Universidad Nacional del Altiplano
Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
ARCHEOLOGICAL COMPLEX OF SILLUSTANI
Good morning everybody, in this
opportunity I’ll be your touristic
guide. We are in the Archeological
Complex of Sillustani.
Sillustani is a pre-Incan burial
ground on the shores of Lake
Umayo near Puno in Peru. The
tombs, which are built above ground
in tower-like structures called
chullpas, are the vestiges of the
Colla people, Aymara who were
conquered by the Inca in the 15th
century. The structures housed the
remains of complete family groups,
although they were probably limited
to nobility. Many of the tombs have
been dynamited by grave robbers,
while others were left unfinished.
About its geography, Sillustani is
situated in the district of Atunkolla, a
district in the Province of Puno, and
occupied approximately 62 hectares
is on a peninsula that extends into
the southern part of Lake Umayo. It
is 33 kilometers by road northwest
from the city of Puno. The Climate
is not temperate but cold, harsh, and
Lic.
dry, varying between the winter and
summer seasons. The average
annual temperature is 12°C, with
clear skies and brilliant sunshine for
the major part of the year, the part
away from the rainy summer of
pervasive cold. The Altitude is on
Sillustani at 3,910 meters above
mean sea level. Its maximum
altitude is the twelve – angled
chullpa on the flat summit at 3,929
meters above mean sea level.
Respect vegetation is sparse, both
on the land and in the water. Wild
vegetation in land grows alongside
agriculture species, and no
dangerous plant species exist apart
from nettles and cacti. Plant species
are listed to give a better idea of
what exists in Sillustani and its
surrounding area.
Animal wildlife is also sparse, but in
spite of this, it is an important and
highly appreciated natural resource
of the area.
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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa

O.K. through the entrance at the territory, easy drainage. To maintain

right, follow a wide path leading to soil fertility crops were rotated. The
the main site. To the west one can crops potatoes, oca, quinua, kañiwa
see the Umayo Lake, the houses of were fertilized with manure in
the San Antonio de Umayo systems called ayni and minka.
community. The primary school
“Waka Kanchas”. To the left of the funeral tower with a
lizard sculpted in the stone you can
Continuing up the sloping path leads see a rustic funeral tower in the
to the residential and agricultural circular colla style. Later we arrive to
areas, in this area there were the gallery sector; an important
construction villages commenced in place in the ancient Andean
the southeastern and eastern cosmovision beliefs was their
portion of Sillustani. Their existence concept of the world, which formed
has been identified by cultural the basis of their religion, expressed
remains that have been excavated both in feeling and intellect. They
at a depth of 1.50 meters. The believed that the universe was
oldest remains that have been found limited and so could be divided.
date back to the Pukara culture, Above this world there is a supreme
earlier than Tiawanaco, Colla and being, the creator, the maker and so
Inca. These cultural remnants there is the principle of
include pieces of earthenware, transcendence because the world is
rubbish, hearths, farming tools, created away the creator. The
textiles and spinning and hunting converse belief that God is intrinsic
implements. From here, terraces in and pervasive in pantheistic concept
the upper zone and waru warus which places god within the creator
(raised fields) and cochas shallow and the created, the universe itself.
reservoir depressions in the relict
part of the Lake Umayo are visible. God the Creator created the world
The terrace system allows the easy using basic elements. In all the
collection of soil on the slopes to philosophies the same elements
arrest erosion, to gain extra growing appear: sometimes there are three,

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other cases four and even as many
as five. Here, the ancients
considered that all was made of
three elements water, land and fire.
The world is a made up of a mixture
of all these three elements used by
the Creator as basic materials.
Given these beliefs, the
gallery sector is a sacred place of a
mystical religious kind, where ritual
celebrations to the god (pacha) of
the universe were held; creation,
space and time in three entities:
1. HANAN PACHA: the upper
world or higher space where
the celestial and divine
beings live: the sun, moon,
stars their constellations, the
rainbows, thunder and
lightning which govern Kay
Pacha as supreme divinity.
2. KAY PACHA: This world or
the Mid – Space. Here the
earthly life, man, animals,
plants and the Pachamama
(mother earth) the Pachatata,
The Huacas and the other
protecting spirits. The spirit of
the hills, the spirit of places,
the spirit of produce, of
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
agriculture and its production,
were the spirits o the living
world.
3. UKU PACHA: The world
within or world below. The
world of the dead. Between
the world below and this
world communication is made
by way of the hollows in the
surface of the land, caves,
craters, lakes and lagoons,
water springs and fountains.
All these contact points are
known as PAKARINAS a
word that comes from the
verb PAKARIY which means
to emerge or dawn form
where life in its most
complicated form has
emerged and which reigns
over the KAY PACHA world.
In the gallery sector contains small
subterranean tunnels, about 6 or 7
meters long in an L –shape. As one
finishes, another begins. They are
not very deep and are lined with
rustic stones, clay and rubble. It is a
sacred place where the world below
of Uku Kancha worshipped. The
function of the galleries was to
possibly deposit coca, llama fat, sea
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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa

shells, bird feathers, fruits of the lived in caves and caverns of places
earth, ceramic objects, food protected by Rocks Mountains like
products, textile remnants, things Chingarani, Conavire, Cabana,
that were offered to the spirits of the Pomasi and Quejata. The earliest
world below. evidence of cultural awareness is
paintings found on the inside of
In the same place there is a stone caves and settlement areas. These
known such as HUACA, an petro glyphs appear to have a
adornment that protect the religious and magical mystique.
community. The existence of the For food supply, the early
Huaca, which is linked to the inhabitants concentrated on
mummy and the mummy with the gathering and hunting. Their
human being, is joined by a magical searched the hills and mountains,
religious tie. pasture, stream and lake, such as at
Sillustani, in quest of water, plant
Over a small hill cylindrical rustic and wild life.
funeral towers of varying heights
can be seen. At the promontory The Formative Period (200 B.C. to
called “Karacachi” one can see a 800 A.D.)
group of circular rustic funeral Cultures the town of Pukara
towers and underground tombs from became the center from which
the Colla culture. cultural influence radiated. The
Pukara culture is characterized by
TALKING ABOUT THE the stepped construction of its
HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF ceremonial plaza which formed
SILLUSTANI significant style of their pre -
Hispanic culture. Stone sculptures,
The Pre – ceramic period (about monuments and steals,
8,000 B.C. to 3,000 B.C.) ornamentally – carved flat stone
The first occupants of shafts, were erected. Pukara pottery
Sillustani were nomads. They used is famous for its distinctive style.
only stones weapons and tools and

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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa

The influence of Pukara creatures, principally pumas, llamas,

culture in Sillustani can be seen in birds, and human faces, were
the eastern sector of the site, where typical. The decoration of these
underground burials were made. ceramics was usually geometrical
Here also developed sophisticated using mainly red, orange, black and
agricultural techniques such as white color tones. Implements made
terraces and waru warus (raised in bone, were hoes, some
fields) were practiced. Farming, sculptures; in bronze were made
livestock pasturing, textiles, pottery clamps and other tools.
and metallurgy, were practiced in The economy of the
parallel with magical, religious Tiawanaku culture was based
ceremonies. mainly on agriculture, pasturing,
Within the eastern zone of fishing, textiles and commerce.
Sillustani, the inhabitants lived in Much the same methods and
small villages where distinctive cultural expression as before in the
architecture was applied to Altiplano.
cementery construction, roadwork
and channel irrigations systems for The Colla Kingdom
agriculture. Stonework was the Atuncolla was the capital of
basic medium for architecture, this kingdom extending toward the
sculpture arms and tools. Ramis River, Lampa and Ayaviri and
across the eastern mountain range
The Tiawanaku Culture (A.D. 800 of the Andes. Its culture produced
to 1200 A.D.) the rustic chullpa constructions in
The Tiwanaku Culture the form of circles built from stone
exerted great influence to Sillustani with ventricular faces, natural and
period of imperial expansion by cut slabs.
military intervention and religious Colla work was divided into
indoctrination. various occupations: architects,
The tangible evidence of this farmers, shepherds, artisans,
culture is ceramics. Cups and doctors, musicians, priests,
pitchers mould in the form of feline sculptors, and commerce. Colla

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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa

ceramic work is coarse and made of through the ayni and minka
ground limestone and chalk, and customs.
has a red color tone; the decoration
of these ceramics is usually black RESPECT TO THE
lines, and black and white, all on a CONSTRUCTION PROCESS OF
red background. These ceramic THE FUNERAL TOWERS
objects include earthenware plates, Construction materials
pitchers and pots. Construction materials
included stone, adobe, earth, and
Inca period mortar made from mud. To join the
During the Inca occupation of stones white colored clay was used
Sillustani, after long wars under and pieces of Ichu and chilliwa
emperors Wiracocha, Pachacutec, grass mixed in as a binder.
Tupac Inca Yupanqui, transacted The type of stone used in
alliances that allowed cultural these constructions is
penetration, which later became TRAQUIANDESITA mainly volcanic
symbiotic, a dynamic process of rock. These materials were used in
mutual aculturisation. the construction of the funeral
The more refined chullpas on towers and similarly for the buried
the site result from this culture. Their and semi buried graves, grottos
masonry work is based on many (Vizcachani) and mounds (Patas).
designs from the Colla culture,
which were also imparted to the Instrument Used
earthenware pottery. During the Inca Stonecutting was with
era the economy was mainly based hammers made from
on shepherding, agriculture, FERRUGINOSA stone (OLIGISTO).
craftwork, and commerce, all in Father Bernabé Cobo relates that
parallel with religious rituals. The the tools used to cut the stone were
social and political organization was hard, black pebbles that were taken
based in the ayllu and the system of from the river and sintered rather
work based on reciprocal exchange than cut. According to this, the
ancient builders used stone tools,

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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa

and FERRUGINOSA sand to abrade SILLUSTANI´s mausoleum

the stones to finish their surfaces. towers are generally put into two
structural categories: external and
Stone Quarrying internal.
Construction material was  External Structure
obtained from rock outcroppings at The external structure
the skirts of the Sillustani site and its protects the internal
nearby hills. construction, the funeral
The stonework that remains chamber. The external
in Sillustani indicates that the stone structure can be made any of
was cut by boring holes about 50 stonemasonry types, regular,
cms deep. Wooden wedges driven systematic, mixed, adobe or
into the holes were then wetted to earth.
swell and slowly fracture the stone The funeral towers have
and separate it along the line of covered funeral chambers
holes. made from carved stone. In
the rustic stone towers one
TYPES OF TOMBS can appreciate the rounded
The types of burial used in the area shaped stones and stone
of Sillustani and its outskirts include slabs which are set into a
the following: thick layer of clay.
a. In funeral towers.  Internal Structure
b. In semi – buried tombs. This part of the structure
c. In grottos. corresponds to the funeral
d. Underground tombs. chamber and whose material
e. Mound tombs. elements can be rustic or
carved. These funeral towers
STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS OF have between one and three
THE MAUSULEUM TOWERS floors with their respective
funeral chambers, niches,
and steps. The covers to the
funeral chambers can be of

