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Sillar Route and Culebrillas Petroglyphs: Explore Volcanic Stone Quarries and Ancient Artworks
4.5
90 Ratings
Arequipa
The Sillar Route encompasses a vast expanse of sillar, a type of volcanic stone, which carves out magnificent ravines akin to those found in Petra, Jordan. It’s a place where one can witness petroglyphs and understand the method used for quarrying the rocks.
The Sillar Route encompasses a vast expanse of sillar, a type of volcanic stone, which carves out magnificent ravines akin to those found in Petra, Jordan. It’s a place where one can witness petroglyphs and understand the method used for quarrying the rocks.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Yanahuara - The journey begins with a hotel pickup, followed by a transfer to the charming town of Yanahuara, renowned for its ashlar arches made from a distinctive white volcanic stone typical of Arequipa’s colonial architecture. This viewpoint offers a stunning panorama of Arequipa city. Additionally, it provides a view of the region’s three…
- Yanahuara - The journey begins with a hotel pickup, followed by a transfer to the charming town of Yanahuara, renowned for its ashlar arches made from a distinctive white volcanic stone typical of Arequipa’s colonial architecture. This viewpoint offers a stunning panorama of Arequipa city. Additionally, it provides a view of the region’s three most famous snow-capped peaks: Chachani, Pichu Picchu, and Misti.
- Canteras de Sillar - Located near Arequipa, this site boasts one of the most breathtaking natural landscapes imaginable. It is a cherished resource for the Arequipeño people, where the iconic sillar (the white volcanic stone used in Arequipa’s colonial buildings) is sourced. Builders demonstrate their techniques and the applications of volcanic stone on-site.
- Quebrada de Culebrillas - Following a guided tour of the quarry and witnessing the artisanal stonework, the visit continues to the serpentine ravine of Culebrillas, situated 15 minutes from the Añashuayco quarry. A 20-minute walk begins here, showcasing Culebrillas’ impressive curvilinear formations, rich with charm and magic (the path is slightly uneven). Visitors can observe petroglyphs etched into the ravine walls. A brief 5-minute climb leads to the Apachetas, stone mounds symbolizing a mystical tradition for local inhabitants.
The return journey by vehicle takes approximately 40 minutes to reach the city center.
What's Included
- Group tour
- Certified guide
- Admission to Culebrillas (S/5.00)
- Entrance to Añashuayco (S/5.00)
- Group tour
- Certified guide
- Admission to Culebrillas (S/5.00)
- Entrance to Añashuayco (S/5.00)
What's Not Included
- Extra expenses.
- Extra expenses.
Additional Information
- 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.
- 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.
Location
Yanahuara
Suburb of Arequipa ,
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.5
(90 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Mikemh1842xq
Mar 15, 2026
Tour guide Mike made the tour great! - Really great tour guide named Mike. He was awesome! Explained everything very well in English and Spanish. Absolutely worth the experience for the price! None of the pushy locals either. Lastly, our driver was super good, weaving in and out of traffic to get back faster than what google maps was showing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Edith_p
Jan 29, 2026
Excellent excursion - We liked it very much , we had to notify a change of location of peek at the last minute and everything was well managed. Beautiful places with beautiful sculptures. What also to say about the truck....impressive! Thank you for this unforgettable visit!
Review provided by Viator
Terriw548
Jan 9, 2026
Intriguing history & geography. Pick up from hotel made this tour easy to access. The guide spoke both Spanish & English - History & geography was very intriguing. Pickup from hotel made accessing this tour more positive. We did have a family that did not pay and we had to wait a gas station for 30 minutes on the way back to Arequipa’s historical center. In the end-we all chipped in the 10 sol so we could continue to our drop-off point. đŸ˜”. However, the guide was amazing and very informative and kept us moving along.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Armando_l
Jan 1, 2026
Great half day trip - Very good quick half a day trip to explore outside the city, great AC van and tour guide, recommended this
Review provided by Viator
Q3654wwrebeccag
Nov 26, 2025
Great trip - The trip was fun and worth doing. Just be prepared for the bumpy road and poor air quality from the dust. The hike may not be suitable for seniors.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amanda_m
Oct 14, 2025
Overall a worthwhile... - Overall a worthwhile tour. The guide Mike was very informative and kind. He spoke English and Spanish very well. The bus was comfortable and it was an interesting place to visit.
Review provided by Viator
Lee_o
Oct 13, 2025
Excellent value for money - This tour is a great way to see the Sillar route, and was the best value tour we did all trip. Communication was great beforehand, the driver was very conscientious the whole time (seatbelts and breakglass hammers on the minibus too), our guide Tony was entertaining and knowledgeable and the tour flowed really well. A couple of things to note, we took facemasks because of the dust and were very glad we did as other people were choking a bit, and the Sillar route itself is moderately challenging, especially for older people.
Review provided by Viator
Claude_p
Jan 24, 2026
Interesting but not exceptionnal. - Interesting but not exceptionnal. You will walk through a canyon carved by an ancient river. Although the guide recommended mosquito repellent, there were none during my visit.
You will need a lot of imagination to make out the various animals in the petroplyphs.
Review provided by Viator
Susan_h
Nov 28, 2025
Good Tour - Interesting to see the quarry that built the city and the canyon. A pity we could not get into the church
Review provided by Viator
Robertba2016ne
Jan 5, 2026
Sillar place was excellent but I could be better - We had a nice group trip with Selena (tourist guide) who speaks English very well and we understood everything about the history of Arequipa.
Yanahuara and Sillar were very interesting and we really enjoyed it. We took a lot of photos and videos. But the next place Culebrillas was not good. Lots of bugs, accidents during the walk.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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