Tiwanaku & Puma Punku: Day Trip with Ruins, Lunch & Pickup

Summary

Bolivia’s ancient Tiwanaku ruins day tour with Puma Punku temples and museum visit

You’ll step straight into Bolivia’s ancient world on this Tiwanaku & Puma Punku day trip: explore museums filled with mysterious artifacts, walk among giant stone temples with a local guide sharing stories, enjoy a simple lunch after hours outside, and end up wondering how much history is still unsolved out here.

What’s the experience like?

You know that feeling when you step off the bus and the air just smells different? That’s how it was in Tiwanaku—dusty, a bit sharp, and somehow heavier than in La Paz. Our guide, Carla, waved us over with this big grin and started right away about the Gate of the Sun. She didn’t rush. We wandered through the Ceramic Museum first—cooler inside, with that faint clay smell—and she explained how these figurines weren’t just art but messages. I tried to imagine carving something like that by hand. Honestly, I’m not sure I’d have the patience.

Outside, everything felt bigger than I expected—the Kalasasaya Temple stones are massive up close. Carla pointed out the “nailed heads” in the Semi-Subterranean Temple (I probably stared too long; it’s weirdly hypnotic). There was this moment where a local kid ran past us chasing a stray dog, both of them laughing—broke up the silence in a good way. The sun kept shifting behind clouds and suddenly you’d get this flash of light bouncing off old stones. Lunch was later than I thought (my stomach growled embarrassingly loud), but it was warm and filling—rice, veggies, something with quinoa. Not fancy but honestly perfect after hours outside.

Puma Punku is just a short walk from Tiwanaku but feels… different? The stones there are cut so precisely it messes with your head—Carla said some people think aliens did it (she winked, so who knows). There was wind picking up dust while we stood there trying to fit our hands into the grooves of these blocks. I still think about that view back toward Lake Titicaca—sky so wide you almost lose your sense of time for a second. And then we piled back into the van for La Paz, tired but kind of wired from all of it. If you’re curious about old mysteries or just want to see something that doesn’t quite add up, this day trip is worth it—even if you come home with more questions than answers.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tiwanaku ruins and Puma Punku visit

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

Top questions

How long does the Tiwanaku & Puma Punku day trip take?

The tour starts around 8:00/9:00 a.m. with pickup and returns to La Paz by about 4:00 p.m.

Is lunch included on the Tiwanaku day trip?

Yes, lunch is included as part of the tour package.

Does this tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, hotel pickup is provided for selected hotels in downtown La Paz or there is a meeting point option.

What sites do you visit at Tiwanaku?

You visit the Ceramic and Lithic museums, Gate of the Sun, Kalasasaya Temple, Semi-Subterranean Temple with nailed heads, monoliths, and Puma Punku ruins.

Is entry to Tiwanaku included?

Yes, entrance fees to all sites are included in your booking.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Children can join but must be accompanied by an adult; adult pricing applies for all travelers.

Are there vegetarian options for lunch?

Vegetarian meals are available if requested at booking.

Where does the tour end?

The drop-off point is San Francisco Church in central La Paz.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from select downtown locations or an easy meeting point option in La Paz; round-trip transport; entry fees to all sites at Tiwanaku and Puma Punku; guided visits through museums and temples; plus a simple local lunch before returning to the city in the afternoon.