A shared building material offers a special perspective on Arequipa: in the historic center, volcanic Sillar is the building material, while the Sillar blocks of Toro Muerto bear petroglyphs. This means you can encounter two distinct forms of expression in the region—urban history built in stone and symbols carved into it.

Sillar in Urban Construction and Petroglyphs

The historic center of Arequipa is built from volcanic Sillar stone. The UNESCO World Heritage site comprises 49 original blocks of the Spanish city plan, as well as 24 blocks dating from the colonial period and the 19th century. The historic center also includes 273 mansions recognized as monuments and 433 buildings of heritage interest, most of them built from Sillar. The inventory figures may be revised by the heritage authority. The Monasterio de Santa Catalina offers a different architectural perspective: this religious citadel brings together styles from the 16th to the 19th century. The urban fabric and a single religious complex thus represent different scales of architectural history.

At the Toro Muerto archaeological complex, the focus is on the markings in the stone. It is located in the Uraca District, 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. On January 29, 2002, Peru’s Instituto Nacional de Cultura declared Toro Muerto Cultural Heritage of the Nation through Resolución Directoral Nacional No. 2037/INC.

Sillar is also central to the Canteras de Añashuayco, this time as a material and a craft. In areas used for tourism, visitors can see carvings in the rock face and Sillar and observe the extraction and working of the stone. The craft of Sillar cutting is passed down from generation to generation. As local arrangements may change, check current visiting options before your visit.

Highlands, Routes and Natural Areas

The Reserva Nacional de Salinas y Aguada Blanca encompasses flat 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 circular route featuring its main attractions. Activities there include mountaineering on the volcanoes, cycling and hiking; trout fishing is permitted during the authorized season.

Another way to get to know the landscape is to visit five shearing sites known as ecotourism chacus. Local and international tourists can take part in the entire shearing process. Exact dates and arrangements may change; check them before making plans. This lets you distinguish hiking, cycling or mountaineering from participating in a traditional shearing, while keeping the conditions for each activity in mind.

In the Colca Valley in the Province of Caylloma, elevations range from 1,800 to 3,660 meters above sea level. One section of the Colca route runs through Arequipa, Chivay, Achoma, Maca, Cabanaconde and Tapay. The Valle de los Volcanes also features a distinctive geological formation: it comprises 23 particularly representative volcanic cones and areas covered by solidified lava. These elevations and landforms offer different points of reference when comparing the region’s nature experiences.

The Santuario Nacional Lagunas de Mejía brings together the Mejía, Iberia and Boquerón lagoons, several viewpoints, a beach area and the mouth of the Tambo River. Depending on your planned activity, you can visit the protected area independently or with an authorized tour operator. Choose how to visit based on what you would like to do there.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Yanque, Chala, Cabanaconde, Chivay, Arequipa, Mollendo, Coporaque, Cotahuasi, Paucarpata, Pinchollo, Yura District, Cerro Colorado District, Camana, Yanahuara District.

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