From Arequipa: Sillar Route Hike – Arequipa Region, Peru

EXPERIENCE

9:15 – We begin our journey towards the Sillar Route, which is a tourist route with a lot of history and living culture. We visit quarries and areas where sillar was originated.

First we will cross a strategic point, with a brief stop at this emblematic place from where you can see the volcanoes and the Chilina Valley. Depending on the time of year, we can alternate at the beginning with another traditional viewpoint from where you can see the volcanoes.

The next point, now focusing on the Sillar Route, will be the Añashuayco Quarry; which we will reach in approximately 45 minutes. It is currently in operation, the quarrymen do their work very early. There we will be able to see an immense canyon with cliffs (ignimbrite walls) several meters high, formed by the extraction for the formation of sillar.

At this point we will tell you the history of sillar, its production and the use that has always been given to it. In this quarry you can see a mega carving of the Church of the Society of Jesus made by the stonemasons themselves. We can also visit one of them so that he can explain to us what his daily work is like and let us experience cutting one of his stone blocks ourselves.

Next we will move to the Quebrada de Culebrillas, which is 30 minutes from Añashuayco. Upon reaching this point we will take a walk of approximately 20 minutes inside the small canyon that was formed by the passage of water, which has walls of 15 to 20 meters. As we go deeper into it, the walls of the canyon increase in height.

At the end of the walk we will be able to see petroglyphs made by the Wari culture more than a thousand years ago. Before returning to the city we will observe the Apachetas, which are stone formations placed one on top of the other that are a symbol of gratitude towards nature and also an attraction of good luck that provoke a mystical sensation.

12:30 PM – We will begin the return trip to the city of Arequipa.
13:30 – We will arrive in the center of Arequipa and drop you off near the main square.

HIGHLIGHTS

Sillar Route in Arequipa
Mega carving in the Quarries of Añashuayco
Culebrillas Canyon

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