Arequipa: Sillar, Petroglyphs and Landscapes

The Department of Arequipa in Peru can be explored through very different themes: the historic center built from volcanic Sillar, archaeological remains, and landscapes with their own distinctive opportunities for visits and activities. When planning your trip, it is worth deciding which highlights matter most before looking for a hotel.

Sillar and architecture in the historic center

The historic center of Arequipa is built from volcanic Sillar stone. The UNESCO World Heritage site includes 49 original city blocks from the Spanish city plan, as well as 24 blocks dating from the colonial period and the 19th century. These figures illustrate the different building phases within the protected ensemble. The Monasterio de Santa Catalina also tells a long architectural story: this religious citadel brings together styles from the 16th through the 19th century.

The architectural heritage also includes 273 mansions recognized as monuments and 433 buildings of heritage interest, most of them built from Sillar. These inventory figures may be revised by the responsible heritage authority. Both the material and the different types of buildings are therefore defining features of the historic center.

Petroglyphs and Sillar craftsmanship

The Canteras de Añashuayco offer a different perspective on Sillar. In areas open to tourism, visitors can see carvings on rock faces and in Sillar, and follow the process of extracting and working the stone. The craft of Sillar stonecutters is passed down from generation to generation. This connects a visit to the quarries with an ongoing craft tradition.

Archaeological finds are the focus at Toro Muerto. The complex is located in the district of Uraca in the province of Castilla, in a desert zone on the right-hand side of the Majes Valley. The Sillar blocks bear zoomorphic, anthropomorphic and geometric petroglyphs. Toro Muerto was declared part of the nation’s cultural heritage by Peru’s Instituto Nacional de Cultura through National Directorate Resolution No. 2037/INC, dated January 29, 2002. Those interested in the region will find a different way to engage with its history here than in the architecture of the center: the focus is on images carved into stone and an archaeological complex.

Highland landscapes and activities

The Reserva Nacional de Salinas y Aguada Blanca includes shallow salt lagoons, Puna grassland, and rocky areas with low shrubs. Its elevation ranges from 3,500 to 6,075 meters. A network of trails provides access to large parts of the protected area and to a circuit covering its main attractions. Mountaineering on the volcanoes, cycling and hiking are possible; trout fishing is permitted during the authorized season.

Taking part in shearing events is another possible experience: the Reserva has five shearing sites known as ecotourism chakus, where local and international tourists can take part in the entire shearing process. The chaku tradition adds a direct insight into a working process to the landscape and activity themes. If you plan to take part, check the dates and arrangements in advance, as both may vary.

Lagoons and other landscapes

The Santuario Nacional Lagunas de Mejía includes the Mejía, Iberia and Boquerón lagoons, several viewpoints, a beach area and the mouth of the Tambo River. Depending on the activity planned, visitors can explore the protected area independently or with an authorized tour operator. When planning, consider not only its natural features but also the most suitable way to visit.

The Colca Valley and the Valle de los Volcanes offer further landscape highlights. The Colca Valley lies in the province of Caylloma and ranges from 1,800 to 3,660 meters above sea level. One section of the Colca route passes, in this order, through Arequipa, Chivay, Achoma, Maca, Cabanaconde and Tapay. Check road conditions and schedules before traveling. The Valle de los Volcanes includes 23 particularly representative volcanic cones and areas covered by solidified lava.

Weighing travel priorities when looking for a hotel

The places described represent different interests: architecture and a religious citadel, petroglyphs and stoneworking, or activities in protected areas and landscapes. The elevation figures, visiting options and seasonal restriction on trout fishing help you assess the trip’s activities more precisely, without treating the different destinations as a single excursion.

Discover more destinations:

Pinchollo, Cerro Colorado District, Paucarpata, Yura District, Yanque, Chala, Cabanaconde, Chivay, Arequipa, Mollendo, Coporaque, Camana, Yanahuara District, Cotahuasi

For the broader travel overview: Peru.