The Witches’ Market In Bolivia: Weird, Enchanted, Scary
I never liked shopping. I usually don’t have the patience to go through many stores, think about what to buy, measure, haggle (in many cases, a seller who bargains with me only makes his initial offer more expensive for me), and the like. Even as a horror fan, I only have a few shopping options at stores that stock my great love. There are indeed many horror products from all fields available to buy online at the click of a button – as we make sure to review on our website – but in terms of the physical stores and the markets, the situation could be more satisfactory. Now and then, I get excited to see a store with many scary products or a unique collection inspired by one of the iconic monsters.W
The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way, and some markets are very suitable for fans of horror and bizarre products. One of the most famous places in the world in this regard is known as The Witches’ Market in Bolivia, where witches from a local tribe are known, and the list of products sold there includes dried frogs, dried armadillos, potions, and other surprises.
In the following review, we will explain everything you need to know about the Witches’ Market of La Paz (or in its local name: El Mercado de las Brujas) and why you should include it in your next trip to South America.
The Bolivian Version Of Witches
The witch market of La Paz, as you have probably already guessed, is not an ordinary market. It is an ancient cultural center that preserves the traditions, beliefs, and products of the Aymara, an indigenous people from the Enzyme Mountains and the Eliteplano regions of South America. The market holds significant cultural importance for the Aymara people, serving as a place where their unique traditions and customs are preserved and celebrated. It is one of the largest and oldest ethnic groups in Bolivia, with roots in one of the earliest civilizations of South America.
It is essential to mention that Aymara has a rich culture that developed mainly in the working-class neighborhoods of La Paz. The sons and daughters of the Aymara still maintain unique traditions and customs, for example: growing the coca plant which is used for medicinal purposes and as a virtue to the gods; Traditional clothing (the women wear a bowler hat, an aguayo blanket, a skirt with boots, etc.); local foods, such as the chairo; and it turns out that there are also quite a few witches.
The vendors of The Witches’ Market are called “Cholitas,” and you can recognize them quite easily by their traditional clothing, which includes comprehensive, colorful, and layered dresses, black bowler hats (which arrived in Bolivia in the 20th century by railway workers), and more.
What Is The Witches Market In Bolivia?
The witches market in Bolivia, located on Melchor Jimenez Street and the alleys surrounding it, offers a unique experience that combines diverse fields, such as folklore, faith, trade, culture, art, and more. It is a place where past and present meet, where ancient beliefs continue to thrive in the heart of the modern city, connecting visitors to the rich historical significance of the market.
Such contradictions may seem logical, considering what has happened in Bolivia in recent centuries. In the 16th century, the Spaniards arrived in Medina, and Christianity began to spread. The traditional customs of the Aymara people were sometimes pushed to the margins, but they did not disappear. A combination was created between different beliefs, each with its uniqueness, and the witch market expresses this accurately. You can find here Christian symbols, for example, and next to them, objects that characterize ancient peoples with a completely different belief system.
Historically, the market was a center for traditional medicine and various therapeutic methods for the body and mind. The traditional local healers, or should we say Witch Doctors, are the “Yatiris.” They helped many by curing diseases and various health conditions, solving personal problems, and more. For these purposes, they used products such as herbs, minerals, and different textual objects, many of which you can still find today in The Witches’ Market. While many turn to the market for these purposes even today, others come mainly for its consumer side, which is undoubtedly diverse.
Over the years, the market has undergone various changes but has managed to maintain its role as a center for traditional culture and spirituality. In the 60s and 70s of the 20th century, with increased tourism to Bolivia, the market began to attract international attention. The growing number of tourists affected its style; critics would say, its DNA. The proliferation of tourists led to specific changes in the market when some merchants began to adapt their products to the more global tastes of the tourists. Some will say such a step damages the authenticity we expect from this style’s market. In contrast, others will point out that it is a necessary step to survival, expressing ancient places’ obligation to adapt to the current era.
