4 hours Tour: Route of Sillar with Trek in Culebrillas

Stone tells Arequipa’s story. This short tour pairs the city’s famous white volcanic stone with a canyon walk, ancient petroglyphs, and broad views toward the volcanoes. I like the hands-on quarry stop, where you can see how ashlar is cut and try working a stone block yourself. I also like the Culebrillas walk, which adds a quiet archaeological stop to what could otherwise be only a quarry visit.

The main drawback is time. The tour covers several stops in roughly four and a half hours, so the quarry and canyon visits feel fairly brisk. The English-language service can also depend on guide availability, so you should confirm your preferred language before setting off.

Key points to know before booking

• Añashuayco is a working quarry: You see the tall ignimbrite walls, learn how sillar is produced, and watch local stonemasons at work.
• The Church of the Company of Jesus is carved in stone: A large quarry carving recreates the church’s facade and gives the stop a memorable photo subject.
• Culebrillas includes a short canyon walk: The route takes about 20 minutes through walls that rise from 15 to 20 meters.
• Wari petroglyphs add real archaeological interest: Ancient markings appear near the end of the canyon walk.
• The tour is inexpensive but not all-inclusive: Transport and a professional guide are included, while entrance fees total 18 soles.
• Two departure shifts are available: The main morning schedule begins at 9:15 am, and an afternoon departure is offered at 2:00 pm.

Why Arequipa’s white stone matters

Arequipa is closely tied to sillar, the pale volcanic stone used in many of the city’s churches, mansions, and historic buildings. The Sillar Route takes you outside the city to the places where this material is cut from volcanic ash and hardened deposits.

This is not simply a scenic drive to a quarry. The guide explains how the stone is extracted, shaped, and used in local construction. That context helps you notice Arequipa’s architecture differently later in the day. Once you understand that the city’s pale facades come from this material, the old center feels less like a collection of attractive buildings and more like a city built from the surrounding earth.

The setting also gives you a look at a living trade. The quarry is still operating, and stonemasons begin their work early. That makes the visit more meaningful than a display of old tools or a staged workshop. You are seeing an active part of local culture, even if the stop is organized for tourism.

Meeting at C. Álvarez Thomas 115

The tour begins at the main office at C. Álvarez Thomas 115, on the corner. Your name is checked against the list before the group receives starting instructions and gets into the tourist transport.

The meeting point is in central Arequipa, with coordinates listed as -16.4003911, -71.53703469999999. I would arrive a little early, especially if you are unfamiliar with the city center. The tour is scheduled to begin at 9:15 am for the morning shift, and a 2:00 pm shift is also available.

Transport is provided throughout the outing. The vehicle ride is an important part of the schedule because the quarry and canyon are outside central Arequipa. One recent booking specifically noted a new vehicle, which is welcome on a route with several road sections.

The route ends near Av. La Marina, close to the center. The detailed schedule also describes arrival near Arequipa’s main square at about 1:30 pm. In practical terms, you should expect to finish in the central area rather than return to the exact office corner.

First stop: the Volcanoes and Andenerias viewpoint

The first outing from the city is a viewpoint stop. The drive takes about 25 minutes, followed by around 20 minutes for photos, a short visit, and an explanation from the guide.

From here, you can see the volcanoes and the Chilina Valley. The tour description also refers to traditional viewpoints where the volcanoes are visible, with the exact opening stop changing by season. That means the first viewpoint may not be identical every time, but the purpose remains the same: it gives you an early sense of Arequipa’s broad setting before the stone quarries take over.

This is a useful pause rather than a major attraction by itself. You have time to take photographs and hear the guide establish the geographical setting. If your main goal is the quarry, you may find the stop brief and straightforward. If you enjoy wide views and want a calm start, it helps break up the vehicle ride.

Bring your phone or camera ready. The stop is short, and the schedule does not suggest a long walk or extended free time.

