Shots from a quick spin through the Ruta del Sillar - Arequipa, Peru [November 2025]

Continuing with my whirlwind 18-hour stopover in Arequipa, we made time to visit the Ruta del Sillar on the way to the airport. I had literally no idea what to expect as I had not looked it up in advance. During my walking tour I learned that many/most of Arequipa's buildings were constructed from sillar, which is volcanic rock - one of Arequipa's plentiful natural resources. And so I assumed there was a quarry somewhere that served as the source of the sillar. The rest of the tour would be a surprise.

Our driver pulled us into what was definitely a quarry.

As you get your bearings you see that there are sculptures pretty much everywhere.

Also a couple of distinct options for refreshments.

I imagine you can find a million pictures online of all the varied pieces that you'll find in the quarry. Quirky. Impressive. Random. A bit of everything on display. And the timing of our visit helped with some dramatic lighting.

Our driver was not a guide per se, but a local who knew enough to lead us around. He steered us to a mini canyon of sorts for the next stretch of our visit.

Took the obligatory shot of the Quebrada de Culebrillas sign, covered in some not-so-impressive apachetas.

Then a couple of Chachani off in the distance.

And I'll close this post with the shot my colleague captured of the brief moment when I considered mounting the horse.

Is it worth visiting? I think each person's mileage may vary. For a quick stop on the way to the airport, sure. But I personally would not have wanted to spend 3-4 hours on a complete tour of the area.