Arequipa is known as the “White City” due to sillar, the white volcanic rock that’s used in a lot of Arequipa’s architecture. While you can just enjoy seeing sillar-made buildings by walking throughout Arequipa’s historic center, you can learn more about sillar by taking a half-day tour of Ruta del Sillar.
The Sillar Route or Ruta del Sillar is a route that takes you through the sillar quarries outside of Arequipa’s city center. Half-day tours include a stop at one of the quarries, the small canyon of Quebrada de Culebrillas, and Yanahuara scenic overlook.
For the price that I paid for the tour, I thought that the Sillar Route was a nice, easy, and informative half-day activity. While it is a popular tourist attraction in Arequipa, I don’t think it’s the best. To help you decide whether to take the Ruta del Sillar tour, here’s what you can expect on the tour and what I did and didn’t enjoy.
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Overview
- What I paid: $18 USD
- How to book: Viator or Tripadvisor
- Rating: ⛏⛏⛏ 3 out of 5 pickaxes
Quick stop at Yanahuara scenic overlook
When I booked my Ruta del Sillar tour, I didn’t know that we’d make a stop at the Yanahuara scenic overlook (Mirador de Yanahuara). I had already visited the viewpoint on a walking tour so this was repetitive for me, and it seemed to be the case for some other people in the tour group.
Considering the Yanahuara scenic overlook is a little bit of walk outside of Arequipa’s historic center, it makes sense why the tour takes you there. If you take the Ruta del Sillar tour toward the beginning of your time in Arequipa, this stop is perfect. But if you’ve already been in Arequipa for a while before going on this tour, this stop feels like a waste.
Photos and free time at the sillar quarry
The sillar quarry is touristy, but it’s a fun place to walk around and take photos. After our tour guide gave us some background on how sillar is mined, we were then set loose to wander around.
The quarry is filled with statues and scenes carved out of sillar. There are some roped off areas where you have to pay an additional fee in order to see and take photos with the sillar sculptures in the area. Since there’s nothing blocking your view, you can skip paying the fee and see most of it from outside the area. It’s only worth it if you want to take photos with the sculptures.
Most people stick to the front part of the quarry and don’t walk all the way to the back where there are more sculptures. As a result, the area in the back is quiet and you won’t have to wait your turn to take photos. I highly recommend taking the time to walk the entire quarry, instead of sticking to the main area where most of the sculptures are.
Since the quarry is completely exposed with no overhangs or shady places, it can get very hot. Make sure to wear sunscreen, and I recommend bringing sunglasses and a hat. There are also vendors in the quarry that sell cold drinks, snacks, queso helado, and souvenirs.
Overall, I was impressed at the sillar sculptures and enjoyed the free time that we had to walk around and explore.
Petroglyphs at Quebrada de Culebrillas
After the sillar quarry, we took a short drive to Quebrada de Culebrillas, a small canyon or ravine that once had water running through it. Quebrada de Culebrillas has also become an archaeological site due to its petroglyphs, which depict a variety of animals. The petroglyphs aren’t immediately obvious, so tour guides use a laser pointer to point them out.
In order to reach the petroglyphs, you’ll walk from one end of the canyon to the other. The walk is easy, with a couple of large steps and rocks that you’ll need to climb over. This is why it’s best to wear sneakers for the tour.
The canyon is also a beautiful spot for photos. Many people stop along the walk to take photos, which can be annoying if you aren’t doing so too. Be patient and pass when you can while being respectful of others. If you do want get photos of yourself in the canyon, it’s best to enter the canyon ahead of everyone else in your tour group or go last.
Excellent English and Spanish explanations
Although my tour group was primarily made of Spanish speakers, there were two other English speakers aside from myself. Our tour guide provided Spanish explanations first before switching to English. If you’re trying to improve your Spanish, this is a great opportunity to see how much Spanish you understand.
When I was researching Ruta del Sillar tours, some reviews expressed that tour guides would gloss over the English translations. I’m glad that wasn’t the case with my tour. It felt like our tour guide provided direct translations of what she said in Spanish. When Spanish-speaking people asked a question, I appreciated that the tour guide repeated what was asked and her answer in English.
A touristy activity that’s heavy on photo ops
I don’t regret doing the Ruta del Sillar tour, but it isn’t an activity that’s a must-do when in Arequipa. That’s why I rate this tour 3 out of 5.
While it was interesting to learn about sillar, the quarry was touristy and Quebrada de Culebrillas was busy with other tour groups. It seemed that all tour groups visit these sites at the same time, so there’s really no way to enjoy them without other people around unless you hire your own driver.
My other critique of the tour is that every stop feels like a big photo op. This is perfect if you’re someone who enjoys taking photos. But if you don’t particularly care about getting photos, you might find the tour to be lacking.
If you’ve already done all the other major activities in and around Arequipa and have more time to fill though, then this tour is a nice, easy way to spend half a day.
Book your Ruta del Sillar tour
I booked my Ruta del Sillar tour on Viator here. You can also book this tour on Tripadvisor. There are a lot of companies that offer the Ruta del Sillar tour, but I chose to book this particular one because it was the highest rated.
One advantage of booking online is that the admission fees for the sillar quarry and Quebrada de Culebrillas are included in what you pay online. This means you won’t need to carry enough cash on the day of the tour to cover your admission fees. If you think you may want to buy any souvenirs, drinks, or snacks at the sites though, you should still bring cash.
FAQs
What is Ruta del Sillar?
Ruta del Sillar is the route that runs through the sillar quarries outside of Arequipa’s city center. A popular half-day tour from Arequipa takes you along this route and allows you to visit a quarry.
Is the Sillar Route worth it?
The Sillar Route is only worth it if you have already seen and done the highlights of Arequipa, such as visiting the historic center, Santa Catalina Monastery, and Colca Canyon, and have extra time. I found those activities to be more interesting and worth the price compared to the Ruta del Sillar tour.
More resources for traveling Peru
- How Many Days in Arequipa: All the Info You Need to Decide
- Colca Canyon 2-Day Trek: Tour Review & Recap
- Is Colca Canyon Worth It? Pros and Cons to Help You Decide
- 19 Best Restaurants in Arequipa: Where to Eat and Drink
- How Many Days to Spend in Cusco
