Puno has many attractive places to visit, we have already visited Lake Titicaca, now it's our turn to go to the imposing Tinajani Canyon, a mega tourist attraction that will surprise you with a whole cyclopean city.
The Tinajani Canyon, Devil's Canyon or Forest of Stones is 14 kms southwest of Ayaviri, the enormous city covers 250 hectares and contemplates its huge anthropomorphic figures, at the same time it has small rivers and narrow gorges perfect for touring this colossal site.
Here you can see a variety of forms that over time have been getting different shapes such as buildings, human figures, animals, objects, towers, etc. Once you get to the top of the megalithic stones you can see the so-called tinaja or devil's bath which has a circular shape.
In the surroundings and at the end of the rocky monoliths you will find constructions in the form of clay ovens that measure 1.20 m high, in which the pre-Incas buried their dead with some kitchen utensils and bones (loose bones). The place is called Qaqallanku, which is mixed with clay and straw to give it more resistance.
In the interior there is a layer of stone in the form of skeleton to give it that solidity, completed with stone slabs as a roof, and in the higher sectors have the form of stone but similar to the anteriore tombs and so you will find with different shapes but serve the same function.
That is why Tinajani is considered as a concentrator site of positive energies that arise from the earth and the sky.
Another thing, the oldest inhabitants of the town tell us a mysterious legend, which says that during the rainy season the devil comes to this place to bathe, because there is a sound of water on the rocks and as they say is the splash that the devil is given, for them the villagers call it the devil's bath in Tinajani and is especially on the nights of full moon.
In short, the place is mysterious and at the same time surprising how nature itself creates magic, and forms that only she would understand but for humanity is the best natural expression that can be, a clear evidence that nature has a life of its own.
To get to the Tinajani Canyon you have to go to Pucara which is 2 hours from the city of Puno, from there you will come to the road that leads to Cusco, during the course you will have one of the best scenery of the highlands, grass or ichu, typical fauna that you find in the altiplano.
At the same time you will be able to see rivers, mountains, camelids of the place and when you see that you are approaching the Cordillera de la Raya in the Andes, as the snowy Chimboya then it is already a sign that you are approaching the district of Ayaviri.
Once you are in Ayaviri, you must take a mototaxi to take you to the entrance of the Tinajani Canyon, the approximate time to get there is 10 minutes. Once you arrive to this magnificent place you will be able to see a great rock that is 93 meters high, which is called El Vigia, from there you should start the walk and be impressed with the great constructions.
