Sillar Route Tour: Culebrillas Canyon Trip Review From Arequipa

Thinking of checking out the Sillar Route and Culebrillas Canyon from Arequipa? It’s almost like stepping into a totally different planet, right? This adventure turned out to be way more captivating than I’d imagined, and so I had to put down all my thoughts to help you plan yours.

What is the Sillar Route Anyway?

Okay, so you might be asking, “What’s this Sillar Route all about?” It’s basically this scenic pathway that shows off how sillar stone which is this really pale, volcanic rock that Arequipa’s known for, has been used for generations. The entire city is actually constructed from this stuff, you know, giving it that unique, bright look, very charming, that’s why they call it the “White City.” The Sillar Route isn’t just a pretty drive; it is that, yet, it’s actually an awesome peek into the city’s history and the artistry behind its well known construction.

You will travel through landscapes where you see folks are still cutting sillar the old-fashioned way and in some respects, it feels like going back in time. Witnessing that craft is, in fact, an unforgettable experience and it is interesting, too. Plus, stopping at spots like the Quebrada de Añashuayco quarry really offers you that sense of being a part of the story of Arequipa and it allows one to experience this amazing place.

Culebrillas Canyon: A Narrow Escape

Now, let’s get to the real star: Culebrillas Canyon! After rolling along the Sillar Route, reaching the canyon, just a bit further, it is very much like stepping into this really narrow, twisting maze carved by water and wind. It’s almost as if the earth itself decided to create a funhouse and this part of the tour is where it goes from scenic to truly adventurous, actually. The walls get super close in some areas, and in other respects, you are practically squeezing through and this adventure will not be forgotten soon. You need to hike a short distance down to enter the canyon, which includes some tricky descents, but the scenes that await are seriously worth every bit of effort, you know?

Inside, the light filters in so, very dramatically which plays off the sculpted rock. It’s all very, well, quite majestic. We also spotted ancient petroglyphs etched into the walls – like your own treasure hunt. Our local guide, actually shared awesome stories about the canyon and, in fact, talked about its spiritual importance to past communities that really made the place come alive, alright? Prepare to be walking in ankle-deep water in places, and you should, therefore, bring appropriate footwear. That day, there were parts of the canyon so very cool and dimly lit and really gave this place this sense of secret exploration and that made everything extra special.

What to Expect From The Tour: The Details

You are thinking about signing up for this Sillar Route with the Culebrillas Canyon thing, yet you wanna know what’s on tap? Most tours are actually half-day excursions, which works if you are kind of short on time, right? Expect a pick-up straight from your hotel and in some respects, this simplifies the morning chaos, of course, on any tour, right? That being said, most of the tour companies often bundle together several stops. First, many include a visit to the Añashuayco Quarry, which, you see, gives you a very, well quite impressive look at the extraction of sillar stone. Seeing this handmade craftsmanship that gives Arequipa this bright appearance, and in other respects, is fascinating.

Afterward, most head towards Culebrillas. The hike into the canyon involves, actually, some uneven terrain and, therefore, wear suitable shoes, that’s always good. Inside the canyon you may get a bit wet, so that, too is something to keep in mind when you dress for the day. It will probably be the guides will tell you about the canyon’s rock formations as well as maybe the ancient carvings, and in short, you gain that added dimension. Keep in mind there isn’t really much shade and because of that sunscreen plus a hat are absolute necessities. It’s better to book early on as that really can fill up during peak season and because of that your chance is a little bit greater to score yourself a good spot.

Getting There and Getting Prepared

The tours usually start in Arequipa so, very probably most of you would travel here, just, pretty much, directly. From there, many operators offer that convenient pickup straight from where you’re staying so, too it is very streamlined, alright? If, for instance, you’re trying to go by yourself to the Sillar Route spots or just even straight up to Culebrillas, you should definitely consider getting a reliable car, or, similarly to others, hire a taxi for the entire day. Roads can get a bit rough so, too it’s probably a good idea if you’ve got experience driving on those types of roads.

Regarding the items for your checklist, and basically, that sunscreen is, very, very important. Basically, the sun gets really powerful even if, honestly, it feels cool out, right? You should, similarly to everyone, bring enough water to just be hydrated because, honestly, those canyon hikes do get exhausting. As previously stated, the right footwear just really can’t be skipped, because of that closed-toe shoes or hiking sandals that will be good for walking in shallow water, definitely are your go-to here, of course. So many places there can get sandy or slippery so that too can change things and lastly, basically, just have a camera to capture all those scenes. And oh, very probably take a small backpack for when your hands actually require some extra help.

Photography in Culebrillas Canyon: Tips and Tricks

If you’re aiming to snag awesome photos inside Culebrillas Canyon, remember that, honestly, lighting just really changes, alright? The most dreamy shots, probably, happen when the sunlight comes filtering through those cracks above and in that case, it illuminates all those cool rock textures. Therefore, just go early in the day, because, as I was saying, the lighting is just incredibly magical at that hour, honestly. Don’t very probably just crank your ISO way too high, though, to still capture the details. It’s possible if that setting’s right you could save them forever and for instance, consider utilizing some composition tricks, too.

Positioning a person just right within that frame just to highlight the sheer immensity of that canyon and similarly to most others, experiment. Take that really wide-angle lens just to show the expansiveness, then swap over for tight shots of carvings, alright? If it is possible for you, it will give the image more dimensions and by the way, for taking the pictures inside those very shadowed spots, that mini tripod may do magic because, in that case, this means you’ll get those crystal clear, stabilized images. Post-tour and naturally, just fine tune the shots you took, and that tiny touch, is it?

Is The Sillar Route and Culebrillas Canyon Worth It?

Basically, you should know for a fact the experience is nothing but a check in your itinerary as, actually, this adventure packs a whole load of cultural learning along with nature so, it just can’t hurt! Being there, it feels very otherworldly inside Culebrillas with so very little light peeking inside, but yet it hits those sculpted walls. I suggest you check this out to anyone as what I thought and experienced in Culebrillas Canyon left impressions.

Walking along Sillar Route basically offered what seemed to be more that your eye sees in one day, that’s what you have. A visit here will also provide more background story as most guides tend to drop you one thing or two in Quebrada de Añashuayco quarry. So if there’s chance you want to have great adventures from Arequipa, I say check this. A sillar tour and then visiting Culebrillas Canyon makes what seems to be two birds with one stone experience as nature and knowledge is combined together making the activity worthwhile for every buck.

Key Takeaways:

• The Sillar Route shows the history of the city’s construction.
• Culebrillas Canyon is great for people that look for adventure.
• Photography here would definitely be great.
• Prepare for diverse terrains and conditions
• Get set up for an adventure.

In sum, I want to say that visiting Arequipa and the surroundings such as Quebrada de Añashuayco quarry along Sillar Route ending at Culebrillas Canyon has been one of my favorite travel memories that just happened this year. And it could be yours soon. Just, naturally, be ready to encounter and witness greatness!

#Arequipa #SillarRoute #CulebrillasCanyon #PeruTravel #AdventureTravel