Sillar Route and Culebrillas Petroglyphs
Description
The Route of the Sillar, is an immense quarry of sillar (stone of volcanic origin), that forms spectacular gorges, similar to those of Petra in Jordan, you can also see petroglyphs and appreciate the way of extraction of the stones.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our adventure begins with pickup at your hotel and then transfer to the traditional town of Yanahuara, very notable for its ashlar arches, a white volcanic stone typical of colonial architecture in Arequipa. This viewpoint provides an exceptional view of the city of Arequipa. Likewise, from there we can admire the three most famous snow-capped mountains in the region: Chachani, Pichu Picchu and Misti.
Near the city of Arequipa is one of the most impressive natural landscapes you can imagine. It is a treasure for the Arequipeño people from where the iconic sillar (the white volcanic stone used in the colonial constructions of Arequipa) is extracted. The builders explain their work techniques and the uses of volcanic stone in the same place.
After a guided tour of the quarry area and observing the artisanal work of this stone, we will continue our visit to the serpentine ravine of Culebrillas, located 15 minutes from the Añashuayco quarry, we will begin our walk of about 20 minutes, Culebrillas It is an impressive area that stands out for its curvilinear formations full of charm and magic (the walk is a bit bumpy) we will observe some petroglyphs impregnated on the walls of the ravine. We will climb a slope for about 5 minutes. At the end we will observe the Apachetas, stone mounds that represent a mystical tradition for the local residents. We will embark on mobility, the return takes approximately 40 minutes to reach the city center.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The pick-up is only in the Historic Center, if your accommodation is far away the meeting point will be at the door of the cathedral in the Plaza de Armas of Arequipa.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- It is not recommended for older adults (in the Culebrillas canyon there is a hike and it is a bit rugged)
- One day before, our staff will provide you with recommendations.
- Not recommended for travelers with dust allergy.
Reviews(105)
These sites are simply not that exciting. The petroglyphs are very tricky to see and not too impressive (there are a ton of mosquitos on the way). The quarry was interesting but felt like a tourist trap. It was a very long time in the car, longer than all of the sites combined.
Nice experience. I think the coolest part was getting to see the workers working on new sculpture if you get lucky to see them. Well organize and better in afternoon since it’s not as hot.
Fantastic tour ! Bit dissapointed with 35 minute wait for pick up! Guide was very good. Only thing I would recommend is slightly longer times at the quarry as it seemed a bit rushed
Thank you very much for your kind review and for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that our guide made a positive impression. We sincerely apologize for the longer wait during the pickup. As we collect several passengers from different hotels within Arequipa's city center before starting the tour, slight delays can sometimes occur. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding. Thank you as well for your suggestion regarding the time spent at the quarry. We value your feedback and will take it into consideration as we continuously look for ways to improve our tours while maintaining the overall schedule. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on another adventure in Peru!
It is very dusty and does not include much information about the mining process of the sillar itself, instead focusing on statuary made from sillar. The most fun part of the trip was the hike through Culebrillas Canyon (a very narrow ravine with steep walls). It was like an obstacle course.
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the hike through Culebrillas Canyon, it is indeed one of the most unique and adventurous parts of the Sillar Route. Regarding the dust, you are absolutely right. Sillar is a natural volcanic stone, and because the quarry is an active extraction site, some dust is naturally present during the visit. This is part of the authentic experience of seeing how this iconic material is worked. We will share your feedback with our team to ensure these explanations are even clearer and more comprehensive for future visitors. Thank you once again for your valuable comments. We truly appreciate your feedback, as it helps us continue improving the experience we provide.
Magali was our guide. She did a great job. Be prepared to walk. Could have used more time at the statues/quarry to see all of it. Some of the walk is uphill. Wear closed toe hiking boots or good athletic shoes. Went in June at 9 am slot and it was hot. Sun screen recommended. Mosquitoes at cabrillas are real!! Van ride was good. Definitely a great short day trip!
Thank you so much for your kind review and, most importantly, for choosing and trusting us for your visit to Arequipa. We're delighted to know you had an enjoyable experience and that Magali's guidance made your tour even more special. We also truly appreciate you sharing your recommendations they will certainly be helpful for future travelers. It was a pleasure being part of your journey, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience in Peru. Safe travels!
Very well run tour. The minibus picked us up at around 6 places in the historic district. It was a bit slow because of traffic. First stop at the look-out point. Then the sillar quarry. Lastly the canyon which was the best of the three. As we are seniors and about double the age of the others, the guide and some of the other travelers had to give a steadying hand through the canyon and up the hill at the end, but it was all good. The petroglyphs were a little lackluster. Altogether a good tour, but not a must-do. The guide worked hard to give us all the information in English and Spanish.
Thank you very much for your kind review and for trusting us with your experience in Arequipa. We are delighted to know you enjoyed the tour and that our guide's bilingual explanations and the support provided throughout the journey made your experience more comfortable. We truly appreciate your feedback, as it helps us continue improving. We wish you safe travels and hope to welcome you again on another adventure in Peru!
Unique experience to visit the sillar quarry
Quiet and very nice walk, with beautiful landscapes on the way, which allow you to see the volcanoes. In Culebrillas guides are very careful and informative. On the Sillar route, there is a brief explanation and each visitor travels the site on account. Both tours are quite worth it and give a great experience, with very nice photos.
Muito obrigado por compartilhar sua experiência conosco! Ficamos muito felizes em saber que você apreciou as belas paisagens ao longo do percurso e a vista dos vulcões. Também nos alegra saber que nossa equipe em Culebrillas foi atenciosa e forneceu informações que enriqueceram sua visita. Team Puriy. Agradecemos por destacar a experiência na Rota do Sillar e por recomendar ambos os passeios. Esperamos ter a oportunidade de recebê-lo novamente em Arequipa para viver novas experiências inesquecíveis.
Great tour to see the highlights without taking up an entire day. Easy communication and coordination. We loved it. Tour guide was knowledgeable and had one of the most accurate english/spanish translations I’ve heard.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that it allowed you to experience the highlights of Arequipa in a comfortable timeframe. We truly appreciate your kind words about our communication, coordination, and especially our tour guide's knowledge and translation skills. Your feedback means a lot to our team and motivates us to continue providing memorable experiences. We hope to welcome you again on your next visit to Peru.
Delivers great information about the city and its sights. While the tour is held, many historical-cultural data are provided and there are moments for beautiful photographic recordings.
Muito obrigada pelo seu comentário! 😊 Ficamos felizes em saber que você apreciou as informações compartilhadas sobre a cidade e seus pontos turísticos. Nosso objetivo é proporcionar uma experiência enriquecedora, combinando história, cultura e momentos especiais para registrar belas lembranças durante o tour. Será um prazer recebêlo novamente em uma próxima experiência!
