4 hours Tour: Route of Sillar with Trek in Culebrillas

Arequipa’s white volcanic stone is not just a building material. It gives the city its bright colonial character, and this half-day trip takes you to the places where that stone is cut. At Añashuayco, you see towering quarry walls and a large carving of the Church of the Company of Jesus. At Culebrillas, you walk through a narrow water-cut canyon to old Wari petroglyphs.

I like the tour for two clear reasons: it connects Arequipa’s architecture with working stone quarries, and it adds a short canyon walk rather than keeping you beside the van all day. The $11 price is appealing, too, though you’ll pay another 18 soles for entrance fees. The main caution is timing: one recent departure started 30 minutes late and felt rushed, so this trip works best when you have some flexibility.

Key points at a glance

• Añashuayco is a working quarry: See the walls created by ashlar extraction and learn how stonemasons cut the pale volcanic stone.
• The Church of the Company of Jesus is carved in stone: A large quarry sculpture gives the visit a memorable visual focus.
• Culebrillas adds a real walk: The route takes you about 20 minutes into a canyon with walls that rise 15 to 20 meters.
• Wari petroglyphs are part of the walk: Ancient rock markings appear near the end of the canyon.
• Volcano and Chilina Valley views begin the trip: The first stop helps you place Arequipa within its dramatic volcanic setting.
• The value is strong but not all-inclusive: Transport and a professional guide are covered, while entrance fees cost 18 soles in total.

Why Arequipa’s Sillar Route matters

Sillar is the pale volcanic stone that gives central Arequipa much of its distinctive look. Churches, courtyards, walls, and other historic buildings use the material, which links the city you walk through to the quarries outside town.

This tour makes that connection practical. Instead of only admiring white façades in the center, you watch the stone being cut from ignimbrite walls. The visit also gives you time with the people who work the quarries, including a chance to hear about their daily work and try cutting a stone block yourself.

That hands-on element is one of the best parts of the plan. You are not simply looking at a cliff and taking a photograph. You get an idea of the physical effort behind each block of ashlar. Do not expect a long workshop or a full trade course, but the short demonstration gives the material more meaning.

The tour is operated by Arequipa Explorer y Actividades Turisticas. Transport is by tourist vehicle, and the guide can lead the visit in English or Spanish. The advertised rating is 4.2 from 69 reviews, which suggests a generally positive trip with some unevenness around timing and language.

The first stop: volcanoes and the Chilina Valley

The trip begins from C. Álvarez Thomas 115 in central Arequipa. The vehicle first makes a short journey to a viewpoint, listed as about 25 minutes away, where you stop for photographs and a guided explanation.

This opening stop gives you a useful sense of place. You can see volcanoes and the Chilina Valley, and depending on the season, the exact viewpoint may change. The tour may also use another traditional lookout where the volcanoes are visible.

I like having this stop at the beginning. It gives you a quick visual introduction before the tour turns toward stone and archaeology. The stop lasts about 20 minutes, so treat it as a viewpoint visit rather than a long scenic pause. If you want strong photographs, have your camera ready as soon as you leave the vehicle.

The stop also helps explain why the stone looks the way it does. The Sillar Route is tied to volcanic material, so the volcano views are more than decoration. They provide the setting for the quarries you visit later.

At Añashuayco Quarry, stone becomes the main subject

The drive from the viewpoint to Añashuayco takes about 45 minutes. This is the longest outward transfer, so the trip is best suited to someone who wants a focused half-day excursion rather than a series of nearby city stops.

Añashuayco is an active quarry. Stonemasons begin their work early, and the visit is designed to show you how ashlar is extracted and shaped. The quarry itself forms a large canyon, with high ignimbrite walls created by the removal of stone over time.

The scale is the first thing you notice. The walls are not a small roadside cutting. They rise several meters and show the marks of extraction. Your guide explains the origin of ashlar, how it is produced, and how it has been used in Arequipa.

