Affectionately deemed “the white city” for its distinctive volcanic stones, Arequipa’s old town is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and it has everything to do with the fossilized gas, or sillar, mined within the local quarries of the Chachani Volcano. However, the Añashuayco quarry has a unique charm as artists have discovered these lightweight stones also happen to make the perfect material for carving sculptures.
Thirty-five minutes outside Arequipa, visitors can visit the Añashuayco quarry to admire the enormous 98-foot cliffs and extensive sculpture collection. One of the most picturesque sculptures inside the quarry is a Peruvian homage to Petra. There are also lions, horses, frogs, and an entire nativity scene waiting to be posed next to and photographed.
Lucky visitors might even glimpse master stonemasons chipping away at their next masterpiece with a hammer and chisel.
Know Before You Go
While it is possible to reach by public transportation, booking a tour online or from a travel agency in Arequipa is easier. Most tours follow “the route of sillar,” stopping to view the Misti and Chachani volcanos responsible for this enigmatic stone.
The quarry is usually open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. but offers extra hours starting at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday.
