Half day
A visit to the Añashuayco sillar quarries and a walk through the Culebrillas Ravine
Pickup and departure: at 8:50 a.m. we'll pick you up at your hotel in the historic center. We'll head to the north of the city, to the Cerro Colorado district, where the sillar quarries are. On the way, your Flamenco Travel guide will tell you how this white volcanic stone became the building material for the mansions, churches and monuments that give Arequipa its name, the "White City."
Añashuayco quarry: we'll arrive at the Añashuayco quarry, which is still in use. There we'll walk past huge hand-cut cliff faces and see sculptures, coats of arms and figures carved straight into the sillar. You'll learn how the stonecutters quarry and shape the blocks using traditional techniques handed down through generations. Live demonstrations depend on the stonecutters being available.
Culebrillas Ravine: then we'll get back in the vehicle and drive to the Culebrillas Ravine, a small natural canyon with pink walls carved by erosion. We'll take a walk of about 20 minutes through it, among rock formations and petroglyphs etched into the walls. It's a great spot for photos.
Return to Arequipa: after the walk, we'll head back to the city. The tour ends in Arequipa around 12:50 p.m.
