9:00 AM – We begin our journey towards the Sillar Route, which is a tourist route with a lot of history and living culture. We visit quarries and areas where the ashlar originated.
First we will cross a strategic point, with a brief stop at this emblematic place where the volcanoes and the Chilina Valley can be seen. Depending on the season, we can alternative at the beginning with another traditional viewpoint where the volcanoes can be seen.
The next point, now focusing on the Sillar Route, will be the Añashuayco Quarry; which we will arrive in approximately 45 minutes. It is currently in operation, the stonemasons carry out their work very early. There we can see an immense canyon with cliffs (ignimbrite walls) that are several metres high, formed by the extraction for the formation of the ashlars.
At this point we will tell you the history of ashlar, its production and the use that has always been given to it. In this quarry you can see a mega carving of the Church of the Company of Jesus made by the stonemasons themselves. We can also visit one of them so that they can explain to us what their daily work is like and they can make us experiment by cutting one of their stone blocks ourselves.
Next we will move to the Quebrada de Culebrillas, which is 30 minutes away from Añashuayco. Arriving at this point we will take a walk of approximately 20 minutes inside the small canyon that was formed by the passage of water, which has walls of 15 to 20 metres. As we enter it, the walls of the canyon increase in height.
At the end of the walk we can see petroglyphs made by the Wari culture more than a thousand years ago. Before returning to the city we will observe the Apachetas, which are stone formations placed one on top of the other that are a symbol of gratitude towards nature and also an attraction of good luck which cause a mystical sensation.
12:30 PM - We will begin the return journey to the city of Arequipa.
1:30 PM – We will arrive at the centre of Arequipa and we will leave you near the main square.
NOTE: We also have the 2:00 PM shift in the afternoon with the same time parameters.
