La Paz City & Tiahuanaco Tour
Today you visit the important Pre-Columbian archaeological site of Tiahuanaco, located about 1 hour from La Paz. You’ll travel through the Bolivian Highlands, observing the Aymara way of life. Pass Laja, where the city of La Paz was founded in 1548, with its beautiful renaissance style church. Tiahuanaco is one of the oldest American cultures. Carbon14 dating indicates it dates back to between 1580BC and 1150 AD. It is considered the cradle of America, and one of the most advanced cultures of its time. One of the highlights will be the Gate of the Sun – probably an early astronomical observatory. Tiahuanaco was the center of a powerful, self-sustaining empire. Traditionally it is thought to have been built by the predecessors of the Inca Civilization over 2,000 years ago. It is a mysterious ruined city of extremely ancient origins. Some of the massive structures at this site, like the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx in Egypt and Baalbek in Lebanon, date from pre-flood times, as long ago as 10,500 BC.
You will also enjoy a La Paz City tour with your guide including the street markets, rich in handicrafts, weaving, and witchcraft artifacts. These are quite interesting and represent the traditional beliefs of the Ch’alla (ritual of offerings) and Pachamama (mother earth and the symbol of fertility). Visit the colonial part of the city, San Francisco Church, Murillo Square, and the outdoor replica of the Tiahuanaco temple. Then visit the modern part of the city to see how the city is growing, and how much the elevation drops. Visit the Valley of the Moon and its geological formations.