Tour + Hike to the Sillar Route and Culebrillas in Arequipa

White stone tells Arequipa’s story. This four-hour outing takes you from the city to the working quarries that produce sillar, the pale volcanic stone used throughout Arequipa. I like the chance to see stonemasons at work and the short walk through Culebrillas canyon, where old Wari petroglyphs add an unexpected archaeological touch. The main drawback is that the tour is brief, and the extra 10 soles entrance fee is not included in the low advertised price.

I also like the value: for $14, you get tourist transport and a live guide in English or Spanish, with several stops packed into one morning or afternoon. You should be prepared for a basic outing rather than a polished luxury excursion. The ride takes up much of the schedule, and the music played in the van may not suit every group, especially families with children.

Five details to know before you book

• Añashuayco is a working quarry: You see the tall ignimbrite walls created by years of stone extraction, not just a staged photo stop.
• The Church of the Company mega-carving is made from stone: Local stonemasons created this large carving inside the quarry.
• Culebrillas includes a short canyon walk: The hike lasts about 20 minutes and reaches walls that rise 15 to 20 meters.
• Wari petroglyphs appear at the end of the canyon: These carvings are described as more than 1,000 years old.
• The volcano viewpoint may change position in the schedule: Depending on the season, it can come early or appear during the return route.
• The $14 price is not the full cost: Entrance fees add 10 soles per person.

Why sillar matters in Arequipa

Arequipa is closely tied to sillar, a pale volcanic stone formed from ash and other material released by eruptions. The stone gives much of the city center its bright appearance and helps explain why Arequipa is often associated with white architecture.

This tour takes you to the source rather than leaving the stone as a pretty building material in the city. At Añashuayco, you see cliffs and quarry walls shaped by extraction. The scale helps you understand the labor behind the carved facades, churches, and other structures connected with Arequipa.

I like this connection between city and countryside. You are not only looking at a church in the center of town. You are seeing where the stone came from and learning how people work it by hand.

The guide explains the history and production of sillar, along with its traditional uses. The amount of detail will depend on the guide and the questions you ask, but the stop gives the subject a useful human side. This is not simply a geology lesson. It is also an introduction to a trade that continues today.

The 50-minute ride from central Arequipa

The meeting point is the main office at C. Álvarez Thomas 115, near the center of Arequipa. Your name is checked against the list, and the group receives instructions before leaving. The tour finishes near Av. La Marina, with the schedule placing you close to the main square after the return.

Expect about 50 minutes in the van before reaching the quarry area. That ride is a large part of a four-hour program, so I would not book this if you want a long hike or a slow day outside the city.

The transport is practical rather than part of the attraction. It lets you combine places that would be difficult to visit efficiently on your own, especially if you do not want to arrange separate transport to the quarries and canyon.

One detail deserves attention. A verified complaint described local music in the vehicle as vulgar and racially offensive, with children present in the group. This is a single complaint among five listed ratings, and it does not establish what every departure will be like. Still, it is useful information. If the van music bothers you, ask the guide if it can be changed or turned off. Families may want to raise this before departure.

Volcanoes and the Chilina Valley viewpoint

The first scenic stop may be a viewpoint over the volcanoes and Chilina Valley. The schedule can change with the season, and another traditional viewpoint may be used at the start instead. A later version of the route places the Mirador de los Volcanes during the return journey.

This flexibility means you should not expect the stops to follow the exact same order every day. The purpose remains the same: a short pause for photographs, a guide explanation, and a broad view toward Arequipa’s volcanoes and nearby valley.

The stop is valuable because it gives you a quick sense of the region before the quarry visit. It also breaks up the drive. Do not expect a long walk or a major sightseeing session here. It is a viewpoint pause, lasting about 20 minutes in the stated schedule.

If volcano views are important to you, ask at the meeting point where the viewpoint falls on that day’s route. Cloud cover and seasonal conditions can affect what you see, and the supplied plan specifically allows the order to change.

Añashuayco Quarry and its towering stone walls

After roughly 45 minutes at the quarry area, the group reaches Añashuayco. This is the central stop of the tour. The quarry remains in operation, and stonemasons begin their work early, so the morning departure may offer a better chance of seeing activity.

The quarry contains a large canyon formed by removing blocks of ignimbrite. Its walls rise several meters and show how repeated extraction has changed the rock face. You get a visual sense of the quarry’s size that a small piece of sillar in a city building cannot provide.

The guide explains how workers cut and shape the stone. You may also meet one of the stonemasons, who can describe the daily work and demonstrate the process. The program says you can try cutting one of the stone blocks yourself. That hands-on part is a useful feature, since it turns an abstract explanation into a physical task.

Do not expect to become a stonemason in a few minutes. The activity is a short demonstration, not a full workshop. Still, it helps you understand that sillar work depends on patience, tools, and practiced judgment.

The quarry also contains a mega-carving of the Church of the Company of Jesus. Local stonemasons made it themselves, linking the modern working quarry to one of Arequipa’s best-known architectural subjects. For photographs, this is likely to be one of the clearest highlights.

The main limitation is the visit length. Forty-five minutes is enough for an introduction and photographs, but it may feel quick if you want to study the quarry walls, talk at length with workers, or take part in a longer stone-cutting session.

Culebrillas canyon and Wari petroglyphs

From Añashuayco, the van takes about 30 minutes to Quebrada de Culebrillas. Here the program shifts from quarry history to a short walk through a narrow canyon shaped by water.

