Sillustani Inca Tombs tour from Puno: Chullpas and Lake Umayo

Walk among 10-meter Inca burial towers with a guide who explains how each one was built

A 4-hour tour from Puno to Sillustani explores the ancient chullpas (towering funerary structures built by the Kolla and Inca cultures) with a professional guide in English or Spanish. The route includes a stop at Puma Uta hilltop viewpoint north of Puno, a visit to a traditional family home in Atuncolla where locals demonstrate alpaca weaving and Andean farming, a 30-minute walk to the burial site at Sillustani, and views of Lake Umayo before returning to your hotel. Hotel pickup and entry tickets are included. A minimum of two people per booking is required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Sillustani and local culture

• Stop at Puma Uta viewpoint
• Visit Atuncolla community and family home
• Walk to Sillustani tombs
• Explore ancient chullpas and learn history
• Enjoy views of Lake Umayo

The experience

The tour starts at a hilltop viewpoint called Puma Uta, just north of Puno, where Lake Titicaca stretches toward the horizon and the city spreads out below. On clear days you can spot the distant islands from up here. The name comes from a large puma sculpture at the summit, honoring one of Andean tradition's most powerful symbols: strength, protection, and connection to the earth. From there, the route heads deeper into the altiplano toward Sillustani.

Before reaching the tombs, you stop at Atuncolla, a community of descendants from the ancient Qolla culture. A traditional family invites you into their home: guinea pigs scurry around the kitchen as they have for centuries, and llamas and alpacas graze outside. The family shows you how they weave alpaca fiber by hand, walk you through the different varieties of quinoa and Andean grains they harvest, and point out the medicinal plants they still use daily. This is the kind of unhurried, genuine glimpse into highland life most visitors don't expect to find just 30 minutes from Puno.

The main event is Sillustani itself, set against Lake Umayo. The chullpas, ancient burial towers, were first built by the Kolla people and later adapted by the Incas for tombs of chiefs and priests. Some stand as tall as 10 meters. You walk 30 minutes to the top of the site, where your guide points out the differences between pre-Inca and Inca towers, showing how each culture left its mark. The views from up there take in the surrounding landscape and the lagoon below. The whole experience blends history, nature, and the living culture of the region into a single afternoon.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Spanish.
• entrance tickets to Sillustani.
• hotel pickup and drop-off at selected hotels in Puno.
• stops at Puma Uta viewpoint, a traditional Qolla family home in Atuncolla where locals demonstrate alpaca weaving and Andean farming, and the main burial site overlooking Lake Umayo.

Options for this experience

2 options

Group tour to Sillustani (4 hours)Guide in English or Spanish · 14:00Pickup is included

Private tour to Sillustani, 4 hoursGuide in English or Spanish · 13 departure times: the first at 05:30, the last at 15:30Private service: This is a private tour, so you will travel with your own guide and vehicle and enjoy a personalized experience. Pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day13 departure times: the first at 05:30, the last at 15:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (2 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Inca Lake

Is this one for you?Choose the private option if you want the flexibility to move at your own pace and ask questions without a larger group. The group tour keeps costs lower and pairs you with other travelers interested in the same sites. Either way, the 4-hour timeframe means you can fit this into a single morning or afternoon in Puno without disrupting the rest of your day.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years).

How far is Sillustani from Puno, and how much time do I spend actually walking?

Sillustani is 45 kilometers from Puno. The main walk at the site itself takes 30 minutes to reach the top of the burial towers, where you explore the chullpas and take in the views of Lake Umayo.

What will I see at the traditional family home in Atuncolla?

At Atuncolla, a Qolla family shows you how they weave alpaca fiber by hand, demonstrates the different varieties of quinoa and Andean grains they harvest, and points out the medicinal plants they use daily. Guinea pigs live in the kitchen and llamas and alpacas graze outside, just as they have for centuries.

How tall are the chullpas, and what were they used for?

The chullpas are ancient burial towers that stand as tall as 10 meters. The Kolla people built them first, and the Incas later adapted them as tombs for chiefs and priests. Your guide explains the construction techniques and cultural significance of each tower as you walk through the site.

What's included in the price, and what should I bring?

The tour includes a professional guide, all entrance tickets to Sillustani, and hotel pickup and drop-off. Food and personal expenses are not included. Bring water, sun protection, and comfortable walking shoes for the 30-minute walk to the top of the site.