Sillustani Tour

With the Sillustani Tour you will visit the Inca cemetery next to Lake Umayo. Sillustani is located near the city of Puno which is located on Lake Titicaca.

The tombs of Sillustani are built above ground in tower-like constructions and are also called Chullpas. These Chullpas contain remains of the Aymara, a population group that was conquered by the Incas in the 14th ^century . The Incas then copied the customs of the Aymara and built their version of the tombs on the same site. The tombs were probably only intended for the nobility. Remains of entire family groups have been found in the tombs. Due to the dry climate and the closed grave, the mummies were (unintentionally) mummified. Many mummies have been found in a fetal position. The openings of the buildings were built to the east. It was believed that the sun was reborn every day by Mother Earth.

The chullpas can be found in several places in the highlands and are not necessarily unique to Sillustani. However, Sillustani is considered the best preserved example.
Many of the tombs were blown up by grave robbers and some were never finished. From the cemetery you have a beautiful, wide view of Lake Umayo.

The Sillustani Tour lasts half a day and the tombs can be visited in the morning or in the afternoon.