La Paz-Tiwanaku FD (L)

At 08:00 in the morning we leave La Paz in our comfortable private vehicle towards Tiwanaku “Cradle of the South-American civilization”, this archeological site is among the oldest of the Andean cultures and its remains surprise for its monumentality and for the perfection of the constructive and decorative technique, leaving many questions unanswered until today. The following attractions will be visited: The Ceramic and the Lithic museums of Tiwanaku; the ruins in archaeological sites such as the Akapana Pyramid, Kalasasaya temple with the famous Sun Gate, the Frayle and Ponce monoliths and the semi-underground temple. You will also have the opportunity to observe the handicrafts of the area: small carefully carved stones, taking as a model monoliths, tiwanacotan amulets and aymara motives; in the same way the pottery worked with great mastery as ceremonial vessels, ¨sahumaderos¨ and others.

The archaeological site of Puma Punku or ¨Gate of the Puma¨, is one of the most important structures of the Monumental Archaeological Complex of Tiwanaku for the remarkable proportions of its lithic pieces, its high precision and the fine cut of the stone blocks. It covers about two hectares and forms a perfect 45 ° diagonal of NW-SE with the Akapana Pyramid. In its structure you can also appreciate the application of advanced construction techniques and hydraulic engineering.

Puma Punku is a stepped structure temple shaped like a pyramid on three superimposed platforms with a square floor plan. Its walls are made up of carved and polished ashlars in red sandstone and gray andesite.

In its upper and central part there is a small semi-underground temple with drainage channels, which conserves among its remains the form of a cyclopean structure formed by four rooms carved in andesite, joined with bronze and arsenical copper staples that are related to the Sun Gate and the Moon Gate. The temple was used for religious ceremonies and rituals. Its dimensions are around 210 meters wide and its length is 122 meters and the total height of 4.80 meters. According to the chronicler Ramos Gavilán, the name Puma Punku is due to the fact that a lithic representation of this feline was erected on that site.

After the visits we enjoy a typical lunch, made with fresh products from the region, in a restaurant in Tiwanaku, located a short distance from Puma Punku.

We return in our private vehicle to the city of El Alto and enter a cabin of the cableway network “Mi Teleférico” (blue station) to live a very special and unique experience; We “fly” over the city of El Alto and descend to the wonder city of La Paz while we appreciate from the bird’s eye view incredible views over the neighboring cities and the impressive royal mountain range (Cordillera Real) with its snow-capped peaks that shine some of the highest mountains in Bolivia with heights above 6 thousand meters. At the end of the tour our vehicle awaits us to take you back to your hotel. END OF OUR SERVICES.