Sillustani Tour from Puno with Lake Umayo
Description
Discover the magic of Sillustani on a relaxed half-day tour from Puno. Your experience begins with a short stop at the Puma Viewpoint, where you can enjoy panoramic views of Puno city and Lake Titicaca. Then, continue through the Andean highlands to Atuncolla for a brief cultural visit, where you will learn about rural Andean life, local traditions and native animals. Finally, explore the Sillustani archaeological complex, home to impressive pre-Inca and Inca funerary towers known as chullpas. Your bilingual guide will share the history of the Colla and Inca cultures while giving you time to enjoy Lake Umayo, take photos and explore at your own pace. Ideal for travelers seeking a short, scenic and meaningful afternoon experience from Puno, with hotel pickup, round-trip transport, entrance ticket and professional guide included.
Tour Options
Itinerary
A brief stop at the Puma Uta Lookout, also known as the Puma Lookout, offers travelers a panoramic view of the city of Puno and part of Lake Titicaca. It's an ideal spot for taking photos before continuing on to the rural areas of Atuncolla and Sillustani.
We will explore the impressive Sillustani Archaeological Complex, famous for its chullpas, or funerary towers, built by the Colla culture and later influenced by the Incas. During the visit, the guide will explain the history, architecture, and spiritual significance of the site, while travelers enjoy panoramic views of Lake Umayo and time for taking photographs.
We'll visit some traditional houses in Atuncolla to get a brief glimpse into Andean rural life, its local customs, daily activities, and typical animals of the area. This cultural stop allows travelers to have a first encounter with the traditions of the Altiplano before visiting the Sillustani archaeological complex.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up travelers from their hotels in the central area of Puno, and also from hotels on the shores of Lake Titicaca for an additional minimum.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(38)
The afternoon was very good. We were lucky with the weather, and the Sillustani site was very interesting. The added stop at a local farm to see local produce and animals was interesting. Our guide was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. The biggest negative was that the group was composed of English and Spanish speakers, and the guide was switching between the two languages, which was confusing. Maybe not run the tour too late, as it did get cold once the sun began to set. Understand that it is winter, but when the sun is out, it is very pleasant.
Dear Russell, Thank you very much for sharing your experience with our Sillustani tour. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit to the Sillustani archaeological site and that the weather allowed you to fully appreciate the beautiful scenery. It is also wonderful to know that you found the visit to the local farm interesting and that our guide was knowledgeable and able to answer your questions. We appreciate your feedback regarding the bilingual nature of the tour. We understand that switching between English and Spanish can sometimes affect the flow of the explanations, and we will take your comments into consideration as we continue working to improve our guests' experience. Thank you as well for mentioning the weather conditions. As you noted, afternoons in Puno can become quite cold once the sun begins to set, especially during the winter season, and we always recommend bringing warm clothing for added comfort. We truly appreciate your valuable feedback and thank you for choosing Puno Tours. We hope to welcome you again on another adventure around Lake Titicaca Kind regards, Wilson Ticona
A good afternoon out if you have time to kill in Puno. The guide was informative and helpful.
Dear traveler, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your review with us. We are glad to know that you had a good afternoon visiting Sillustani and that our guide was informative and helpful during the tour. For us, this archaeological site is one of the most interesting half-day experiences from Puno, combining history, culture, impressive landscapes and the beautiful views of Lake Umayo. We truly appreciate your comment, as it motivates us to continue improving the way we present and organize our tours, so every traveler can enjoy a meaningful and well-guided experience during their stay in Puno. Thank you again for choosing Puno Tours. We hope to welcome you back in the future for another experience around Lake Titicaca and the Andes. Kind regards, Wilson Ticona
All very well and especially safe. The guide explained everything very well.
Estimado Viajero, Muchas gracias por compartir su experiencia con nosotros y por su confianza en Puno Tours. Nos complace saber que el tour a Sillustani cumplió con sus expectativas, especialmente en lo relacionado con la seguridad y la claridad de la información brindada por nuestro guía, aspectos que consideramos fundamentales en cada experiencia. Agradecemos mucho su recomendación y será un placer recibirle nuevamente en Puno para seguir acompañándole en nuevas aventuras culturales y paisajísticas. Atentamente, Gerente de Experiencias Wilson Ticona
A very well-organised tour and a great way to spend the afternoon. First was a brief stop at the Puno lookout then a stop at a family home near Sillustani (loved the Guinea pigs). Sillustani is beautiful, the knowledgeable guide explained everything and answered all the questions and we had plenty of time to have a look ourselves. The view over the Umayo Lagoon are wonderful, especially late afternoon.
Dear Traveler, Thank you very much for your kind review. We’re so glad to hear that you enjoyed your afternoon exploring Sillustani and the beautiful Umayo Lagoon. It’s wonderful that you appreciated the visit to the local family home and the detailed explanations from our guide we’ll be sure to share your kind words with the team. At Puno Tours, we take great pride in organizing smooth, well paced experiences that allow our guests to truly connect with the culture and landscapes of the region. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again for another memorable journey in Peru. Sincerely, Experience Manager Wilson Ticona
It was a great trip—well planned, with a knowledgeable and informative tour guide who was fluent in both Spanish and English. We really enjoyed all three stops, each of which was impressive. It’s also worth mentioning that Sillustani had informational signs in both English and Spanish throughout the site, which is not common at many other tourist attractions in Peru. Overall, I would strongly recommend this tour — it was truly worth it!
