Trek to the Route of the Sillar and Culebrillas in Arequipa

Arequipa’s white-stone buildings begin in the desert quarries outside town, where workers cut volcanic ashlar by hand. This tour takes you to Añashuayco Quarry and the narrow Culebrillas canyon, with a short mountain viewpoint stop along the way. I love the chance to see the stone being made, not just admire it in the city, and I like the hands-on option to try cutting a block yourself.

The main drawback is time on the road. Traffic can slow the trip to the quarry, and the stop at Culebrillas is brief. One recent experience also raised a serious concern about guide quality, so I would confirm the guide and departure details before paying.

Key points to know before booking

• Añashuayco is a working quarry: You can see the cliffs created by ashlar extraction and watch stonemasons at work.
• The carved church is a highlight: A large carving of the Church of the Company of Jesus gives the quarry a memorable human touch.
• Culebrillas is a short canyon walk: The route inside the canyon lasts about 20 minutes, with time for photos.
• The tour runs about 270 minutes: Allow roughly four and a half hours, including van rides from central Arequipa.
• The price is low, but entry costs extra: Transport and a professional guide are included, while entrance fees cost 10 soles.
• The hot-spring note needs checking: A soak in Chivay is mentioned in the highlights, but the detailed route ends back in Arequipa and does not include Chivay.

Why Arequipa’s white stone matters

The Sillar Route is more than a quarry visit. It explains why Arequipa is often associated with pale volcanic-stone architecture. Ashlar, locally called sillar, came from volcanic material and became a practical building stone for churches and other structures in the city.

At the quarry, you see the material in its raw setting. Tall ignimbrite walls show how much stone has been removed over time. The result is dramatic, but it is also a working place rather than a polished attraction. You may see rough surfaces, tools, dust, and active stone cutting.

I like that this gives you a useful connection between Arequipa’s streets and the countryside around them. After seeing white buildings in the historic center, you can understand the labor behind them. The tour also keeps some of that work visible instead of reducing the Sillar Route to a photo stop.

The experience is best for you if you enjoy short cultural excursions with a strong visual element. It is less suited to anyone expecting a long mountain trek or a full-day archaeological expedition. The walks are modest, but the subject is unusual and specific to the Arequipa region.

Starting at C. Álvarez Thomas 115

The meeting point is the main office at C. Álvarez Thomas 115, on the same corner. Your name is checked against the list before the group receives instructions and boards the tourist van. The supplied coordinates are -16.4003911, -71.53703469999999, which can help if you are using a map app.

The morning departure is listed as 9:15 am. From there, the first van ride takes about 20 minutes. The trip finishes on Avenida La Marina in Arequipa, not at the quarry.

I would arrive early enough to find the office without rushing. The meeting point is in the city, while the finish point is elsewhere in Arequipa, so think about where you want to go afterward. The tour does not describe hotel pickup, so you should plan to reach the office yourself.

The first mountain view and Chilina Valley stop

The opening stop is a viewpoint toward the Andes, volcanoes, and the Chilina Valley. You get about 20 minutes for a break and photographs. Depending on the season, the operator may use another traditional viewpoint at the start, with volcano views.

This is a useful beginning because it gives you a sense of the wider area before the quarry visit. The stop also breaks up the first ride and lets you take in the volcanic setting that shaped the stone you will see later.

Do not expect a long guided walk here. It is primarily a viewpoint stop. Weather and seasonal conditions can affect which lookout is used, so the exact angle and scenery may vary.

The volcano views are one of the tour’s strong visual rewards, but I would keep your expectations practical. The detailed schedule gives this stop 20 minutes, not an extended photography session. If clear views matter greatly to you, keep your camera ready and use the time well.

Arriving at Añashuayco Quarry after about 45 minutes

The ride from the opening part of the trip to Añashuayco takes roughly 30 minutes in the listed schedule, while the broader description places arrival at the quarry about 45 minutes after leaving the city. In practice, traffic can affect the timing. One account specifically noted a long delay getting to the quarry because of congestion.