I would give this stop your full attention. It is easy to reduce a quarry to a photo background, but the guide’s explanation is what turns it into a useful visit. Look at the color and texture of the walls, then compare them with the smooth, pale façades in Arequipa’s main square. The connection is immediate.

The visit includes a large carving of the Church of the Company of Jesus. Local stonemasons made the piece, and it gives you a clear example of what can be created from the same material that comes out of the quarry. It is one of the most distinctive photo stops on the tour.

You also visit one of the stonemasons so the person can explain the daily work. The program allows you to try cutting one of the stone blocks yourself. This is a small activity, but it helps you understand that the city’s elegant stonework begins with laborious, hands-on work.

The quarry stop is scheduled for about 50 minutes. That is enough for the explanation, the carving, photographs, and the stone-cutting demonstration, but it is not an open-ended visit. If you enjoy industrial or craft sites, you may wish the schedule allowed more time. If you prefer a compact outing, the limit keeps the tour moving.

Culebrillas canyon adds a short walk

From Añashuayco, the vehicle continues for about 30 minutes to Quebrada de Culebrillas. Here the emphasis changes from quarry work to geology and archaeology.

The canyon was formed by flowing water. Its walls are about 15 to 20 meters high, and they grow taller as you walk farther inside. The route includes a walk of roughly 20 minutes, with a total stop listed at around 30 minutes.

This is not a demanding trek based on the information provided. It is a brief walk inside a narrow canyon, but you should still expect uneven ground and bring shoes that feel secure. The trip description does not give a formal difficulty rating, so anyone who has concerns about walking conditions should ask the operator before booking.

The canyon’s shape makes this stop feel different from Añashuayco. At the quarry, people have changed the stone through extraction. At Culebrillas, water shaped the passage over time. You get two very different ways to read the area’s geology within a single morning.

Near the end of the walk, you can see petroglyphs associated with the Wari culture and dated to more than a thousand years ago. This is the archaeological highlight of the trip. The markings are not presented as a large museum-style display, so listen closely to the guide’s explanation and follow the route carefully.

The stop also includes apachetas. These are piles of stones placed one on top of another, used as a sign of gratitude toward nature and associated with good luck. They add a living cultural element to the canyon visit. You can see why the formations create a mystical feeling, but it is worth treating them respectfully rather than viewing them as simple props for a photograph.

What the schedule really means

The morning departure is scheduled for 9:15 am. After the viewpoint, quarry, and canyon, the return journey is listed as beginning at 12:30 pm, with arrival near central Arequipa around 1:30 pm. The itinerary also gives a 50-minute return drive from Culebrillas.

There is a small inconsistency in the stated times, since the advertised duration is 270 minutes, or four and a half hours, while the clock times suggest a little longer depending on the exact departure and return. I would plan on a half-day outing and avoid booking a tight lunch reservation or another activity immediately afterward.

The route includes several vehicle transfers:

• About 25 minutes to the first viewpoint
• About 45 minutes to Añashuayco Quarry
• About 30 minutes to Culebrillas
• About 50 minutes back toward the city

These drives are part of the trade-off. You reach places that are not in central Arequipa, but the outing includes more time in the vehicle than on foot. The total walking is modest, with the main walk inside Culebrillas lasting about 20 minutes.

An afternoon departure is also available at 2:00 pm. That option may suit your schedule better, but the supplied details do not give a separate return time. Check the current departure information before reserving.

Price, fees, and overall value

At $11 per person, this is an inexpensive way to reach the Sillar Route and Culebrillas without arranging separate transport. The price includes tourist transport and a professional guide, but it does not include the entrance fees, which total 18 soles.

That extra charge matters because the headline price is not the full cost. Even so, the combined expense remains good value if you want three different elements in one trip: a scenic viewpoint, a working quarry, and a canyon with ancient rock art.

The value is strongest for people who would otherwise need to hire a taxi or negotiate separate transport to the quarries. It is less compelling for someone who wants a slow, detailed quarry visit, since the stops are fairly short and the vehicle time is significant.