Dear traveler, Thank you very much for sharing your experience and for taking the time to write such a thoughtful review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Sillustani Tour, and that the planning, itinerary, and our bilingual guide met your expectations. Our team works hard to provide well organized and enriching experiences, so your kind words truly mean a lot to us. We also appreciate your observation about the bilingual signage at the archaeological site it’s indeed a valuable feature that enhances visitors’ understanding of the cultural heritage. It will be a pleasure to welcome you again in Puno. Thank you for choosing PunoTours. Sincerely, Experience Manager Wilson Ticona
This tour takes you to the site and nothing less. We stopped at a spot that lookout over Puno town for 10 mins it was great. We went to Sillustani right after and the guide gave us very good information and history about each towers. We stayed for photos for additional 30 mins or so overall almost 2 hours until sundown.
Dear Alex, Thank you very much for sharing your review! We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the visit to Sillustani and that the historical explanations from our guide enriched your experience. The lookout over Puno town and the extra time for photos are indeed special moments that make the afternoon tour even more enjoyable, especially at sundown. Your feedback is truly appreciated and helps us keep offering meaningful and well balanced experiences for our guests. We would be very happy to welcome you again in the future to explore more of the cultural and natural treasures of Puno. Sincerely, Experience Manager Wilson Ticona
Our experience was a bit impacted by not needed time wasting activities, which gave is less time to really enjoy Sillustani. 1. We made a stop in a local family house, offering some food to try. It didn't look very hygienic so I wisely declined. The big aim was ofcourse to buy something from them or leave a tip.. this stop should be completely removed from this excursion. 2. In the complex, which is great, I found the information given by the guide way too long. He was also not explaining the things you saw but was given a whole around story. To illustrate this.. instead of visiting we started sitting on a wall for 35' while the guide was drawing things in the mud. As a consequence our time to really visit the complex was limited and end of daylight already started to arrived. Therefore, I would recommend to or do this trip on your own or pick another agency.
Dear Thomas, Thank you for sharing your feedback on the Sillustani excursion. We regret that some parts of the experience were not to your liking, and we completely understand your point of view. The stop at a local house in Atuncolla aims to offer visitors a real insight into Andean life. There, you can meet local families up close, observe typical animals such as llamas, alpacas, and guinea pigs, and discover traditional products such as chaco (edible clay) and learn about the use of the Andean stove, which runs on firewood and cow dung, an ancient practice that still exists. This isn't an obligation to consume or buy, but rather an invitation to experience a living part of our culture. In the case of Sillustani, the guide's explanation seeks to contextualize the importance of this archaeological complex, as it not only offers a stunning landscape but was also a ceremonial necropolis of the ancient Colla people, where elaborate rituals were performed before burying their nobles in the funerary towers. For many visitors, these cultural and archaeological details enrich the experience. However, we note your observation regarding the length of the explanation and time management, as we understand that fully enjoying the site, especially before sunset, is essential for the visit. We greatly appreciate your comments, as they help us improve the balance between the cultural and historical aspects and free time to explore. We are committed to continuing to work to ensure that every traveler has a more complete, respectful, and authentic experience. Sincerely, Wilson Ticona
This tour is truly a hidden gem in Puno. The rich history and the stunning afternoon scenery at Sillustani far exceeded expectations. Absolutely worth the visit!
Dear Chenyun, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that the afternoon scenery and rich history of Sillustani exceeded your expectations. It truly is one of Puno’s hidden gems, and we are glad you were able to experience its beauty with us. Your kind words motivate our team to continue creating memorable experiences for our guests. We would be very happy to welcome you again to explore more of the treasures around Lake Titicaca. Sincerely, Experience Manager Wilson Ticona
Three stops. First stop was a lookout over Puno town. Ten minutes, I think it does the job for the selfies. Second stop is on the road to Sillustani. Traditional family living in a stone house in the highlands. They explain to you their farming their diets kids get to check out ilamas and guinea pigs and naturally the try to sell you handicrafts. As you would expect this is where they sell you souvenirs. Personally I would prefer this stop to be shorter - as later on you simply have less sunlight for photos at Sillustani (it also gets colder) Sillustani itself - I think the stop was over an hour. We actually did not cover the whole site but at least the main towers we did. I personally liked the history and I think the guide did an ok job furnishing information with some depth. By the later half of our stay at Sillustani it got kinda chilly. Again - I’d say if the stone house visit could be shortened to make way for more Sillustani that’d be great.
Dear Philip, Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a detailed review of your experience. We are glad to know that you enjoyed visiting Sillustani and learning about its fascinating history, and we appreciate your kind words about the guide. We also take note of your feedback regarding the additional stop at the traditional family house. While many travelers find it enriching to learn about local life and interact with the community, we completely understand your point about wanting to dedicate more time at Sillustani, especially considering the daylight and colder conditions in the afternoon. Your comments are very valuable to us as they help us improve the balance of our itineraries and continue offering meaningful experiences for all of our guests. We truly appreciate your constructive feedback and hope to welcome you again in the future to show you even more of the cultural and natural treasures of Puno. Sincerely, Experience Manager Wilson Ticona
Guide was so kind and informative, I had a great experience! It was windy and chilly that day but we all powered through and stopped to get some hot chocolate and coffee at the end. I recommend!
Dear Lydia, Thank you very much for your kind review! We are delighted to know that you had a great experience at Sillustani with our guide, and that his kindness and knowledge made the tour even more special. Even with the chilly and windy weather, it’s wonderful that you could enjoy the moment and warm up with hot chocolate and coffee at the end a perfect way to finish the day! We truly appreciate your recommendation and would be very happy to welcome you again for another experience in Puno. Sincerely, Experience Manager Wilson Ticona
