Tiawanacu: World Heritage and Murals
Accommodation in Tiawanacu
Tiawanacu brings together the history of the Tiwanaku center and the present-day townscape. Tiwanaku is located in the Department of La Paz, near the southern shore of Lake Titicaca, on the Altiplano at an elevation of 3,850 meters. Most of the ancient city, which was built primarily from adobe bricks, is covered by the modern town. As a result, the historic city and the present-day town are in an immediate spatial relationship. To help you find your way, you can consider the archaeological center, the murals in town, and the craft experiences in the associated community as distinct focal points.
The Spiritual and Political Center
The Spiritual and Political Center of the Tiwanaku culture has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Its outstanding universal value includes the design and architectural mastery of its temples, as well as its monumental statuary. The temples are therefore significant not only as structures: their design and architectural mastery are explicitly part of the center’s value. The monumental statuary represents another, sculptural dimension. This distinction helps you appreciate architecture and art within the same cultural context.
Murals in the Townscape
Tourist murals can be found on building facades around Tiwanaku’s main square. Other locations include the AsociaciĂłn Lechera, the Truffi bus stop, the MĂstico Ancestral craft workshop, and the Centro de InterpretaciĂłn de la Cultura Tiwanaku. The focus is therefore not limited to the archaeological center: murals are also part of the townscape and can be found at several named locations. Alongside temple architecture and statuary, they offer a distinct perspective on art displayed on facades and at local institutions.
Experiences in the Associated Community
Accompanied by a local guide, you can walk from the Kalasasaya archaeological site to the community of Ayllu Kasa Achuta. The route thus connects the archaeological site with a destination in the associated community. If you include this walk in your travel plans, check in advance how a guide can be arranged for your travel dates. Its connection to the community distinguishes this walk from the murals, which are located in the town.
The experience “El arte de los Qalawawas” brings together ceramics and textile art. A master ceramicist shows visitors how to make their own piece featuring motifs from the Tiwanaku culture. Women artisans from the community demonstrate textile art and invite visitors to spin and weave on a traditional loom. The activities differ: with ceramics, you make your own piece, while the textile art combines a demonstration with hands-on participation at the loom. This brings two different craft activities together.
Nighttime Visit to the Archaeological Site
A nighttime visit to the Tiwanaku archaeological site was described for the period from May to December, starting in 2017. During the visit, the ceremonial temples of Kalasasaya and Templete Semisubterráneo, as well as archaeological objects, were illuminated. If you are considering such an evening for your trip, check the dates for your travel period in advance.
Discover more destinations: La Paz, Mecapaca, Huancané, Comunidad Yumani, Chulumani, Huatajata, Comunidad Challapampa, Calacoto
Go to the main travel overview: La Paz.