That matters because the tour already has several van transfers. If the road is slow, the walking and explanation time can feel compressed. I would avoid scheduling a tight appointment immediately after the excursion.

Añashuayco is the main stop. The quarry is still in operation, and the stonemasons begin work early. You can see the immense canyon formed by extraction, with ignimbrite cliffs rising several meters above the quarry floor.

This is where the tour becomes more than a scenic outing. The guide explains the origin of ashlar, how it is produced, and how it has been used. You are looking at a material in the place where it is taken from the earth, shaped, and prepared for construction.

The visit is scheduled for about one hour and includes a guided tour and hiking. That is a reasonable amount of time for the quarry, especially if the guide explains the cutting process clearly. Still, one person found the tour moved too quickly and wanted more time for the sculptures. If you like to photograph details, keep an eye on the clock and ask early when the group will move on.

The Church of the Company of Jesus carving

The quarry’s most distinctive feature is a mega carving of the Church of the Company of Jesus. The work was made by the stonemasons themselves, and it gives you a strong visual link between the raw quarry and Arequipa’s built heritage.

This is the kind of stop that makes the low price feel worthwhile. You are not simply standing beside a wall of stone. You are seeing local workers interpret a familiar religious building in the same material they cut every day.

The carving is also a good reminder that the Sillar Route is connected to living craft. The work is not presented only as an old tradition frozen in the past. The quarry remains active, and its workers continue to shape the stone.

I would give yourself enough time to see the carving from more than one angle if the group allows it. The available information does not specify its exact size or the amount of detail, so I would not build expectations around a particular photograph. The main value is the connection between the working quarry and the architecture of Arequipa.

Meeting a stonemason and trying the work

The visit can include a meeting with one of the stonemasons. The worker explains the daily job and may let you try cutting one of the stone blocks yourself.

This hands-on element is unusual and useful. A short attempt will not make you a craftsperson, but it can change how you see the finished stone in Arequipa. You feel that the material requires patience and physical effort, rather than appearing as a ready-made building product.

The wording of the experience suggests this opportunity depends on the visit conditions and the availability of a worker. I would treat it as a possible part of the quarry stop, not a guaranteed private lesson.

You should also remember that this is an active work area. Follow the guide’s instructions and stay where you are directed. The available details do not state what protective equipment is supplied, so practical shoes and sensible clothing are a good idea.

Walking into Quebrada de Culebrillas

After Añashuayco, the van travels about 30 minutes to Quebrada de Culebrillas. The canyon was formed by the passage of water, and the route takes you inside its narrow channel for about 20 minutes.

Culebrillas provides a different mood from the quarry. At Añashuayco, human extraction created the visible cliffs. Here, water shaped the small canyon. The two stops work well together because you see both natural formation and human alteration of volcanic stone.

The Culebrillas portion is listed as a break, photo stop, visit, and hike, with about 30 minutes assigned overall. That leaves limited time for walking, taking pictures, and listening to the explanation. If the group is moving briskly, stay close and be ready to continue.

This is not described as a long trek. The word trek may sound ambitious, but the walking schedule is short: about an hour at the quarry and around 20 minutes inside Culebrillas. I would book it for the scenery, stonework, and short walks, not for a demanding day in the mountains.

The return to Arequipa and the Chivay question

The final van ride to Avenida La Marina takes about 45 minutes. Added to the other transfers and stops, the complete outing lasts around 270 minutes, or four and a half hours.

The listed highlights also mention a relaxing soak in the hot springs of Chivay after the trek. Chivay is not included in the detailed stop-by-stop schedule, however, and the route shown finishes in Arequipa. No hot-spring admission is listed among the inclusions.

For that reason, I would not assume the Chivay soak is part of this particular half-day departure. Ask the operator to clarify before booking if the hot springs are important to you. The safest reading of the detailed route is that you visit the viewpoint, Añashuayco, and Culebrillas, then return to Arequipa.

