Arequipa: Sillar Quarries & Yura Thermal Baths Private Tour

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Free cancellation

1/5

Duration6h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN · ES

Mobile ticketAccepted

Where Arequipa's White Stone Comes From—and Where You Soak After

You visit working sillar quarries in the Añashuayco gorge northwest of Arequipa, learn how the city's white stone was extracted, then soak in Yura's thermal baths downstream. Private transport for up to six people and a bilingual guide are included; you'll need to book five days in advance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sillar Route and Yura Thermal Baths

Hotel pick up between 8:30 and 8:50 a.m.
Visit sillar quarries in Añashuayco gorge
Explore districts of Yura, Cerro Colorado, Uchumayo
Enjoy Yura thermal baths

The Experience

There's something magnetic about standing inside a working quarry, watching how a whole city gets built from the ground beneath it. The sillar route takes you northwest from Arequipa into the Añashuayco gorge—a 18-kilometer stretch carved into the slopes of Chachani Volcano where local workers still extract the pale volcanic stone that built the city's colonial churches and mansions. Your guide meets you with private transport for up to six people, and the route moves at your pace, not a schedule. You stop where the quarries open up, where you can see the stone layers and understand why this particular rock became Arequipa's signature material.

After the quarries, the day shifts. Yura thermal baths sit downstream in the same gorge, fed by hot springs that flow from the volcanic slopes. The water is warm enough to soak in, and the setting is quiet—not a resort, just the baths themselves and the canyon walls. It's the kind of stop that makes sense after spending hours in the open air, and it's included in the tour rather than tacked on as an extra. The guide speaks English and Spanish, so the history of the stone, the geology, the way the quarries shaped Arequipa's architecture—all of it lands clearly.

Book at least five days ahead; the operator asks for advance notice to confirm availability. Transport is private, which means no waiting for other groups and no fixed departure time—you arrange pickup from your hotel. The route works for families with small children (strollers are fine) and for most fitness levels, though it's not suitable if you have spinal issues or significant cardiovascular concerns.

What’s included

Your tour includes private transport for up to 6 people, a guide who speaks English and Spanish, and access to the sillar quarries in the Añashuayco gorge and the Yura thermal baths. Hotel pickup is arranged when you book.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by A Y C ADVENTURE

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to understand how Arequipa was built and prefer moving at your own pace without joining a group—the private transport and bilingual guide let you linger at the quarries and thermal baths without watching the clock.