10 Things To Know Before Visiting Tiwanaku Bolivia

As one of the most important archeological sites in South America, the expansive ruins of Tiwanaku ruins are a must for any visiting history buff. And while the visually astounding Inca citadel of Machu Picchu undoubtedly steals the limelight, the historical importance of Bolivia’s Tiwanaku is difficult to overstate. Here are 10 things you should know about this fascinating site before you see it for yourself.

It predates the Incas

By a considerable margin, in fact. The Tiwanaku people first arrived in the area around 200 BC, constructing primitive settlements which eventually evolved into a technologically advanced megacity.

It was around for an awfully long time

Everyone died

Around 900 AD, a severe drought hit the region and was thought to have lasted for several generations. Subsequent widespread crop failures caused inhabitants to either migrate or starve, effectively putting an end to Tiwanaku by 1000 AD.

The Incas once occupied the site

As part of their continent-wide expansion, the Incas overtook the remains of Tiwanaku in the 15th century. In order to exert their dominance, they were said to have displayed the heads of rival chieftains on spikes and made belts out of their skin.

The Tiwanaku were technologically astute

The Tiwanaku were masters of agriculture, constructing elaborate irrigation systems that siphoned water from nearby Lake Titicaca. Furthermore, they were adept astronomers who developed a keen understanding of the sun, the moon, and the stars.

It was once the most important city in the Andes

During its peak towards the end of the 8th century, Tiwanaku was the most significant urban center in the entire Southern Andes, with influence stretching as far as modern-day north Argentina, Chile, and Peru.

It housed a heck of a lot of people

Estimates vary, but most scholars agree Tiwanaku’s population could have reached 70,000 during the most prolific years.

There are still plenty of unknowns

As the Tiwanaku never had a written language and much of the site remains unexcavated, the city is still shrouded in mystery. For example, nobody is quite sure how they could have moved those mammoth 25-tonne rocks!

The Aymara still celebrate the New Year there

Bolivia’s indigenous Aymara, who partly descend from the Tiwanaku, hold a lavish New Year’s celebration at the ruins on June 24 each year. Dressed in traditional Andean clothing, revelers chew coca leaves and drink singani before climbing to the peak of the temple at dawn to welcome the first rays of the new year.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.