A professional guide also adds practical value here. The quarry and petroglyphs need context. Without an explanation, you might see pale rock walls and carved markings without understanding their place in Arequipa’s building tradition and local past.

Guide language and timing are worth checking

The tour is offered in English and Spanish. This is important because much of the appeal comes from explanation rather than scenery alone. Ask which language is confirmed for your departure, especially if you do not speak Spanish.

One recent booking had to proceed only in Spanish because the English-speaking guide was ill. The operator offered a later date, but the timing did not work for that person. Another departure began 30 minutes late, leaving less time at the stops.

These incidents do not make the tour a poor choice, but they show why you should keep your schedule open. If you have a flight, train, cooking class, or timed museum visit later in the day, leave a generous gap.

The guide’s name is not provided in the available information, so I cannot recommend a particular guide by name. The best guide for this route will be one who explains the stone-making process clearly and gives the Wari petroglyphs more than a passing mention.

Who should book this half-day trip

I would choose this tour if you want an affordable introduction to the area outside Arequipa and prefer a mix of culture, geology, and light walking. It suits first-time visitors who want to understand why the city is built from pale volcanic stone.

It also works well for:

• People with only a morning or afternoon available
• Anyone interested in traditional craft and quarry work
• Visitors who enjoy short walks rather than a full-day hike
• Families or groups looking for a compact outing
• Budget-conscious visitors who want transport included
• Photographers interested in canyon walls, stone carvings, and volcano views

I would think twice if your main goal is a strenuous trek. The Culebrillas walk is only about 20 minutes, and the tour is designed as a sightseeing route with a short canyon walk, not a serious hiking day.

I would also be cautious if you need exact timing or a guaranteed English-language guide. The experience can be affected by guide availability and late starts, so flexibility matters.

Practical advice before you go

Wear shoes suitable for a short walk on uneven canyon ground. The route is not described as difficult, but a narrow canyon and stone surfaces are more comfortable with secure footwear.

Bring water, sun protection, and a camera. The route includes open viewpoints, pale rock that reflects bright light, and a canyon walk. The supplied information does not list meals or drinks, so plan as if you need to arrange your own refreshments.

Keep 18 soles available for entrance fees. That payment is separate from the $11 tour price.

At the meeting point, C. Álvarez Thomas 115, the main office is on the corner. Your name will be checked against the list, followed by instructions before departure. The tour finishes near Av. La Marina in Arequipa, close to the central area but not necessarily at the original office.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your Arequipa plans are still moving around.

Should you book the Route of Sillar and Culebrillas?

Book it if you want a low-cost, well-packed half-day that explains the stone behind Arequipa’s famous architecture. The best moments are the working Añashuayco Quarry, the stonemason demonstration, the carved church, and the Wari petroglyphs inside Culebrillas.

Skip it if you want a long hike, a leisurely quarry visit, or a tightly timed outing. You’ll spend a fair share of the trip in the van, and the schedule may feel rushed if the departure is delayed.

For most visitors, the price makes the compromise reasonable. Just confirm the guide language, allow extra time afterward, and remember that the 18 soles in entrance fees are not included.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The advertised duration is 270 minutes, or four and a half hours. The stated morning schedule begins at 9:15 am and returns to central Arequipa around 1:30 pm.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is the main office at C. Álvarez Thomas 115 in Arequipa. It is located on the corner, where your name will be checked before departure.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour finishes near Av. La Marina in Arequipa, close to the city center.

What is included in the price?

The price includes tourist transport and a professional guide.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees cost 18 soles in total and must be paid separately.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English and Spanish. Guide availability can vary, so confirm the language for your departure.

What will I see at Añashuayco Quarry?

You will see a working quarry, tall ignimbrite walls formed by stone extraction, an immense carving of the Church of the Company of Jesus, and a demonstration of ashlar production. You may also try cutting a stone block.

How long is the walk at Culebrillas?

The walk inside the canyon takes about 20 minutes. The full stop at Quebrada de Culebrillas is listed as approximately 30 minutes and includes photographs, a guided visit, and the Wari petroglyphs.