Overview
The Sillustani Half Day Tour is a convenient way to explore one of the most important pre-Inca sites near Puno without giving up a full day of your trip. The tour departs directly from your hotel at 2:00 pm, with the bus crossing open countryside dotted with local flora and rural scenery on the way to the Sillustani peninsula.
Upon arrival, a guided walk leads through the site's funerary towers, known as chullpas, while explaining the beliefs about the afterlife that shaped how these structures were built. The peninsula sits beside the Umayo lagoon, a setting many visitors describe as quiet and almost otherworldly, especially in the late afternoon light.
Beyond the towers themselves, archaeological evidence at Sillustani points to several different cultures that occupied the site before the Incas, adding useful context to the broader history of the altiplano region around Puno.
On the way back, the Sillustani Half Day Tour stops at a traditional farmhouse, offering a brief look at rural life in the area before returning to Puno by around 6:00 pm — making it an easy add-on for an afternoon already spent in the city.
What to Bring on the Sillustani Half Day Tour
- Sunscreen and hat
- Sunglasses
- Light jacket or layers (for altiplano wind)
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Water bottle
- Snacks
- Cash in Peruvian soles (for tips and personal expenses)
- Camera