Excursion: Tiwanaku

Tiwanaku is an archeological sight around two hours outside of La Paz. It was biult 1500 before Christ and belongs to the UNESCO world heritage. The sight has two museums, one with ceramic the other with sculptures.

To get there you should take a minibus at the cementerio general. If you take a taxi and tell the driver he will drive you right next to the bus and you only have to hop in. The minibus leaves as soon as it is full and costs 15 bob/2.20$ each way.

The bus will let you hop off in front of the ticket counter were you pay the entrance for all sights (including museums), which is 100 bob/15$.

It is recommendable to visit the museums first. If your Spanish is poor it is furthermore recommendable to hire a guide. The guide office is next to the ticket counter and you pay per guide, which means the cheaper the more you are. After getting an overview in the museums you can stroll along the paths of the sights, which takes you around two hours. There is another ruin on the other side of the village, which is also included in the ticket.

Most impressively is the exact stone work of the Tiwanakese and the statues covered with filigree patterns.

The subterranean temple shows different kinds of stone heads built into the wall. One of them has many similarities with an alien face.

To go back just take the minibus waiting for you or you can also walk into the village, where there are more minibuses leaving to El Alto.

Another option is to book a tour in La Paz, but I don’t see any advantage in that. Besides it’s more expensive.

Don’t forget to take a picnic with you.