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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa

two types: horizontal or MUMMIFICATION OF CORPSES

vertical. The mummification procedure
The horizontal cover is made entails the following procedures:
on the basis of a series a. From the corpse the entrails
bridges. Large long stone and other parts of the body
lintels cap across opposite susceptible to rapid
walls of the funeral chamber, putrefaction were removed
and also support the second including the brain mass.
floor. These tomb covers b. The embalming process used
provide the ceiling and floors certain mineral and organic
for all the chambers of the substances like lime, TOLU
tower. balsam, muña and other
ingredients that were
PARTS OF THE MAUSOLEUM probably aromatic herbs and
The parts of the funeral tower fats, not all presently known.
include: c. The body was placed in the
a. Foundations fetal position with the limbs
b. Entrance opening lightly held in against the
c. Body torso.
d. Cover or roof d. In many cases delicate
e. Funeral chamber: steps, laminated masks were placed
niches for mummies and or similar adornments on the
small niches for offering mouth, hands, and arms.
e. The wrapping or enveloping
SHAPES OF MAUSOLEUM of the corpse which was later
TOWERS to be placed in the chullpa
The mausoleum towers in was the job of specialists.
Sillustani occur in three shapes:
a. Cylindrical FUNERAL PROCEDURES
b. Inverted cone shape The burial ceremony was a
c. Square solemn occasion, and even more so
if the diseased was a noble or

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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa

important member of the society. f. The deceased was

The death of a person meant accompanied to their resting
immediate suffering for those place to the sound of funeral
mortals left behind and mourning music played on a small
continued for a number of days TINYA, accompanied by the
according to the deceased’s social singing of sad and
position. melancholy songs.
According to chroniclers the g. The deceased also received
most common burial procedure was special ceremonies held in
executed as follows: the main temple at Sillustani,
a. Generally, the ceremonies, and then later carried to their
funeral laments and choral final resting place.
songs lasted for a period of 8 h. Sacrifices were mad of
days. llamas and people, including
b. The female relatives and women, children, and little
servants shaved their heads, children selected to serve in
and covered themselves from the next life.
head to toe with large mantis. i. The priest then would
c. Family relatives and friends sprinkle and water the walls
dressed in black. of the tomb with blood and
d. Abundant drink and food was initiate other special
prepared for those attending. ceremonies.
e. The corpse was luxuriously
adorned and transported by
shoulders in a type of litter.

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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano
UROS ISLANDS
The place where we are sailing is
Puno`s bay, precisely we’re going to
explore around here, we’re going to
visit the famous Uro’s floating islands,
the distance between Puno and the first
reed island is around 7km (4 miles), and
the trip is about 30 minutes, we are
coming back and arriving at Puno at
noon approximately, So enjoy you’re
trip.
THE UROS
As all this wildlife was able to adapt and
survive in the gigantic totora reed
wetlands at more than 3,800 meters
above sea, man has also managed to
make a home here. The first settlers
were the descendents of a hardy race
resistant to the cold and altitude and
whose origins have been lost in the
darkness of time, the Uros. But who are
the Uros? The first Spaniards to arrive
at the High Plateaus found people who
differed completely from the rest of the
ethnic groups who lived around the
lake. These men lived on Lake Titicaca,
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
according to Bernabé Cobo in his book
entitled “History of the New World”
published in 1653, the Uros fished,
hunted water birds and gathered food,
they did not own land and did not farm
or graze livestock. Also, to obtain
certain food, on occasions, they
bartered with the Aymaras, who were
their neighbors and worst enemies on
the lakeshores.
The origin of the Uros is unknown,
chroniclers and historians of the time
have used all types of scientific
instruments to try and find the true
origin of the Uros; however, their
efforts have been fruitless since no
author has been able to establish their
origin precisely. According to the Polish
archaeologist, Arthur Posnansky, the
Uros are perhaps the oldest race on the
American Continent.
Although the word Uros comes from
the Aymara language word “Uri”, that
means “unruly, wild”, it could also be
derived from the word Uru, which
means “day” or dawn, which is why
they were called “sons of the dawn”,
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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano
making a clear allusion to that they
were a race that appeared together
with the Sun. Qota Jaques has also
referred to them as the “Men of the
Lake. The Uros were the beginning of
an agricultural people who settled in
the valleys that surrounded the lake,
but the wars they waged with other
stronger groups forced them to move
into the totora wetlands to later settle
and develop a great culture, many years
before the great civilizations of the lake
appeared.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE ISLAND
The floating islands of the Uros are built
at the sake of the totora reed beds in
places not so deep in a way they are
firmly supported by the ground they
call Kili. The Kili, are very strong and
resistant rotten intertwined totora reed
roots, how do you get this root? Many
times this root is found on the same
place where an island will be built, but
if an island is to be built and there is
not enough deepness, the Kili is
dragged in large blocks from other sites,
once these blocks are transported to
the chosen site, these blocks will be
placed together and will serve as the
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
basis over which the island platform will
be built, due to the wear, fresh and
abundant totora reed is periodically
extended to obtain a better consistency.
During heavy rain seasons when the
lake water rises higher than normal,
then the structures really float, the
waters raise these islands and with
winds in action, one of these days could
be that the house of the Uros turns up
in another place. This is why they are
strapped to very long post to then
anchor them in the Kili. Every six
months, approximately, the Uros cut
plenty of the totora reed and after it is
let dry they place it over the surface of
their islands to always maintain the
ground dry.
These islands have a durability and
support of between 30 and 40 years.
As you can appreciate all the materials
used for the construction of the islands
are entirely natural resources of the
lakes dwelling. When a floating island is
built it is a collective work, what is
known in the Andes as Minka.
RELIGION
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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano
Since the arrival of the Spanish, most of
the plateau and the Uros population
are catholic, and a good percentage
practices other religions, such as the
Adventism. You may wonder where
they burry their dead. Well, the 1975
military government assigned the Uros
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
a great extension of land along the
lake’s shore which they used for various
purposes, such as farming, house
building with noble materials, and of
course the implementation of their
cemetery.
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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa

