes through Culebrillas Canyon to Wari petroglyphs and apachetas. Transport and a professional guide are included. Expect a short walk rather than a strenuous hike.
“This was a good tour the only thing was our guide seemed very nervous and her accent was really heavy so most the time on the microphone we could not hear her or understand”
Travel from central Arequipa to the Sillar Route, where you’ll see working stone quarries, a huge carved church façade, and the narrow Culebrillas Canyon. The four-and-a-half-hour outing includes transport and a professional English or Spanish-speaking guide. Bring 10 soles for entrance fees and allow extra time for traffic.
“The tour was awesome and the guide was very enthusiastic !”
Spend four hours outside Arequipa visiting the Ruta del Sillar quarries and Culebrillas Canyon. An English- or Spanish-speaking guide explains how volcanic ashlar is carved by hand, then leads you past 15 to 20-meter canyon walls and ancient petroglyphs. Hotel pickup, transport, and return to Plaza de Armas are included, but both site fees cost extra.
“A very nice and funny guide for a tour that could be better. The road of Sillar is just a big quarry with few statues for Instagram pics. There are no informative panels or anything else more "demonstrative". If your goal is not to take pictures with statues I'll suggest to only do a tour of the Canyon that has also hystorical glyph and is more interesting and beautiful to see. I also had issues with the communication with the tour operator - they don't answer to the number they give you at the booking time - and until 2 ours before I didn't know whether the tour would have…”
Spend about four and a half hours outside Arequipa visiting the Añashuayco sillar quarry, walking through Culebrillas Canyon, viewing Wari petroglyphs, and seeing volcanoes and terraces from a scenic lookout. Transport and a Spanish or English guide are included. Expect a brief 20-minute hike and a 10-sol site fee.
“I loved this day trip from arequipa. Perfect length and super fun”
Leave Arequipa for the Añashuayco sillar quarry, where your guide explains how the white volcanic stone shaped the city. Then walk about 20 minutes through Culebrillas canyon and see its petroglyphs. The tour includes hotel pickup, transport, and a Spanish or English-speaking guide. Guides Alexandra and Toni have received especially strong praise.
“el guia Toni hizo quebla excursion fuera divertida. Es curioso e interesante visitar la cantera de sillar.”
Leave your Arequipa hotel for the Sillar Route, where local masons shape the white volcanic stone used across the city. Visit Añashuayco Quarry, walk about 20 minutes into Culebrillas Canyon, and see carved petroglyphs. English and Spanish guides are available, with pickup near the main square.
“We spent just the right amount of time at each location.”
Spend four hours outside Arequipa visiting the working Añashuayco ashlar quarry, its huge church carving, and the narrow Culebrillas canyon. An English or Spanish-speaking guide explains stone cutting, local traditions, and Wari petroglyphs. The $14 tour includes transport and a guide, but entrance fees of 10 soles are extra.
Meet at Arequipa’s cathedral for a four-hour bilingual tour to Yanahuara, the Añashuayco sillar quarry, and Culebrillas Canyon. You’ll see how volcanic stone is carved, walk about 20 minutes through an eroded canyon, and examine petroglyphs. Bring identification and allow extra soles for both quarry entries.
“I just loved seeing the petroglyphs, but had a hard time hearing the guide. That took it down a notch for me…”
Pick a ruin, a ridge, a river or a table.
