The Sillar Route of Arequipa – Ruta del Sillar

Discover the origin and charm of this volcanic stone that will leave you amazed. You’ll witness the entire extraction and carving process in detail, carried out with this mineral called sillar.

This adventure begins with pickup from your hotel in the city center. Our first stop will be the Yanahuara Viewpoint, which offers a privileged panoramic view of the city and the volcanoes Chachani, Pichu Pichu, and Misti. The viewpoint is surrounded by arches made of sillar, the white volcanic stone typical of Arequipa’s colonial architecture.

Next, we head to the Añashuayco Quarry, where the iconic sillar is still actively extracted. This site has turned into a vast canyon with massive white walls about 30 meters high. Local stonemasons will explain their carving techniques and showcase the various uses of the stone. Then, we’ll visit Culebrillas Ravine, an inactive quarry. Here, we’ll take a 20-minute walk through this narrow canyon to observe the enigmatic petroglyphs carved into its walls.

On the way back to the city, we’ll see the Apachetas, cone-shaped stone structures along the Inca Trail, left as offerings. These are considered an ancestral tradition by the locals and are believed to evoke a mystical energy.