TIWANAKU

CAT-TWA/HD

7 hours approximately

PRESENTATION:

This is one of the most important archaeological sites in America and is located to one and a half hour from La Paz, near Lake Titikaka.

Started around 1580 years BC and mysteriously collapsed around 1170 years AD Due to its antiquity, some scientist consider to Tiwanaku Culture the mother of American Civilizations, others as the capital of an ancient megalithic empire.

Many are the secrets that have and are being literally "dug up" because more than 80% of this empire is buried.

The Tiwanaku population based its economy on agriculture and livestock and rich architecture is characterized by its decorative with reliefs denoting a vast knowledge in engineering and astronomy.

The exhibition consists of seven major architectural constructions: Kalasasaya, Semi-Subterranean Temple, Pyramid Akapana, Kantatallita, Kerikala, Putuni and Puma Punku which according to some professors was built around 12,000 BC.

In its museum we see excellent ceramic work with famous keros (ceremonial glasses), the huaco-portraits (three-dimensional portrait of a human face in a pot) and textiles and especially in architectural construction, many of those have astronomical orientation.

"Among pre-Columbian cities, the ancient Tiwanaku is no margin for error, which most zealously guards its secrets. Upon the mists of centuries have blurred their origins and are not memories of her mysterious end. Both the Incas, as the first Spaniards who arrived there, only saw remnants of majestic temples, pyramids and palaces, whose stone presence overwhelmed the soul.

Today, with researchers from the Andean cultures, a number of questions whose resolution depends on establishing the growth process of Tiwanaku, its intermediate stages and get explained the mystery of its consummation.

“It is not possible to establish, with clarity, which human group or groups dedicated their wisdom and time to the planned creation of this City-Shrine”. (Empire of the Sun, Hugo Boero Rojo)

This attraction is definitely one of the best that can offer our country about archaeological heritage, visited by locals and foreigners cannot be overlooked or ignored by anyone who appreciates the world archaeological historic legacy.

Source and further information:

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiwanaku

PROGRAMME:

We start the tour at 08:00 hours driving in direction to Tiwanaku located to 71 kilometers from La Paz. Once we arrive we will visit the following places:

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM TIWANAKU

In this museum are exhibited countless pieces from all periods of the Tiwanaku culture. There are pieces of ceramic, lithic, metal, bone, etc.

KANTATALLITA

Here is the "archetypal rock" architecturally carved from a single block of stone of 15 tons, showing a similar Kalasasaya building.

AKAPANA

Pyramid built in seven platforms. It is oriented to the four cardinal points.

This pyramid is immense and its foundations are excavated recently.

SEMI UNDERGROUND TEMPLE

Inside the walls are 175 shaped ball heads built in and worked in limestone and volcanic stone. Inside it the Bennett or Pachamama Monolith was found.

Inside the temple you can see the monolith called Bearded or Kontiki.

KALASASAYA TEMPLE

It was a solar temple for its dimensions based on the movements of the sun. You can see the Ponce monolith - an anthropomorphic statue and El Fraile monolith, monoliths that are carved with many iconographic elements.

The most famous part of the temple is the Sun Gate, carved from a single block of andesite stone, 3 meters high and 4 meters wide, with an approximate weight of 10 tons.

PUMA PUNKU

Means Door of Puma and this is a pyramid built over 3 platforms. The stones of this place are remarkable for the sizes and harmonious lines of its recesses and holes and there are stones of 132 tons that were joined to others by copper staples of different types and sizes.

After the visit to these places, we will have a delicious lunch and then will return to La Paz and to arrive there about 15:00 hours.

INCLUDES:

• Private Transportation.

• Specialized Tour Guide.

• Admission Fees.

• Lunch.