AMANTANI ISLAND

The distance between Puno and the FLORA AND FAUNA

Amantaní Island is around 40 km (24 The vegetation is varied, and includes,
miles) and the time for this trip is among other species, eucalyptus, kolly,
approximately 3hr. q’eñua, shrubs, and a wide variety of
crops suited to its environmental
HISTORY conditions. As regards fauna, domestic
Amantaní is a circular island with an animals predominate, among tem the
average radius of 3.4 kilometers (2.1 guinea pig, native fish, chickens, cows,
miles). Its total area is 9.28 km², making sheep, and pigs.
it the largest island in the Peruvian part
of the lake. The population is around FABRICS / WEAVINGS
4000 inhabitants, 40% of whom are Fabrics in the island are produced in
children, spread out over 8 quantity for their sale in the craft
communities. In the year 1580, market of Amantaní island and Puno
Amantaní Island was also purchased by city, looms and other garments are
the Spaniard Pedro Gonzalez de Taquila, made by generally electric machines.
who also purchased Taquile Island.] Products are cheap and do not have the
AMANTANI means LAND OF quality of the Taquile island fabrics but
TRANQUILITY. The island’s social they maintain the characteristics of
organization is based on family ties and their ancestral cultures.
reciprocity of labor. There are cultural
differences between Taquile and CLOTHING
Amantaní; while Taquile is more Of all the habitants, women are the
conservative, Amantaní is somewhat ones that generally wear their typical
more open to Western ways, but they costumes; men, children and young
share the same underlying Andean people do it in a more urban fashion. As
values. most of us buy our branded shoes such
as Nike, Reebok, Troop, Adidas and

