Trek to the Route of the Sillar and Culebrillas in Arequipa

If you like travel that mixes scenery with real local work, this trek hits the sweet spot. You are not just looking at rocks in Arequipa, you are seeing where sillar (the iconic pale building stone) comes from, carved into the huge story of the city.

I especially love two things here. First, the views from the route stops, with volcanoes and the Chilina Valley laid out like a natural postcard. Second, the Añashuayco quarry visit, where you get close to the stone extraction and even meet the people who shape it day after day.

One thing to consider: the pace is efficient, and timing can be affected by traffic getting out to the quarries. If you want to linger forever on every cliff and carving, plan extra time in your schedule.

Key points to know before you go

• Sillar route context, so the stone looks cooler because you learn how it was made and used
• Añashuayco mega-carving, a scale-tilting church carving made by stonemasons
• Hands-on quarry moment, including the chance to try cutting a stone block yourself (briefly)
• Culebrillas canyon walk, a short hike inside the water-shaped canyon
• Short, steady trekking time, about 1 hour in the quarry area and 30 minutes in the canyon
• Chivay hot springs add-on, a relaxing payoff after the hike

Getting There From C. Álvarez Thomas, 115

Your day starts at the main office at C. Álvarez Thomas 115 in Arequipa. You will check in, get your name on the list, and get a quick briefing before the van rolls out. The tour uses tourist transport the whole way, so you are not hiring extra rides or fighting public transit schedules.

The total time is about 270 minutes (4.5 hours). That includes van time plus the walking. The itinerary builds in a couple of quick photo stops, then spends the real time on the two main sites: the Añashuayco quarry area and the Culebrillas canyon.

Bring the simple stuff you always need on a short trek in the Andes: water, sun protection, and shoes with grip. You will step around quarry surfaces and hike a bit inside the canyon, so flip-flops are a bad idea.

Also, keep your expectations realistic about timing. Even with a tight plan, traffic can slow the drive to the quarries. That does not ruin the experience, but it can make the day feel a bit more rushed if you were hoping for extra breathing room.

The Volcano and Chilina Valley Stops That Set the Mood

Before you reach the quarries, you get scenic warm-up. Early on, the van heads toward the Andes Mountains with a break and a photo stop (around 20 minutes). This is where you start to understand the terrain you are about to walk through.

There is also a strategic viewpoint where you can see the volcanoes and the Chilina Valley. Depending on season, you may swap this with another traditional viewpoint. Translation: the view angle can change, so don’t assume it will be identical every day.

I like this part because it turns the rest of the tour from a set of random stops into a single story. You begin to connect what you are seeing in the distance with what you will see up close in the stone. The pale cliffs and cut walls make more sense once you’ve seen the wider valley and the volcanic context.

If photos are part of your plan, this is the moment to slow down and frame them. Later on, you will be focusing more on moving and listening than on composing perfect shots.

Añashuayco Quarry: Where the Sillar Story Becomes Real

The heart of the day is the visit to the Añashuayco Quarry. You arrive after the drive (roughly 30 minutes) and spend about 1 hour there with a guided visit and hiking within the area.

This quarry is not just pretty. It shows you the scale of extraction behind the stone. You will see an immense canyon with cliffs, described as ignimbrite walls rising several meters. Those walls are the result of removing material used to form ashlar.

That matters because sillar is not an abstract souvenir material. It is the building stone that shaped the look of Arequipa. When your guide explains the production process, the quarry starts to feel like an outdoor textbook, with the pages written in pale stone.

Expect your guide to connect three dots:

• how the stone is produced,
• how it has been used historically,
• and why this place helped create the architecture people love in Arequipa.

The Mega Carving by Stonemasons (And Why It’s So Worth Seeing)

One of the most striking moments at Añashuayco is the Mega carving of the Church of the Company of Jesus. The tour highlights it as a work made by the stonemasons themselves, which gives the carving more weight than it would have as a random monument.

I love this because it’s both art and industry. You are standing in a working quarry context, not a museum bubble. The carving shows a kind of craftsmanship where the people doing the daily stonework can also think big, scale big, and shape the stone into recognizable form.

This is also one of those “stand back, then step closer” scenes. From a distance you get the full silhouette and scale. Up close you notice texture and tool marks, and suddenly the stone stops being just a pretty color.

If you are the type who usually scrolls past art photos, slow down here. The carving connects perfectly to the tour’s focus on how sillar is made and used.

Meeting the Stonemasons: A Small Try-At-It Moment

Another thing that makes this tour practical is the chance to learn from the people doing the work. In the quarry, you can visit a stonemason so they can explain what daily life in the quarry looks like.

The tour also includes a hands-on experiment where you can try cutting one of the stone blocks yourself. It is not going to turn you into a master mason in 10 minutes, but it gives you real respect for the process. You start noticing why the guides talk the way they do about shape, tools, and the stone’s behavior.