The hike lasts about 20 minutes. The canyon walls are described as 15 to 20 meters high, and they grow taller as you move farther inside. That gradual change gives the walk a little drama without making it a demanding trek.

The route includes time for photographs and a guided visit. Since the walk is short, this stop suits you if you want a taste of the area rather than a full day of hiking. It also means the tour can work for people who are interested in nature and archaeology but have limited time in Arequipa.

At the end, you can see petroglyphs linked to the Wari culture and dated more than 1,000 years ago. This is an important reason to pay attention during the walk. The canyon may first catch your eye with its tall stone walls, but the carvings connect the place to people who used the area long before the modern quarry trade.

The information provided does not give a precise count of the petroglyphs or describe their individual shapes. Keep your expectations measured. This is a short archaeological stop, not a museum visit with a large collection and extensive interpretation.

The canyon floor and walls may not be perfectly even. The tour description calls this a hike, but it does not provide a difficulty grade or accessibility details. Wear shoes that are comfortable for a short walk over natural ground, and keep your hands free for balance and photographs.

Apachetas and the return to Arequipa

Before leaving the canyon area, the group observes apachetas. These are small stone formations made by placing stones on top of one another. They are described as symbols of gratitude toward nature and as good-luck attractions.

The apachetas add a spiritual element to the outing. You do not need to treat them as a formal religious ceremony to appreciate the idea behind them. They show how a simple pile of stones can carry meaning for people who pass through a place.

This part of the stop is brief, but it gives the tour a different tone from the quarry. At Añashuayco, stone is cut and shaped for buildings. At Culebrillas, stone is arranged as a gesture of thanks or hope. Both uses help make the outing feel connected to local culture rather than limited to scenery.

The return journey takes about 50 minutes before the final viewpoint and city arrival. The stated schedule gives a return to central Arequipa at about 1:30 pm for the morning departure, though the itinerary also lists the volcano viewpoint as a stop during the return. The timing should be treated as an estimate, especially if the group spends longer at the quarry or canyon.

There is also a 2:00 pm departure option. That choice may suit you if you prefer a later start, but the supplied information does not specify a different route or a later return time. Confirm the exact schedule when you book.

What the $14 price really includes

At $14 per person, this is an inexpensive way to reach several sites outside Arequipa. The price includes tourist transport and a professional guide. It does not include the 10 soles entrance fee, so add that amount to your budget.

The value is strongest if you want convenience. Hiring transport to the quarry, arranging a guide, and linking Añashuayco with Culebrillas could cost more and require extra planning. Here, those pieces are combined into a half-day trip.

The value is weaker if you want plenty of time at each site. The schedule covers driving, three main stops, a quarry explanation, a stone-cutting activity, a canyon walk, petroglyphs, apachetas, and the return to town. That is a lot for four hours.

I would think of this as an efficient introduction. It gives you the main idea of the Sillar Route and adds Culebrillas, but it does not allow the slow pace of a private tour.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. Those terms are useful if your Arequipa schedule may change.

Who should book this half-day outing

I think this tour suits you best if you:

• Have only a short stay in Arequipa
• Want to see where sillar comes from
• Like combining local work, scenery, and archaeology
• Prefer transport and a guide arranged in advance
• Are comfortable with a short canyon walk and several hours in a van
• Want English or Spanish guiding

Families may enjoy the stone-cutting demonstration and the simple canyon walk. I would still consider the music complaint before booking, since vehicle atmosphere can matter when children are in the group.

Photography-minded visitors should find plenty to work with at the quarry walls, mega-carving, canyon, apachetas, and volcano viewpoint. The program includes several photo stops, but the short duration means you may need to move along when the group does.

This is less suited to you if you want a strenuous hike, a quiet private experience, detailed archaeological interpretation, or a long conversation with quarry workers. The tour gives you a broad sample of the area, not an intensive study.

Should you book the Sillar Route and Culebrillas tour?

Book it if you want a low-cost, guided introduction to two distinctive places outside Arequipa. The working Añashuayco quarry is the strongest reason to go, especially with the chance to see the Church of the Company carving and try cutting a stone block. Culebrillas adds a short walk and ancient Wari petroglyphs, so the day offers more than quarry photographs.

Skip it if you dislike group transport, need a carefully controlled atmosphere, or want long visits at each stop. The $14 price is attractive, but remember the 10 soles entrance fee and the large amount of time spent in the van.

With a 4.1 rating from only five reviews, the available score is too small to treat as a firm verdict. I would book this for convenience and variety, while confirming the departure time, viewpoint order, entrance fee, and vehicle music arrangements at the office.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at C. Álvarez Thomas 115 in Arequipa. The meeting point is the main office on the same corner.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour finishes near Av. La Marina in Arequipa, with the schedule stating that the group will be left near the main square.

How long does the tour last?

The advertised duration is four hours.

What departure times are available?

A morning departure begins at about 9:15 am. A 2:00 pm afternoon shift is also available.

Is transport included?

Yes. Tourist transport by van is included.

Is a guide included?

Yes. A professional live guide is included, with English and Spanish available.

Is the entrance fee included?

No. Entrance tickets cost 10 soles per person and are paid separately.

How long is the walk at Culebrillas?

The walk inside the canyon takes approximately 20 minutes.

What can you see at Culebrillas?

You can see canyon walls about 15 to 20 meters high, Wari petroglyphs described as more than 1,000 years old, and apachetas made from stacked stones.

Can the tour be canceled for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.