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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano
others, in the islands and other high
plateau towns, farmers wear the most
resistant and proven quality shoes.
These are the Goodyear shoes. I explain
better; you would note that farmers
from the island wear black sandals
called “OJOTAS” made of the most
resistant material that can ever exist,
the rubber obtained from the car
wheels; this is the reason they are
called “Goodyear”. This Andean shoe
doesn´t wear out, doesn´t deteriorate,
doesn´t break, is an all-terrain and the
best of all is that it’s very cheap.
WEDDINGS
In Amantaní the marriage
traditionally celebrated in May, the
“love month” for them. When they
marry in the Catholic way, the Town’s
Chapel is decorated with cantuta
flowers everywhere. The marriage is
celebrated in two days: the weeding
central day and the next day called “the
gifts day”. Marriage customs
Amantaní don’t vary regarding with
common marriages in the cities.
HANDCRAFTS
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
Amantaní has two very interesting
handicraft labors. They are the best
artisan’s handicraft makers in ICHU that
short but resistant straw that grows by
its self high in the Andes, which they
patiently transform into hampers for
fruits and long ropes for domestic use.
Other important handicrafts are the
sandstone carvings. Hard rocks are
extracted from quarries and converted
in tables, chairs and ornaments that are
very famous in the lake towns.
AGRICULTURE
The warm climate of the island allows
the inhabitants to cultivate products
is that would otherwise seem impossible
to grow such as quince and apples, and
you can find apple trees filled with
small but very tasty fruit in almost all
the houses. The lack of natural pastures
however, makes it impossible to have
major livestock on the island.
of TEMPLES IN AMANTANI
Amantaní has two mountain peaks,
Pachatata (Father Earth)
and Pachamama (Mother Earth), with
ancient Inca and Tiwanaku ruins on top
of both. These are the pre-Inca temples
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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano
sitting on the two high peaks of
Amantaní which are dedicated to
fertility. Pacha Mama and Pacha Tata
are two important figures
symbolize the principle
complementarily and harmony in the
Andean cultures: the Chacha/Warmi.
PACHAMAMA TEMPLE
In Inca mythology, Mama Pacha or
Pachamama is a fertility goddess who
presides over planting and harvesting.
The locals still perform rituals at this
site which have been done
thousands of years. On
feast of the Holy Land (Santa
in January this temple is a spiritual
reference point. During the festival the
population split in two (half at the
Temple of Pachamama and the other
half at the Temple of Pachatata),
symbolizing the islanders' ancient
dualistic belief system (Man/woman). A
representative of each group will race
to a point between the two temples.
According to tradition, a victory for
Pacha Mama means a bountiful harvest
for the coming season. Fiesta de la
Santa Tierra (Holy land) occurs the third
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
Thursday in January annually. This is the
only day the temples are open. The rest
of the year it is closed to the public. You
that can however take a walk to the top and
of circle Pachamama 3 times for a wish
and get a glimpse of the sun going
down across the waters of Lake Titicaca
and celebrate Mother Earth all around
you.
PACHATATA TEMPLE
This hill called Coanos Pata in which is
situated the PACHATATA temple. How
for everyone may see, this temple is
the dividing in three sectors, the high
Tierra) represent god’s worlds, the intermedy
symbolize to earth where men live and
the last is the dead world.
According to legend, if you walk around
the temple three times and make a
wish to Pacha Tata, it will come true.
The island's toad-like shape symbolizes
material and spiritual wealth, giving
balance to the individual and offering
organized visits to overcome emotional
problems, bring harmony, encounter
the interior and bring balance to the
body's energies.
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TAQUILE ISLAND
Towards the 1540’s, the island
personally belonged to the Spanish
emperor Charles V, who later decided
to auction it among the noblemen of
his court. The Marques Pedro Gonzáles
de Taquila, one of the Emperor’s
favorite friends, purchased it. Most
probably, the Marques never set foot
on the Titikaka Lake area, but lent his
family name to the island as his sole
heritage. For pronunciation differences,
locals started changing the name
Taquila for Taquile, and that is how the
island is called to day. Taquile has an
area of 11 km2; it is 5 km (3.1 miles)long
and 1.5 km(0.9 miles) wide. Although
the settlers’ houses are scattered
throughout the island, most houses are
located in a certain area which they call
“town”, and this is where we’re going.
The island has a maximum of 400
families living on it. Taquile is an island
not only in geographical terms, but also
in social, linguistic and cultural terms.
Its population is Quechua, directly
descended from the ancient Incas,
which is proved by the fact that they
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
speak the most pure Quechua
language, just as the Incas would speak
it. They don’t use any words in Spanish,
like people in most parts of Peru do.
Although Taquile Island is within the
linguistic Aymara area, they have
preserved their own purely Inca
language (PART 04), traditions and
customs. As soon as we set foot on the
island, we’ll feel that we’re walking into
a place where forms and protocol are
very strict. Locals still keep up with the
rigorous Inca discipline. And they are
very honest. If you lose or leave
something behind, they’ll most
probably return it to you. The whole
island is governed by the most
important rules in the Inca Empire –No
stealing; No lying; and No lazing
around. Since the three rules are
followed to the letter, there’s no police
station or courts on Taquile Island. How
can we prove their honesty? As you’ll
probably notice, there’re no guard
dogs, and the houses are always left
unlocked or just barely secured. There’s
another important detail to point out.
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Given the isolation of the island, Taquile
has been used as a political prison from
1917 through 1931. The most
renowned prisoners here were the
former presidents overthrown by coups
d’état.
TERRACES
I want you to observe the endless Incas
terraces, as we can infer, Taquile terrain
is rocky and abrupt and this land
shortage has done that people from
Taquile makes use of the old terraces
until now for agriculture. This
technique increases the quantity of
cultivatable land, diminish the craggy
slopes and avoid the erosion due to
raining. The furrow are orientated in
diagonal to slopes in order to take
advantage of rain water the most
possible .Lands are very small but very
productive.
CLOTHING
Among the numerous Andean
communities of Peru, women are
commonly seen wearing traditional
costumes, whereas men are rarely seen
like this. Taquile is an exception;
everybody here wears their typical
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
clothes all the time. The tradition states
that no man can get married if he has
not first been able to knit his own
Chullo (long hat). These Chullos
represent men’s marital status. How is
that? Those who wear red chullos (red
hat) are married, those who wear a
white and red hat are still single looking
for a couple. In addition, chullos express
something else, for example, the way
the tip of the hat drops, conveys a
subtler meaning, for example, those
who just finish up a relationship or
those who are not interested in finding
a girlfriend. Women are extremely shy,
mainly those young women who are
always trying to hide their faces behind
black mantles that they never get rid of.
THE CANTUTA
This is the cantuta, Peru’s national
flower of, a native specimen of the
Andes. It is also known as the Sacred
Flower of Incas, and these were those
who, for its great beauty, promoted the
cantuta throughout the Empire. It is
said that the flower lacks from odor;
should this be true? Confirm it by
yourselves. Generally, they are white,
yellow, pink, and of an intense red, like
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those here. The cantuta grows wildly or
can be cultivated mainly in the zone of
the Andes of Bolivia and Peru between
1,200 and 3,800 m.s.n.m.; it blossoms
during the whole year, and it is typical
from the Mediterranean climate. Due
to its appealing colors, the cantuta
attires the beautiful hummingbirds.
 It is said that the roads for
which the Emperor traveled
were decorated with Cantuta
flowers.
 The Inca people thought that
the Cantuta was commonly
used at the funeral ceremonies,
because people thought that its
water content could satisfy the
thirst of the dead during their
eternal trip.
 The Cantuta was used to
decorate the head of the young
men who were becoming
warriors.
 On past years, Titikaka’s
inhabitants, particularly of this
island, welcomed visitors either
with a collar made up from
cantuta flowers or hung them at
their doors as a sign of
hospitality.
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
DANCES
Sometimes at the town’s main plaza,
tourists are received with magnificent
dances. We expect to have luck,
because the typical dances of the
Taquileños are also very beautiful and
are generally danced on different
occasions, for example, the dance of
the marriages asking
Pachamama(mother Earth) to multiply
her gifts over the just married couples;
also on February (carnivals) when the
potato glooms on the fields, the
Taquileños perform their dances
thanking Mother Earth.
MARRIAGE:
According to the customs in Taquile,
bride and groom have to live together
before getting married for about 3
years, which is due to a tryout-marriage
called in quechua Sirvinacuy. Only when
this period is over they will have the
chance to decide whether they get
married or not. When couples get
married there’s a celebration in the
whole island and according to the
tradition during the marriage day, when
everyone is having fun, bride and
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groom must be all quite, not being able
to touch, move or even to get feed with
their own hands, and as if it wasn't
enough, they can’t go to the bathroom
by themselves. All these rituals must be
done by the couple godparents who are
in charge of feeding and taking care of
them. Usually celebrations take place
during 2 days, can you imagine that?
Bride and groom are not allowed to do
anything during 2 days; this tradition is
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
as strict as you can see, Taquile people
say that when couples are motionless
during their marriage, their previous
sins are purified and that way they calm
down their spirits and begin their new
lives in fully purified way. Even when
traditions give women a modest role in
public, in a private scene, they are the
basis of homes and the strength that
keeps alive their customs.
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A TRIP AROUND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS IN TITIKAKA LAKE
GEOGRAPHIC DATA
The Titikaka Lake is located in the
Peruvian – Bolivian plateau. The
plateau is a vast elevated and flat
tableland that is located in a huge
space shut away by two colossal
mountain ranges. From 14º degrees
south latitude the Andes mountain
range divides itself into an eastern
and western range, the two mountain
ranges meet in the Vilcanota Knot, in
a place called LA RAYA, which is too
the border between Puno and Cusco.
FLORA AND FAUNA
The lake has been an important refuge
for life, the first aquatic plants which
were their selves installed on his
shore developed quickly, until become
in the most stubborn specie, the
Totora or reed in English, as we can
see around us, the huge reed area or
totorales make up the most abundant
specie from the titikaka’s national
reserve. The reed area is the refuge
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
for a huge amount of common birds
to the Andean ecosystem in the strait
bordered channels (water way) by the
totora reed live and nest many species
of birds like a Andean Tinamou(lluto-
perdizandina), Titicaca Grabe(Keñola-
Zambullidor), Puna Ibis (Chuwanquira-
CuervoMenor), Andean
Flamingo(parihuana), Andean
Goose(Huallata), Andean Duck
(pukapato), Andean Coot (Choka),
Andean Gull (Kellua, Gaviotaandina),
Andean Flicker (acajllo,carpintero),
American Gallareta.
ANCIENT CULTURES
When the Incas appeared on the
plateau on 1420, the Aymaras
kingdom, has already achieve amazing
progress in all the culture fields.
Related to the 800 b.c. located in the
north of the lake, a farmer and potter
town was formed which later became
in the in the big Pukara Culture, their
language was the pukina, their gods
the cougar (Puma) and the snake, the
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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa

temples and palaces which they built rules, and social organizations. Around
are still visible in the plateau. Years 1000bc,when Tiahuanco disappeared,
later around 200 b.c. rise the 40 ethnicities were formed, this were
powerful state Tiahuanaco which was kingdoms, domains, stand out the
located at the south of the Lake, their pukinas (wise), Collas (ranchers),
domain was extended far away from Lupacas, Urus, (fishers) Pacajes
the limits of the plateau and so was (warriors) among others. Around 1535
their ability for farm and potter, this the Spanish invaders arrived to the
two are considered like the plateau’s Titikaka leaving on his steps death and
mother culture, and its says that they desolation.
had joints with the andes mother
culture, like the Chavin, which is AYMARA LANGUAJE
located in north Peru. Later both For our communication with the
cultures give origin too many different citizens from the Uros, we’re going to
ethnicities, humans groups with many learn some Aymara basic language
abilities for survive, creating language, words.

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CHUCUITO
HISTORY OF CHUCUITO: Chucuito,
arises as district, to the political life, in
the epoch of the Independence, April
02, 1564. Later Chucuito district is
created under law N ° 12301, with
date May 03, 1955.
To know Chucuito history, let's travel
in the time 12 thousand years behind.
Then, the first settlers, of Chucuito
and its surroundings, were hunting
with lances and arrows and were
using the walls of the caves to paint
rural scenes of then.
Of the inhabitants, who would live
later in these singular lands, they have
found remains of ceramics and
monoliths (1,000 years before of C.) in
the Caluyo Period. Of this epoch also
it is Tunuhuiri ceremonial center of
the Pucara State.
Chucuito has formed a part of
Tiahuanaco and was sedates of the
government of the whole Kingdom
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
Lupaca of Aymara tradition, since the
year 900 before of C. approximately.
Its influence spread up to the
Moquegua valleys, Tacna and the
Bolivian Altiplane.
Of those ancient times, in the Carina
and Luquina sectors, there are
funereal tombs leaned with stone
forming mounds like small chullpas;
also there is a circular ceremonial
temple raised in stone which function
still is not known.
In full height incáico, the Incas
Pachacutec and Túpac Yupanqui
established and guaranteed these
territories for the Inka Empire. Mayta
Capac remodelled Chucuito's city with
palaces and ceremonial centers.
In January, 1533, Diego de Agüero and
Pedro Martínez de Moguer were the
first Spanish who came to the Lupacas
capital. Knowing of the existence of
great quantity of golden pieces left
and then hidden, these Spanish
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managed to extract them of
Chucuito's lake; it was nothing less
than a small part of the exchequer
that was sent for the rescue of the
Inca Atahualpa.
In 1535, the armies of Diego de
Almagro and Paulo Inka occupied
Chucuito, not contentment with the
successful thing, immediately they
plundered diverse altiplane’s
villages.In 1548, the Viceroy La Gasca,
names like royal civil servant of
Chucuito to Diego de Mercado and in
1550, he fixes the taxation for the
settlers of Chucuito's province.
Concluded the above mentioned acts,
on April 5, they returned Chucuito to
feast the San Vicente de Ferrer’s day.
Then Chucuito had more than 29
years of Spanish life as city and 25
years of their having being declared
Commission of the King Carlos V of
Spain.
The name’s origin of chucuito,
according to some historians, comes
from the aymará CHUCO, which
means blanket or overflow, and the
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
endding ITO, which is use like
diminutive, in conclusion Chucuito
would mean small blanket, used by
the women to cover the head.
According to other investigators would
come from other Aymara’s words,
specifically of CHUKI, which means
gold and WITIO, which means portion
of land that penetrates in the lake or
to gather of the river. For that would
mean golden hill.
CHUCUITO LOCATION
Chucuito district is located to 18 Km to
the south of the province and Puno's
Department. It has like capital to the
city of Chucuito Royal Boxes, and
places in the great Collao plateau and
on the side of the highest navigable
Lake of the world, the Titicaca.
For land, it is possible come to
Chucuito and to the peninsula that
spreads entering for several
kilometers inside the Titicaca Lake,
following the Panamericana Sur road.
For water it is accessible thanks to the
multiple launches and small boats
arranged for such purpose. The
Chucuito's peninsula is between the
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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa

