Sillustani, Puno Region, Peru

5Rowan H 5:00 PM Jan 21, 2016

Recommend doing this as part of a tour
I visited Sillustani with my partner in November 2015 as part of a organized tour with Kollasuyo tours for 30S. GETTING THERE The Sillustani funeral towers are located 40km from Puno, a 45 minute drive each direction. You can visit it independently by going to the little collectivo-terminal on Avenida La Torre and getting on a bus to Julica. Ask to be let off on the highway where the road splits to Sillustani - this should cost 3.50S per person. Once you reach the highway there are a few taxi's/collectivos waiting there which can take you the rest of the way for 3.50 S each. This connection seemed a bit tedious and not much cheaper than a tour (14S vs 30S) so my partner and I elected to do the later. I felt the historical background added by the guide gave a lot of weight to a tour based approach. The tours leave at 1400 which makes it a good option for those busing in from other destinations (ie Copacabana) to fill out the rest of your day. THE SITE From the car park there is a small road leading towards the site which is lined by villages selling handicrafts and offering photos with llamas, etc. From the base of the hill there is a pathway which will take you up - passing the 'lion stone' on the way. Although this path is short - it's much more difficult than you would expect due to the 3800m elevation. On top of the hill lie the funeral towers or Chullpas of 4 historical peruvian periods, including 3 pre-incan generations. These are quite impressive but you really need a guide to understand what you are looking at. An added bonus is the beautiful views over Lago Umayo, which is worth the entrance fee alone. On the way back most standard tours stop at one of the traditional houses where you are shown native tools, offered local food and usually photo opportunities with domesticated wildlife - in particular Llamas. A small tip is expected for the home owner. CONCLUSION Overall this definitely worth doing but I would recommend doing it as part of a tour - it's inexpensive and adds a lot of historical context to this intriguing archaeological site.

4betteskid 5:00 PM Dec 13, 2022

Interesting part of the ancient history of Peru
I really enjoyed my visit to these tombs. First, the setting is really beautiful, making it easy to imagine being back in earlier times. The construction of the tombs was also very interesting as was the history of the place. It is a bit out of the way if you don't have a car or sign up for a tour, but it is worth the effort to visit.