Bolivia Travel – La Paz Market Tips

1. Respect their shops

This is not a Walmart. Don’t go in and start grabbing things off the shelves here and there. The witches of the market see this as both their job and their religion. They put time and effort into helping their customers, finding the right spell or potion, and giving their spiritual advice. Even if you don’t believe in their ways, you should respect their space and their shops as you would any other religious space.

Chelsea Schmidt  (to be continued)

Bolivia Travel – La Paz

 Rather than seeking out a village witch, the residents of La Paz need only head over to the witch market to buy their cures – packaged up in bright colored, easy to grab and go, boxes.

The witches of La Paz are not there as a tourist attraction, even though a majority of their customers are now tourists. They still serve out their spells, cures, and even read fortunes for Bolivian customers. Travelers visiting the market are welcome to ask questions, pick up a herbal cure or two, but in general you get the feeling that they save the really good stuff for the “real” customers. In fact, many fortune tellers in the Witch Market will flat out refuse to read the fortunes of foreigners.

Chelsea Schmidt  (to be continued)

Bolivia Travel – La Paz Witches

 Squished into a few remaining shops, the witches of La Paz have brought traditional native ceremonies and customs to the urban masses. In small town Bolivia, witches are often a normal part of every day life. 

They are right around the corner offering their cures and spells the sick and elderly, childless couples, love struck teens, or anyone else who needing there help. In modern La Paz though, the city folk need their spells and potions packaged for their hectic, urban lifestyles.

Chelsea Schmidt  (to be continued)

Bolivia Travel – The Witch Market

 There are plenty of interesting sites to see in La Paz but if you are looking for a true Bolivia travel experience, you have to stop by the Witch Market. Located near the Iglesia de San Francisco, the La Paz Witch Market is a lot smaller than most people expect. Running down a few narrow streets, the market has been mostly taken over by tourist shops selling alpaca blankets and warm Andes sweaters. It’s a great place to pick up a few souvenirs for your family back home but this is not what you’re here to see.

 Chelsea Schmidt  (to be continued)

Bolivia Travel – City Of Contrasts

 The minute you step into La Paz, the capitol of Bolivia, you will realize that this is a city of contrasts. The downtown high-rise office buildings, the Bolivian women in their traditional skirts and top hats, the new, modern cars speeding past donkey-drawn carts… 

La Paz is a mix of modern capitalism, Spanish colonialism, and ancient Inka traditions. Somehow all these elements mix perfectly in this hectic city, providing a unique experience for visitors.

Chelsea Schmidt  (to be continued)

Bolivia Travel – The La Paz Witch Market

 Weird, crazy, and unexpected things are bound to happen if you travel enough. One thing leads to another and all of a sudden you are sitting at an ancient Inka sacrifice table making offerings to Pachamama.

What? That hasn’t happened to you? Well, head to the La Paz witch market and it might!

Chelsea Schmidt  (to be continued)

Bolivia Travel – Coca Leaves

 If all else fails, stop by the local market and pick up some coca leaves. The native people of South America have been chewing coca for centuries thanks to its ability to alleviate mild altitude sickness symptoms. 

If you take the Uyuni Salt Tour, there is a very good chance your local Bolivian guide will be chewing coca and if you’re nice most Bolivians are more than happy to show you how it’s done.

Chelsea Schmidt  (to be continued)