One smart tip: listen closely to safety and handling instructions. Quarry surfaces can be uneven, and stone cutting is precise work. Treat it like a short workshop moment, not a selfie challenge.

This is also where the guide matters. The best versions of this tour are led by an enthusiastic guide who makes the explanations clear and the experience feel human. In the feedback you might come across, that enthusiasm is often what people remember most.

Culebrillas Canyon Walk: Short Hike, Big Atmosphere

After the quarry, the van takes you to Quebrada de Culebrillas (about 30 minutes away). At the canyon, you get a break and photo stop, then you walk inside the small canyon formed by the passage of water.

Your hiking time here is around 30 minutes. That’s a manageable chunk, but it’s still a walk inside a canyon space, so you’ll want stable footing and comfortable pace.

What I like about Culebrillas is that it balances the quarry’s “stone made by people” with “stone shaped by water.” You still see geology and stone texture, but the forces are different. One place is human extraction. The other is natural shaping over time.

It also gives your legs a change of scenery. After time at the quarry cliffs, the canyon walk feels more enclosed and focused. You are moving through a corridor-like space where small changes in light can make the walls feel dramatically different.

If you are prone to motion sickness in vans, this part can feel like a reset. It gets you out, moving, and mentally switching gears.

The 4.5-Hour Pacing: How It Feels in Real Time

The full tour is about 270 minutes, and it is built for a “see it, learn it, walk it” flow. That usually means you are not doing one long trek. You are doing two shorter walks, plus scenic stops and guided explanations.

Your day roughly follows this rhythm:

• morning drive to a viewpoint area for photos,
• drive to Añashuayco quarry for a guided visit plus hiking,
• transfer to Culebrillas canyon for a short hike and visit,
• then return to the finish point.

That structure is great if you want the main highlights without losing the whole day. But if you are the type who likes to linger for your own photos and your own questions, you may wish you had more time on site.

One practical note: some days are slower due to traffic on the way to the quarry. If your schedule is tight, aim to keep plans flexible for the start and end of the tour.

Price and Value: What $13 Covers, Plus the 10 Soles Entrance

At around $13 per person, this tour is positioned as a low-cost way to get real insight into Arequipa’s signature stone. You get touristic transport and a professional guide, which is a big part of the value. Learning what you are seeing is what turns quarry views into a meaningful experience, not just a drive and a few photos.

That said, entrance tickets are not included. Expect about 10 soles for tickets to the places. So your real “budget reality” is closer to $13 plus that entry cost.

Still, even after that, it tends to feel like good value because:

• you get guided storytelling at the quarry,
• the sights are genuinely unusual,
• and you get at least one hands-on moment (cutting a block yourself).

If you are already planning to do paid activities in Arequipa, this tends to slot in nicely as a “high learning per dollar” outing.

Who This Trek Fits Best (And Who Might Want Another Option)

This experience fits best if you want a hands-on, geology-meets-craft day. You will probably enjoy it more if you like:

• industrial or craft-related travel (stonework, how things are made),
• short hikes that still feel like an adventure,
• and viewpoints that explain the bigger volcanic setting.

You might want to think twice if:

• you are extremely sensitive to time constraints, because traffic can affect how everything lines up,
• you dislike walking even short distances (the quarry hike and canyon walk add up),
• or you want a slow, relaxed photo-only pace, because the day moves efficiently.

For most people, it is a smart half-day plan. It also pairs well with a later recovery activity.

How to Pair This With Chivay Hot Springs

One of the best “after” ideas is the hot springs of Chivay. The tour highlights this as a relaxing soak after your trek, which makes sense. Your body will likely feel the walking in the quarry area and the canyon, and hot springs are a classic way to turn sore legs into a calm finish.

Even if you do not do Chivay the same day, keep it in mind as a strong add-on idea for your broader Arequipa itinerary.

Should You Book This Trek?

I’d book it if you want Arequipa beyond the usual city viewpoints. The mix of sillar route context, the Añashuayco quarry experience, and the Culebrillas canyon walk makes this feel more meaningful than a basic sightseeing drive.

Do it with your eyes open if you hate being on a schedule. Traffic can slow things down, and the pace is efficient, so you might not get unlimited time to linger.

But if you like seeing how local materials and labor shape a city, this is a solid choice for a half-day that teaches you something while still letting you enjoy the scenery.

FAQ

What is the duration of this trek?

The tour lasts about 270 minutes, around 4.5 hours, including transport and walking time.

How much does it cost, and is there an entrance fee?

The price is listed as $13 per person. Entrance tickets to the places are not included, and the ticket entrance is noted as 10 soles.

What are the main walking parts?

You should expect hiking during the quarry visit (about 1 hour) and another walk in the Culebrillas canyon (about 30 minutes).

Where is the meeting point?

The meeting point is the main office at C. Álvarez Thomas 115 in Arequipa (coordinates provided in the listing).

What languages is the guide available in?

The live tour guide is available in English and Spanish.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is listed as 09:15 am.