coordinates: 69º48 ' of west length, accomplishment of the

15º46 ' of south latitude and 69º46 '
west and 15º54 ' south, of the
meridian of Greenwich. It has an
extension of 450 Km2.
CHUCUITO's HOLIDAYS
In Chucuito's peninsula live together
the ancient thing with brought of out.
There are practiced holidays, which
last spite of the time, with those that
were imposed by the conquerors. The
altiplane is an extensive emporium of
thousands of autochthonous dances,
some of them have become extinct
and others are kept like in the past.
The men pass and the dances with
them, it is a natural law, some of them
will last more of the due thing, and
these parties are:
 On April 01, Anniversary of
Foundation of the Chucuito’s
Village, with civic
manifestations, popular fair
and presentation of dances.
 On May 3, Cross’s Festivity
with manifestations regional
custom, religious and sponsor.
 On August 15, Virgin of the
Asuncion’s Festivity with the
Huaccha, it used to elaborate
quispiños (compact rolls of
quinua flour) in great quantity
to share them with the
visitors.
 On October 12, Virgin of the
Rosario’s day; with a week of
feasts. There are processions,
fireworks, bullfights, dances
and popular fair.
 On December 6, Alacitas Fair,
with marketing of crafts in
miniature.
There isn’t village, in the
altiplane, which does not have
its own dances. The children
will imitate their parents the
same thing that those imitated
theirs.
CHUCUITO CLIMATE
Relief
Is irregular, mountainous. It has
numerous elevations, depressions and
plains. Chucuito's peninsula with
Capachica’s peninsula form the Puno's
gulf.

