17 October 2025 : Arequipa Ruta Del Sillar

I joined a tour of the Ruta del Sillar - the Sillar Route.

The Añashuayco Quarries are where the sillar stone has been extracted and worked for use in construction in Arequipa. There are wide open spaces where stone has been quarried, and many sculptures made from the stone.

Sculptures and carvings covered many themes.

Some were religious like these ones of the nativity (complete with the traditional elephant!) and the crucifixion.

There are replications of famous sights like this pyramid and the Treasury at Petra.

Also an abundance of animal sculptures.

The Culebrillas Ravine is a natural ravine through unquarried sillar stone.

Carved into the rock in places are petroglyphs - sigils left by the pre-Incan Wari culture.

Exiting the ravine leads to an area with many apachetas - the piles of stone stacked as offerings to Pachamama the earth mother.