An intensive day to visit Tiwanacu capital and the southern Lake Titicaca including: Pariti island and kata Uta ruins.

Nowadays, we know that the capital of Tiwanacu was not only a place to live but an important ceremonial center and the location of its intellectual elite. It is still now unknown why most important temples, ceremonial places and funerary sites, follow a north to south line with the main temples and buildings of Tiwanacu in the center. To the north the main area of influence is the southern part of Lake Titicaca, making a clear link with the water as an important source of live and the mountains of the background as gods that can bring us water and therefore life.

On this trip we will take you for an integral visit of Tiwanacu capital and its main area of influence in the southern Lake Titicaca, having the chance to meet its actual descendents. Consider this program as a mix cultural-sightseeing trip, but with the added value to be lead by the best professional cultural guides who are expert in the subject and – what it is really important – that can transmit you their knowledge properly since they are fluid in several languages.

In the morning we will have an illustrative visit to the two main museums and the archeological sites of the Akapana pyramid and the Kalasasaya temple, later our vehicle will transfer us towards Taraco peninsula where we will have lunch enjoying a spectacular view of the lake with the mountains of Cordillera Real in the background. There we will board our motor boat towards Pariti Island, where archaeologists have recently excavated the best collection of Tiwanacu pottery. It seems that parity island was an important ceremonial center where the best pottery was sacrificed to the gods and – following an elaborated ritual - broken into pieces to be buried. Fortunately, the local community got the help of the Swiss and managed not only to keep the pottery but also to construct an extraordinary museum where to expose the restored pieces.

The strait connecting Pariti island to mainland is completely populated with reeds, our boat will take us navigating through this amazing labyrinth towards the ruins of Kala Uta (house of stones). There we will visit this strange archaeological site of buildings completely made of rocks, some of them tombs and other houses; all mixed in the same neighborhood. Our vehicle will be waiting to take us back to La Paz.

The route back to La Paz is really spectacular, first we will make a short stop at the town of Qwaya where we will visit artisans that make beautiful handicrafts entirely with reed (Totora as it is known locally), later we will drive along of the northern shores of Patapatani peninsula where we will enjoy the best views of the lake and the mountains. At the end of the day we will reach Puerto Perez and return to La Paz on a paved road.

Itinerary:

D1. Transp.to Tiwanacu. Boat to Pariti island & Kala Uta. Transp.to La Paz

• The most enriching interactive-tour to understand the Tiwanacu culture visiting museums, archaeological sites, as well as its capital and surroundings.
• An interesting connection with the southern Lake Titicaca visiting Pariti Island and Kala Uta ruins.
• The best opportunity to meet local cultures and interact with them.