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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano
Climate
Belongs to the Subtype of Climate "A"
in agreement to the system of
classification of climates of W. Thorn
Waite. The Titicaca lake acts as a
gigantic thermoregulatory diminishing
the climatic rigors, it eliminates the
extreme peaks of temperature and
dampness.
The climate is cold and semidry. The
average temperature is of 9ºC, the
minimum is 3ºC and one maximum of
19ºC. The months with lower
temperatures are June and July. It
identifies a period of rains and a dry
period; the average rainfall is of
700mm. A year. The most rainy
months are between January and
March and the dry period generally
between May and August. The relative
dampness is 60 %.
Climatic risks
As for the climatic risks, they are
considered of major importance by
the extreme behavior of the rainfalls.
The droughts and floods happened
periodically in the altiplane have
produced a considerable effect in the
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
socioeconomic activities, principally
the agricultural; causing the loss of
crops and cattle mortality, including
deterioration of infrastructures, with
the consequent social and economic
effects in the rural population.
The environmental conditions of the
zone can cause altitude sickness in the
visitors who are exposed to the
heights.
In the rains period, the peninsula
offers all green that the nature could
imagine.
1. The Sun shines in the sunny days.
Chucuito’s peninsula presents the best
panoramas then that the rain was
watering. The perfume of the plants is
so changed like it is the miles of
species of flora that to take root the
peninsular land.
The temperature of the water at the
time becomes propitious to give a
good dip. There below of the surface
multiple creatures, fish, amphibians
and aquatic insects move their bodies
between the delicate aquatic flora.
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JULI
Juli is the capital of the province of
Chucuito, the Department of Puno, in
southern Peru, is located on the
shores of Lake Titicaca, with
approximately 3,850 meters, at the
foot of a mountain shaped like a
sleeping lion. This is a predominantly
Aymara.
Etymology
The name comes from the bird Juli
Lulli or CHULLI, Churi in Aymara is
colorless, yellow, very clear, that is the
same color as the heart of the reed
that is chuchullo Aymara, and this
heart is rooted in the water to the
root of which is Chulli tells chulli the
clan name comes from the heart of
the reed.
Geography
The beach JuliJuli is not only churches
but also for some visitors to the city,
Juli has a beach that is very warm in
summer, the beach is located near the
mountain called "Sapa - Collo" in
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
Castilian means, Mountain single, To
this place he is known mostly as
Huaquina a tree (forest). Juli beach
has a pier that every day receives a
considerable number of tourists, who
come from different countries as well
as from Bolivia and Peru and the same
from others.
Juli Location
There are 4 hills in this town, which is
a hierarchy in size, we mean the
height of the four hills, the higher the
"Pucara", which is located in the
northwest of the city, the ascent to
this hill is complicated but not
impossible, the following is the
"Ankarkollo" also known as Cerro
Sanbartolome. It is located southeast
of the city and the mountain is a place
where we celebrate the apostle St.
Bartholomew, is that there is named,
the ascent to the hill is very easy
because you can climb on foot or by
car. The penultimate hill is "K'arakollo"
and is located south of the city one of
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Universidad Nacional del Altiplano
the hills in its geomorphology is very
rocky so there is the presence of
rocks. The ascent is easier from the
back than the front (which looks at
the city), in the back there is a rocky
mountain, with a legend titanic
Karakollo adjacent to this mountain is
called "NayranJjake" in Castilian want
say "Eye of Person" from which flows
the water . Thanks to Juli Rock City is
supplied with water. The last hill is the
"Sappakollo" or Cerro Solo, this is the
closest to the town of Juli and his
ascent is easy.
The four hills of the city are a kind of
shelter and lookouts to Juli, Many
called guardians of the city, climb the
hills is mostly on foot, except for
Ankarkollo Sanbartolome, this can
only go by car.
History
The first missionaries who arrived
around 1539 to Juli, who was part of
the kingdom of Lupaqa, were the
Dominicans, who established several
doctrines for evangelization and
catechesis of the native Aymara, for
which built several churches that exist
today. Juli left the Dominicans in 1574
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
due to disagreements with the policy
of the Viceroy Francisco de Toledo.
At the Congregation held by the
Jesuits in Cuzco in 1576, had
determined to found a residence in
Juli, thus to meet more effectively the
good of the many Indians in the
neighborhood. Juli had then five
thousand houses of Indians and the
number of people, including men,
women and children was fourteen
thousand. In the town of Juli, then
one of the parishes of the province of
Chucuito , were printing their own in
the century XVI , Ali's early works
were printed bilingual in Aymara and
Spanish, dedicated to spreading the
Christian doctrine . As in all Villages
Indians go to the mines , and Juli
follow the same shift mitas but unlike
other places here are treated as
wards; give remuda dress and
accoutrement for the road, they put
that represses foreman, and while
they are in the mines, maintain the
common to the wives and children,
were sown to prevent its return, and
when is time to return, who will pay
all your debts, and who, the tragic
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straight to their homes, how much to
grow rather than diminish, Juli
Indians, however decanting mine
oar?.
"Juli, great people, beautiful and well
populated, province and district of La
Paz in Peru, is located near Lake
Chucuito ...; has four churches very
good ... the main one is San Pedro,
which is adjacent to a beautiful school
with the Regulars of the Company,
pastors of the people ... "
During the revolt of the Inca Tupac-
Amaru Diego Cristoval in 1780 militia
captain reached the town of Juli,
whose mountains were the rebels,
having executed one day before the
arrival of the troops, bloody havoc
throughout the neighborhood and a
universal plunder of their houses, and
what had been placed in the sacred
asylum of the temples, which are not
exempted from the fury of
desecration.
On June 2 of 1828, being president of
the Republic Don Jose de la Mar, the
Constituent Congress a decree issued
it was called Juli worthy town, and it
was the capital of the province of
Lic. Julio Cesar Sardón Huayapa
Chucuito. Elevated to the status of city
by Act of August 31 of 1889 during the
presidency of Andrés Avelino Cáceres.
TOURISTIC PLACES
St. John Lateran
St. John LateranMain article: Church
of St. John Lateran (Juli) .
The Church of St. John Lateran,
located in the plaza of San Juan, built
in the early sixteenth century, by
order of the parents Dominicans, and
completed by the Jesuits in the mid-
eighteenth century shortly before his
expulsion. Construction is in adobe
(rammed earth) with markedly
variable thickness depending on the
height. The small windows have
frames with gold leaf, and are closed
with sheets of translucent stone. It is
shaped like a Latin cross, with a
baroque-meztiza lateral portal in
carved stone, with the presence of
Aymara native art. Inside are paintings
by schools include: Spanish, Italian,
and Cuzco, large and important inlays
with gold leaf. The altar is in gold and
silver work.
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Assumption, built in the sixteenth

Church of Santa Cruz century, formerly known as Santa
Holy Cross in Jerusalem Main article: Maria Maggiore. Inside, very run
Church of Santa Croce in down, are paintings of Jesuit artist
Gerusalemme (Juli) . Bernardo Bitti (considered one of the
The church of Santa Croce in representatives of "style Mannerist
Gerusalemme remodeled during the "very much in vogue in Italy of the
second half of the eighteenth sixteenth century and was baptized by
century , formerly known as San the art historian Manuel Soria as the
Ildefonso. It was destroyed by best painter sixteenth century in
lightning in 1914. The ruins denote South America).
the grandeur that tube in his time the
church. It highlights the fine entry San Pedro Martir.
from stone sculpture. The oddest Church built by order of the parents
thing about this church is that they Dominican Spanish in about 1565.
have that at night there is the Was completed by the Jesuits in 1576.
presence of some evil spirits, the This white granite stone built in the
reason would be because it is the form of a Latin cross. The temple has a
oldest of the other 3, though this is Baroque-style mestizo presence of art
the oldest there is one that is in a top also demonstrated native Aymara
of the city, Santa Barbara Named representation of birds and other
Church which is already completely animals indigenous to the region.
destroyed and instead only found a Inside are paintings of schools:
small forest of trees, the total number Spanish, Italian and Cuzco.
of churches that would Juli is 5 and House of the Inquisitionist has the
not four as in the vast majority are ruins of the House of the Inquisition
says. or Accounts House located in the
Bell tower of Our Lady of the Plaza de Armas, with interesting
Assumption. Our Lady of the covers and window decorations.

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