Aymara Route tour from Puno: Inca Uyo, Molloco, Aramu Muru

Walk five ancient sites across the altiplano in one day without arranging your own transport.

The Aymara Route is a full-day guided tour from Puno through the southern highlands, visiting Inca Uyo fertility temple in Chucuito, pre-Incan burial towers at Molloco, the carved doorway at Aramu Muru, raised agricultural platforms called Waru Warus, and colonial churches in Juli. The tour includes entrance to all sites, transportation, a guide in English or Spanish, and lunch with your choice of chicken or trout. Pickup from your hotel is included. Children from age 3 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Puno's ancient and colonial sites

• Visit Inca Uyo fertility temple
• See colonial sundial and plazas in Chucuito
• Explore chullpas burial towers at Molloco
• Visit Aramu Muru rock doorway
• Observe Waru Waru raised agricultural platforms
• Tour Juli's Main Church and Plaza de Armas
• Walk along Juli's sandy beach

The experience

You start in Chucuito at Inca Uyo, an Incan ceremonial site where dozens of carved stone phalluses stand arranged in a walled courtyard: their original purpose is still debated, though fertility rituals remain the most common theory. The town also holds a 1610 alabaster sundial at the main square and two plazas lined with 17th-century churches that layer Incan and Spanish colonial architecture against Lake Titicaca's backdrop.

From there the route moves to Molloco, where pre-Incan burial towers called chullpas rise up to 7 meters above the altiplano. These cylindrical stone structures once housed the remains of nobility and community leaders, their bodies positioned facing east. The stonework shows techniques that predate the Inca empire, and some towers still bear traces of original mortar. Unlike underground tombs, these towers kept the deceased visible and present in daily life, offering a window into how these communities approached ancestor veneration. Next comes Aramu Muru, a doorway carved directly into rock in the high desert. Locals call it the "Gate of the Gods" and tell stories of an Incan priest who supposedly fled here during the Spanish conquest with a golden disk, placed it in the carving, and disappeared through the stone. Many visitors come to meditate at the doorway or place their hands on the carved stone. The surrounding area has naturally eroded rock formations that can resemble faces or animals depending on the angle.

The tour also includes the Waru Warus, raised earthen agricultural platforms separated by water channels that date back hundreds of years. This pre-Columbian farming system worked at nearly 4,000 meters above sea level by using the water to absorb heat during the day and release it at night, preventing frost damage to crops like potatoes and quinoa. In Juli, the final stop, you visit the Plaza de Armas and the Main Church, which earned the town the nickname "Little Rome of the Andes" during colonial times for its concentration of Catholic churches. The Main Church's stone facade shows Andean Baroque style: European architectural forms mixed with indigenous stoneworking traditions. Afterward there's time to walk along Juli's small sandy beach, one of the few natural stretches along the lake's rocky shore.

What’s included

• Entrance fees to Inca Uyo in Chucuito, the chullpas at Molloco, Aramu Muru, the Waru Warus, and Juli's Main Church.
• transportation throughout the day.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• lunch with your choice of chicken or trout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 19

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 46 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Inca Lake

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup is included, so you don't need a car or arrange your own transport from Puno: the route works for a free afternoon or a first day exploring the region without the logistics of driving the altiplano yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is Inca Uyo in Chucuito?

Inca Uyo is an Incan fertility temple featuring dozens of carved stone phalluses arranged in a walled courtyard. The site sits at the main square in Chucuito alongside a 1610 alabaster sundial and two plazas with 17th-century churches, combining Incan and Spanish colonial architecture.

What are the chullpas at Molloco?

Chullpas are pre-Incan burial towers that rise up to 7 meters above the altiplano. Built to house the remains of nobility and community leaders with their bodies positioned facing east, these cylindrical stone structures show stonework techniques that predate the Inca empire and kept the deceased visible in daily life rather than hidden underground.

What is the "Gate of the Gods" at Aramu Muru?

Aramu Muru is a doorway carved into a rock face in the high desert near Lake Titicaca. Locals call it the "Gate of the Gods" and tell stories of an Incan priest who fled here during the Spanish conquest with a golden disk and disappeared through the stone. Many visitors come to meditate at the doorway or place their hands on the carved stone.

How did the Waru Warus help ancient farmers?

Waru Warus are raised earthen agricultural platforms separated by water channels that still stand across the altiplano. The water absorbed heat during the day and released it at night to prevent frost damage, provided irrigation during dry periods, and improved soil quality: allowing communities to grow potatoes and quinoa at nearly 4,000 meters above sea level where temperatures can drop below freezing even during growing season.

Why is Juli called "Little Rome of the Andes"?

Juli earned this nickname during colonial times for its concentration of Catholic churches established by Jesuits in the 16th century. The Main Church dominates the Plaza de Armas and shows Andean Baroque style (European architectural forms mixed with indigenous stoneworking traditions) with bell towers and a carved entrance among the best-preserved examples from this period in the Lake Titicaca region.

How long does the tour take and what's included?

The tour runs about 8.5 hours and includes entrance to all five sites, transportation from your hotel, a guide in English or Spanish, and lunch with your choice of chicken or trout. Pickup is included. Children from age 3 are welcome.