Chullpas of Sillustani Tour

Visit the pre-Incan burial grounds of Sillustani on this tour. The tombs, or chullpas, of Sillustani stand above the ground on a bluff overlooking Lake Umayo.

The Colla, a group that was conquered by the Inca in the 15th century, mostly built the tombs of Sillustani. The tombs widen as they go up, and it’s still uncertain whether this served a practical purpose or was a way to show off masonry skills. Whatever the case, the Inca continued with this tradition and eventually built their own chullpas here too.

The chullpas likely housed the elite members of the Colla and Inca cultures. In fact, the structures are thought to have held whole groups of families, with corpses being buried in a fetal position to allow for more space inside. The buildings’ openings face east in alignment with the sun, which was believed to be reborn with each morning.

These days, many of the stones have fallen to the ground, exposing the tombs to looters long ago. Even so, it’s a fascinating spectacle to behold.