The region of Puno guards ancestral traditions and secrets yet to be discovered. Long before the Incas reigned these lands, Puno was the birthplace to many civilizations that conquered the southern Andean highlands of Peru. The Chullpas of Sillustani are the perfect example of a mystical pre-Columbian legacy.
Lake Titicaca isn’t the only attraction in Puno since there are several archeological sites spreaded across the region. Sillustani is composed of dozens of funerary towers in the outskirts of the Folkloric Capital of Peru, built by the Colla people, a civilization later conquered by the Incas.
Sillustani holds impressive architectural and engineering techniques though being developed around the XV century. The Kollas were recognized for their perfectly carved stones, a legacy replicated by the famous Inca culture.
The archaeological site is located facing the Umayo Lagoon, surrounded by imposing mountains and extensive valleys, a beautiful natural scenery complemented with this outstanding native work.
If you’re looking to know more about the cultures that marked our country and influenced the development of the following generations, this is an attraction you can’t miss. Travel off the beaten track and experience Peru at its fullest!
The Colla culture developed between the XII and XV centuries, it was an important civilization that ruled a great part of the Andean highlands. Their capital was Hatun Colla, located 34 kilometers away from the city of Puno and only 4 km away from Sillustani.
It was an Aymara kingdom, which was later conquered by the Incas during the reign of the Inca Pachacutec. The principal deity of this culture was Tunupa, the God of the Volcanoes, to which the Colla culture performed ceremonies and sacrifices on its name.
This civilization was characterized for their excellent architectural work and carved stones, being the Sillustani burial towers one of the perfect examples of this ancient knowledge.
Back in time, Puno was a significant city since during the colonial era, it was considered a strategic point between Cusco, Arequipa, Potosí, and La Paz. Caverns and tombs were found in Puno's highlands, as well as pottery and textiles that date back to 1,400 B.C. and are believed to be from the Pucara, Tiahuanaco and Kolla cultures.
Many ancient structures were destroyed during colonization. Luckily, Sillustani is one of the Pre-Inca constructions that have remained in Puno.
These tower-like structures are called Chullpas, which served as a Pre-Inca cemetery. These tombs belonged to the Kolla culture, between the 1200 and 1450 B.C. Sillustani comprehends 80 Chullpas, where the Kolla community used to bury their authorities along with their belongings. The highest of these ancient structures reaches 12 meters of altitude.
As we mentioned before, the pre-columbian ruins are located within the region of Puno, a few minutes away from the city.
We highly recommend visiting these ruins with a professional tour guide since there’s a lot of history and mysteries involved in this location that you surely don’t want to miss.
Our Sillustani Tour takes you through the most visually striking natural scenery of Puno on the way to the famous archeological site.
If you’re eager to know more about our history, include this excursion in your travel itinerary and start exploring Peru like a local expert! Contact our travel specialists for more information.
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