Ashlar Route

Highlights:

• Visit the Añashuayco and Quebrada de Culebrillas quarries to see where Arequipa’s iconic white ashlar stone is mined.
• Learn about the traditional techniques and tools used to extract and carve volcanic stone.
• Watch skilled quarry artisans at work, preserving a craft central to the city’s history and identity.

Discover the origins of Arequipa’s distinctive beauty on a half-day visit to the ashlar quarries that gave rise to the city’s nickname, “The White City.” Mined from the volcanic landscapes north of Arequipa, this bright white stone has shaped the city’s elegant architecture for centuries.

Travel to the quarries of Añashuayco and Quebrada de Culebrillas, where the raw material is still extracted using time-honoured techniques. Learn about the ancient tools and methods used to cut and carve the volcanic ashlar, and watch skilled quarry artisans at work, preserving a craft that remains central to Arequipa’s identity and history.

Please note: this tour is subject to a minimum of 4 passengers to operate. Rates are available on request for fewer than 4 passengers.

What's included

• Return transfers
• Entrance fee