Arriving at Añashuayco Quarry

After the viewpoint, the vehicle continues for about 45 minutes to Añashuayco Quarry. You have roughly 50 minutes there for a guided visit, photographs, free time, and walking.

The quarry is the core of the tour. Its tall cliffs are made of ignimbrite, the volcanic stone used to produce sillar. Extraction has shaped the walls into a broad canyon-like setting, with pale surfaces rising several meters above you. The scale helps explain the amount of labor behind Arequipa’s white architecture.

Your guide covers the history of ashlar, its production, and its long use in the city. This explanation matters because the quarry can otherwise look like a simple cut in the rock. You learn to connect the rough blocks on the ground with the carefully finished columns, arches, and facades in central Arequipa.

The quarry is still active, so the visit has a working character. Stonemasons carry out their tasks early in the day, which is one reason the morning schedule may be appealing. The activity is not presented as a performance, but you may have a chance to meet one of the workers and hear about the daily process.

The megacarving of the Company of Jesus

One of the most distinctive sights at Añashuayco is a large carving of the Church of the Company of Jesus. Local stonemasons made the piece in the quarry, creating a stone version of a building closely associated with Arequipa.

It gives the stop a clear visual focus. You are not only looking at raw quarry walls. You can also see what skilled hands can make from the same pale material. The carving works well for photographs and helps connect the industrial side of sillar production with the finished religious architecture found in town.

The available time is about 50 minutes, so do not expect a long workshop session. Still, the visit can include a close look at the stonemasons’ work and an opportunity to try cutting one of the stone blocks yourself. That small practical moment is one of the tour’s best features. It turns a lecture about quarry work into something physical, even if only briefly.

You should wear shoes suitable for walking over uneven quarry ground. The supplied information does not describe a demanding hike, but this is a working extraction area rather than a polished museum floor.

From the quarry to Quebrada de Culebrillas

The drive from Añashuayco to Quebrada de Culebrillas takes about 30 minutes. This transfer gives you a change of subject and scenery after the quarry’s open, worked stone walls.

Culebrillas is a narrow canyon formed by running water. Its walls begin at about 15 meters and grow taller as you walk farther inside. The walk itself lasts about 20 minutes, making it manageable for anyone comfortable with a short outing on uneven ground.

The canyon is more enclosed and atmospheric than the quarry. The pale rock walls close around the route, and the increasing height gives the walk a strong sense of progression. You are not walking for hours, but the short distance still feels like a proper change from the vehicle and the open quarry.

The guide leads the visit and allows time for photographs. Since the canyon section is short, you should not expect a full hiking excursion. One booking described the overall activity as brief and suitable for half a day, which is a fair way to view it. Culebrillas adds variety and atmosphere, but it will not satisfy someone looking for a long trek.

Wari petroglyphs and the Apachetas

Near the end of the canyon walk, you can see petroglyphs associated with the Wari culture and dated more than a thousand years old. They give the canyon a second layer of interest. You are not simply passing through a natural rock formation, but following a route connected to earlier people and their marks on the stone.

The petroglyphs are an important reason to pay attention during the guide’s explanation. Their value is easy to miss if you treat the canyon as only a photo stop. Listen for the location and cultural context, then take time to look carefully rather than rushing toward the exit.

Before returning to the city, the group also sees Apachetas, small stone formations made by placing stones one on top of another. They are described as symbols of gratitude toward nature and as signs of good luck. The custom gives the final stop a reflective, almost mystical mood, and it is a fitting close to a tour centered on stone.

Do not expect a major archaeological complex at Culebrillas. The appeal lies in the combination of narrow canyon walls, ancient markings, and local tradition within a compact visit.

How the timing works

The listed duration is 270 minutes, or four and a half hours. The morning departure begins at 9:15 am, with the return journey starting around 12:30 pm and arrival in central Arequipa around 1:30 pm. The detailed stop times and transfers make the tour feel like a tightly planned half-day outing.

