Tiwanaku & Puma Punku tour: Gate of the Sun and ancient ruins

The Semi-Subterranean Temple holds nailed heads carved into its walls—a detail most archaeologists still puzzle over.

A full-day tour of Tiwanaku and Puma Punku, two pre-Incan archaeological sites in Bolivia, begins with museum visits and moves through the Gate of the Sun, Kalasasaya Temple, and the megalithic ruins of Puma Punku. Hotel pickup, a professional bilingual guide in English and Spanish, entrance fees, and lunch are included; the tour runs from morning pickup through early afternoon drop-off at San Francisco Church.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Tiwanaku ruins and museums

• Hotel pick-up downtown
• Tour start at Tiwanaku ruins
• Visit Ceramic and Lithic museums
• Explore Gate of the Sun and Kalasasaya Temple
• See Semi-Subterranean Temple and Monoliths
• Visit Puma Punku ruins
• Lunch break
• Return to city
• Drop-off at San Francisco Church

The Experience

The day starts with hotel pickup in downtown La Paz and a drive to Tiwanaku, where the Ceramic and Lithic museums set the context before you step into the ruins themselves. The museums hold the figurative pieces that define Tiwanaku's artistic style—exaggerated heads and forms that archaeologists believe grew out of the earlier Pukara tradition and influenced the Huari culture across the Andean region. A professional guide fluent in English and Spanish walks you through both collections before moving to the open-air sites.

The ruins unfold in sequence: the Gate of the Sun, an iconic carved stone gateway; the Kalasasaya Temple, a raised platform enclosure; and the Semi-Subterranean Temple, where carved heads project from the walls. Puma Punku, the megalithic complex believed to date to around AD 536, sits nearby as part of the same monument group. The guide explains the construction methods and religious function of each structure, and you move between them on foot across the high-altitude plateau. Lunch happens mid-afternoon, giving you a break before the return drive to the city.

The tour is a UNESCO World Heritage Site visit—Tiwanaku has held that designation since 2000—and it remains one of the key archaeological sites leading up to the Incan Empire. The scale and precision of the stonework, especially at Puma Punku, become clearer when you stand in front of it. Drop-off is at San Francisco Church in the city center, typically by 4 p.m.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in downtown La Paz.
• round-trip transport to and from the ruins.
• entrance fees to Tiwanaku.
• visits to the Ceramic and Lithic museums.
• access to the Gate of the Sun, Kalasasaya Temple, Semi-Subterranean Temple, and Puma Punku.
• a professional bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• and lunch mid-tour, with vegetarian options available on request.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Inti Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a full morning and early afternoon free; the seven-hour duration won't work if you're catching an evening flight or squeezing in another activity the same day.

Traveler reviews

3.86★★★★★★★★★★

79 verified traveler reviews

5 ★38

4 ★17

3 ★9

2 ★5

1 ★10

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What is the Gate of the Sun and why does it matter at Tiwanaku?

The Gate of the Sun is an iconic carved stone gateway at Tiwanaku and one of the most recognizable artifacts from the pre-Incan civilization. It is a key stop on the tour and represents the artistic and architectural sophistication of the site, which archaeologists view as foundational to the later Incan Empire.

How long does the tour take and what time does it finish?

The tour runs approximately seven hours from hotel pickup through drop-off. Pickup happens between 8 and 9 a.m., the tour of the ruins and museums begins at 10:40 a.m., lunch occurs at 2:15 p.m., and you are dropped at San Francisco Church by around 4 p.m.

What is Puma Punku and how does it connect to Tiwanaku?

Puma Punku is a megalithic temple complex believed to date to around AD 536 and later, located near Tiwanaku as part of the same large monument group. The tour includes both sites so you can see the different architectural styles and religious enclosures within the broader Tiwanaku archaeological zone.

Is the guide bilingual and what languages are spoken?

Yes, the professional guide speaks both English and Spanish throughout the tour, so you can follow the explanations in whichever language you prefer.

What does the tour include and what should I arrange separately?

The tour includes hotel pickup, round-trip transport, entrance fees to Tiwanaku, lunch, and the professional guide. Drinks are not included, so bring water for the high-altitude environment. A vegetarian meal option is available if you request it when booking.