8:45 AM to 9:15 AM – During this time, we will pick up guests from hotels located in city centre Arequipa.

9:15 AM – We will begin our journey on the Ruta del Sillar (Ashlar Route), a sightseeing tour rich in history and living culture, during which we will visit quarries and areas where ashlar originated. Our first stop will be the Añashuayco Quarry, which we will reach in approximately 45 minutes. The quarry is currently in operation, and the stonecutters begin their work very early in the morning. At the site, we will be able to see a vast canyon with cliffs (ignimbrite walls) that are several metres high, formed by the quarrying process used to produce the ashlar. At this stop, we will tell you about the history of ashlar, how it is made, and how it has been used throughout the ages. At this quarry, you will be able to see a large-scale carving of the Compañía de Jesús Church, created by the quarry workers themselves. We will also have the opportunity to visit some of the quarrymen, who will explain their daily work to us and let us experience cutting one of their stone blocks for ourselves.

Next, we will travel to the Quebrada de Culebrillas, which is 30 minutes away from Añashuayco. Once we reach this location, we will take a hike of approximately 20 minutes through the small canyon formed by the flow of water, which has walls ranging from 15 to 20 metres (50 to 65 feet) in height; as we go deeper into the canyon, the walls become progressively taller. At the end of the hike, we will be able to see petroglyphs created by the Wari Culture more than a thousand years ago. Before returning to the city, we will observe the Apachetas, which are stone formations stacked on top of one another that symbolise gratitude to nature and also attract good luck, creating a mystical atmosphere.