Stone towers
On the hilltop.
bobistraveling — CC BY 2.0 · bobistraveling — CC BY 2.0 · bobistraveling — CC BY 2.0 · PIERRE ANDRE LECLERCQ — CC BY-SA 4.0 · bobistraveling — CC BY 2.0
Sillustani is an archaeological site on a grassy plateau above Lake Umayo near Puno in southern Peru. Tall round stone towers stand on the hilltop, golden slopes of dry grass fall away below, the lake's blue water lies beneath, and wide sky stretches over the high plateau. The towers are above-ground tombs called «chullpas», built by the Qulla people before they were conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century, and they held whole family groups, probably of the elite. Some towers show pre-Inca features later faced with polished Inca stonework, and some stones are carved with animal shapes. This style of above-ground burial goes back at least to the Tiwanaku period. You climb the path to the top of the plateau among the towers, see their stonework up close, then look out over the lake, its islands and the surrounding plateau. Late afternoon is best, when the light warms the stones. The site is about 20 km in a straight line northwest of Puno. It stands at about 3,800 m, so walk slowly, and bring warm clothes against the wind.
On the hilltop.
Below the plateau.
On the stones.
Peninsula on Lake Umayo, northwest of Puno
Above-ground tombs of pre-Inca elite families.
It is about 3,800 m, so go slowly.