Sillar Quarries – The Origin of the White City

8:30 am – Pick up at your hotel

Our private tour and specialized guide will pick you up at your hotel. During the initial journey, you’ll receive an introduction to the importance of sillar in the history and culture of Arequipa, preparing you for the unique experience that awaits you.

9:00 am – Añashuayco Quarry: Where the White Stone is Born

We arrive at the most important active quarry in Arequipa, where ashlar has been extracted for over four centuries. Here you will experience an unforgettable experience:

Live Demonstration: Watch master stonemasons work stone with traditional tools (chisels, mallets, and crowbars)

• Complete process: Learn how ashlar blocks are extracted from volcanic walls
• Artisan Workshop: Watch rough blocks transformed into fine architectural pieces
• Cultural interaction: Talk directly to the stonemasons and their families, who keep this ancient tradition alive.
• Living history: Discover how these same quarries supplied the construction of the Monastery of Santa Catalina, the Cathedral and hundreds of colonial mansions.

10:30 am – Culebrillas Quarry: Mysteries and Petroglyphs

We enter an impressive natural canyon formed by millions of years of erosion, where the ashlar walls hold ancient secrets:

• Ancient Petroglyphs: See rock carvings dating back over 1,000 years, created by ancient pre-Incan civilizations
• Natural formations: Marvel at the geological sculptures that nature has carved into the ashlar walls
• Historical interpretation: Your guide will explain the meaning of the engraved symbols and their cultural significance.
• Unique Photography: Capture extraordinary images of this natural labyrinth where history and geology merge

11:30 am – Meeting with the Artisan Community

The time has come to connect with the living soul of this tradition:

• Craft workshops: Visit small workshops where sculptures, ornaments and decorative pieces are created from ashlar.
• Hands-on Demonstrations: Try carving your own piece under the supervision of a master craftsman
• Local Shopping: Buy authentic sillar crafts directly from their creators
• Cultural exchange: Share moments with the stonemasons’ families, learning about their lives and traditions.
• Local tasting: Try typical local products (subject to availability)

12:30 pm – Return to Arequipa

We return to the city with a new perspective on Arequipa. Along the way, you’ll reflect on how every white wall you see in the city originates from these ancient quarries.

An Experience that Connects the Past with the Present

This tour isn’t just a visit to a quarry; it’s a journey to the very heart of Arequipa’s identity. At the end, every time you see the city’s white walls, you’ll remember the expert hands that carved each stone and the stories these ancient walls hold.