Arequipa Sillar Route Tour: Yanahuara and Culebrillas Canyon

The Arequipa Sillar Route tour explains why the city is called the White City, and it does so with stone in your hands. The meeting point is in Arequipa, where the guide greets the group and the day begins at the Yanahuara viewpoint. From the viewpoint you look at the countryside and the Misti volcano, wander through the colonial square and taste queso helado, the local frozen dessert.

Next comes the Añashuayco quarry, the source of sillar, the white volcanic stone behind the city's nickname. There the stonemasons have sculpted a giant replica of the Compañía de Jesús church front. You can talk to the workers, hear about their techniques and try carving a piece of stone yourself.

• Yanahuara viewpoint, for Misti and the colonial square
• Añashuayco quarry, on the Ruta del Sillar
• Culebrillas Canyon, for a hike of about 20 minutes

The last stop is the short hike through Culebrillas Canyon, whose walls rise as you go deeper. Along the way you see petroglyphs and apachetas, the stacked stones that stand for gratitude to nature. The group then drives back and the tour ends near the Plaza de Armas in the city centre. A bilingual guide, assistance during the tour and round-trip transport are included. Entry tickets to the quarry and the canyon are paid in cash on the day. It is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.