What the $13 price really covers

At $13 per person, this is an inexpensive way to reach places that are not presented as a simple city walking route. Tourist transport and a professional guide are included. The fee for entering the places is extra, listed as 10 soles.

That is strong value if you want transport and interpretation without arranging a private vehicle. The quarry and canyon sit outside central Arequipa, and the guide adds context about ashlar production and local use. Even with the extra entrance fee, the total remains modest for a half-day excursion.

The low price also tells you to keep expectations sensible. This is a shared van outing with a fixed route, not a private custom tour. Traffic, waiting, and a brisk pace are possible. The experience depends heavily on the guide, since the quarry visit needs clear explanation to reach its full value.

The rating is listed at 4 out of 5 from nine reviews, which suggests a generally positive but not flawless record. The best feedback points to the carved sculptures and an enthusiastic guide. A serious one-star complaint described a guide as impaired by drugs and alcohol. That is not something to ignore. I would confirm the operator’s current guide arrangements and speak up immediately if the guide seems unfit.

Language, timing, and practical planning

The tour offers live guiding in English and Spanish. If you want detailed explanations of the quarry’s production methods, choose the language in which you can ask questions comfortably.

The outing is listed at 270 minutes, but the individual transfers and stops show why the day can feel longer or shorter in practice. The roads may slow the trip, while the quarry and canyon walks may be brief. I would reserve about half a day and avoid adding a fixed booking right afterward.

Bring a camera for the volcano viewpoint, quarry walls, church carving, and canyon. Comfortable walking shoes make sense for the quarry and Culebrillas, although the supplied information does not describe the trail surface or difficulty.

You should also be ready for changing conditions at an active outdoor site. The tour does not list meals, drinks, or personal equipment as included. The only stated inclusions are tourist transport and a professional guide, and the only stated extra cost is the 10 soles entrance fee.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve and pay later, which helps if your Arequipa plans are still moving around.

Who should book the Sillar Route

I would choose this tour if you want a short trip with a clear local subject. It suits you especially well if you are curious about architecture, stonework, volcanoes, or working crafts. The chance to see a stonemason’s process makes it more meaningful than a standard viewpoint circuit.

It also suits a first visit to Arequipa because the tour connects several pieces of the region: the volcanoes, the Chilina Valley, the volcanic stone, and the city’s white architecture. You get a quick introduction without committing an entire day.

I would hesitate if you want a leisurely pace, a long hike, or guaranteed hot springs in Chivay. The roads may take more time than expected, and the Culebrillas walk is short. I would also confirm the guide situation before departure because the quality of the explanation and supervision matters here.

Should you book it?

Book it if $13 plus the 10 soles entrance fee fits your budget and you want to see where Arequipa’s famous white stone comes from. The carved church, active quarry, stonemason demonstration, and Culebrillas canyon give the half-day trip real character.

Before you commit, confirm three points: the exact starting time, the guide’s language and name, and whether the Chivay hot springs are truly part of your departure. If you can accept possible traffic and a quick pace, this is a practical, good-value way to get beyond central Arequipa.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

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

What time does the tour begin?

The journey is scheduled to begin at 9:15 am. Starting times can vary, so check availability when booking.

How long does the experience last?

The total duration is listed as 270 minutes, or about four and a half hours.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour finishes at Avenida La Marina in Arequipa, Peru.

What transport is included?

Tourist transport by van is included. The route has several van transfers between Arequipa, the viewpoint, Añashuayco Quarry, Culebrillas, and the final stop.

Is a guide included?

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

What extra cost should I plan for?

Entrance fees are not included. The stated entrance cost is 10 soles.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Are the Chivay hot springs included?

A hot-spring soak in Chivay is mentioned among the highlights, but the detailed route ends in Arequipa and does not list Chivay as a stop. Confirm this point with the operator before booking.