The route includes:

• About 25 minutes by van to the viewpoint
• Around 20 minutes at the viewpoint
• About 45 minutes to Añashuayco Quarry
• Roughly 50 minutes at the quarry
• About 30 minutes to Culebrillas
• Around 30 minutes at the canyon, including the short walk
• About 50 minutes back toward Arequipa

The timing is efficient, but it leaves little room for delays. A recent booking reported a 30-minute late start and not enough time to appreciate every stop fully. That is worth keeping in mind. If you have a flight, bus, meal reservation, or another fixed plan, leave extra room after the stated return time.

The afternoon shift at 2:00 pm gives you another option, but the supplied schedule does not specify its exact return time. You should check the current departure details before booking that shift.

Price, entrance fees, and overall value

At $11 per person, this is a low-cost way to reach two attractions outside Arequipa. The price includes tourist transport and a professional guide, which matters because independent transport to both sites could be inconvenient and the quarry’s story is much easier to understand with an explanation.

You must also pay 18 soles in total for entrance fees. That cost is separate, so add it to the advertised price when comparing the tour with other half-day options. Even with that extra amount, the package offers good value if you want a guided outing without committing to a full-day trip.

The value comes from the variety. In a single morning, you get a viewpoint, a working sillar quarry, a large stone carving, a short canyon walk, Wari petroglyphs, and Apachetas. None of these stops is extremely long, but together they create a well-shaped introduction to Arequipa’s volcanic stone and local culture.

The tradeoff is depth. If you want long free time at the quarry or a serious canyon hike, this tour will feel too quick. If you want an affordable orientation outside the city, its short format works well.

Guide language and service considerations

Guides are available in English and Spanish. That makes the tour suitable for visitors who want the history of sillar and the Wari petroglyphs explained rather than simply pointed out.

Language service can occasionally be affected by staff availability. In one case, the English guide was ill, and the tour operated only in Spanish. The company offered the option to reschedule, but the timing did not work for that booking. If clear English commentary is important to you, confirm the language close to departure and keep some flexibility in your plans.

The feedback overall gives the experience a 4.2 rating from 69 reviews, with particularly strong praise for the friendly explanation, the fun quarry activity, the Culebrillas canyon, and the price. One assessment called it an interesting tour, while another found it short and of limited interest. Those different reactions make sense: the outing is best for a compact introduction, not for an intensive archaeological or geological study.

Who should book this outing?

I would recommend it to you if you have only half a day in Arequipa and want to see something beyond the central plaza. It suits people who enjoy local materials, working crafts, short walks, viewpoints, and a little archaeology.

Families and casual sightseers may appreciate the manageable walking time and the chance to try cutting sillar. The route also works for anyone who wants a low-cost introduction before deciding if a longer excursion in the region is worthwhile.

I would be more cautious if you dislike organized schedules or want to linger at each stop. The total price is attractive, but the visit is tightly timed. You should also think twice if a guaranteed English guide is essential and you cannot adjust your plans if staff availability changes.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your Arequipa schedule is still shifting, but they do not remove the need to check the departure language and return timing.

Should you book the Sillar Route and Culebrillas tour?

Book it if you want a budget-friendly half-day outing with real local context. The quarry is the strongest stop, especially because it remains active and includes a chance to see or try the stonemasons’ work. Culebrillas makes the trip more than a simple drive to look at stone, adding a canyon walk, Wari petroglyphs, and Apachetas.

Skip it if you want a long hike, extensive time at each site, or a slow photographic tour. For most people with limited time in Arequipa, though, the combination of low cost, included transport, and varied stops makes this a sensible addition to a city stay.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

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

What time does the morning tour start?

The morning shift begins at 9:15 am. An additional afternoon shift is available at 2:00 pm.

How long does the tour last?

The activity is listed as 270 minutes, or about four and a half hours. The morning schedule returns to central Arequipa at about 1:30 pm.

What languages are available?

The tour offers live guides in English and Spanish.

What is included in the price?

Tourist transport and a professional guide are included.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees are separate and total 18 soles.

Can I cancel 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.