Not Just Brooms: The Catalog La Paz Witch Market
Today, the Bolivian Witch Market is vibrant and lively, offering diverse products and services. Here are some of the notable and quite strange products you can find on the market, each with its unique cultural significance:
🧙♀️ Medicinal plants – the market offers a massive selection of medicinal plants, mixtures, and medical products according to the local tradition, which can treat diverse problems, from pain, through fertility problems to mental difficulties. Popular plants in this context include Coca leaves (which are considered sacred in the Andean culture and are used, among other things, to treat altitude sickness), Maca (known to increase energy and fertility), and Chanca Piedra (used to treat kidney problems)
🧙♀️Amulets and statues – you can find a wide variety of amulets in the market, each with a different meaning and a unique purpose. For example, according to local belief, dried or miniature frogs are an economic virtue. Hanging dead armadillos over the door of a house may provide him with protection against thieves
🧙♀️ Dried Lama Fetuses – one of the most bizarre items identified with the market. The locals are using Dried Lama Fetuses for ages as an offering to the gods, with the locals burying them under the foundations of houses and buildings to protect the inhabitants
🧙♀️ Oils and Incense, among other things, for healing purposes, rituals, and meditation
🧙♀️ Ritual objects, such as skulls, figurines of gods and goddesses, colored candles, etc.
🧙♀️ Fashion products, in the likes of colorful fabrics and bags
🧙♀️ Stuffed animals and skins of animals, whether for ritual purposes, decoration or as a virtue
🧙♀️ Witchcraft accessories, some likable and some less so (voodoo dolls, for example)
🧙♀️ Ritual mixtures, for example, the “Mesa Blanca,” that take part in various rituals of purification and protection
🧙♀️ Jewelry and Stones, including particularly luxurious ones. Here, too, many of the products are considered to have mystical or healing properties, apparently or not
🧙♀️ Various services, such as reading coca leaves, opening tarot cards, and spiritual counseling using diverse methods
Please note that some of the products here are custom-made. The sellers can prepare different products (such as amulets) or brew medicines and potions according to the person’s characteristics and needs. If you are looking for a relationship, love, a successful sex life, wealth, health, or just luck, you can get a complete solution from the experts of The Witches Market in Bolivia.
On the other hand, if you are looking for more traditional products that are associated with witches in their more Western image – a witch costume (for example, a sexy witch costume, which we wrote about on the website not long ago), accessories, etc. – there are probably more prosperous places.
The Scary Side Of The Witches’ Market
Whatever you say about the products sold in the witch market or the efficiency of their use, there is no doubt that a visit to the market is an engaging cultural experience. The market offers an experience that works on several senses simultaneously, a celebration of sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. But is it also scary, because after all, we are here on a website that reviews scary tourist places?
The answer is subjective, but from our impression, there are creepy sides here. First-time visitors, especially those unfamiliar with Aymara culture or similar spiritual practices, may find the market strange or even intimidating. The general atmosphere in the market is mysterious, partly because here you come across objects that you don’t necessarily know, women with clothes that are different from what we are familiar with (don’t expect the traditional witch look, of course, with the black cloak, the scrunched-up face, the curved fly and the broom that we grew up with), and not a few smells and flavors.” new ones.” In fact, for many people, these smells will be too strong, and the sights – for example, of animal corpses – are very complex to deal with.
The products sold here range from bizarre to disturbing, even if you don’t try them. The behavior of the sellers and local residents in the market is different from what we are familiar with – for example, the fact that they light various items on embers, including stuffed animals – and what is not familiar or too strange may seem scary.
The physical structure of the market, with its narrow and crowded alleys, may create a feeling of discomfort for some visitors. This is especially true for those who prefer to come to South America for the breathtaking views and less for the cultural experiences, as well as people not used to or like places with a crowded, even slightly “chaotic” atmosphere.
When visiting places of this type, it is essential to leave the cynicism aside: yes, even if you think that some of the products or those sold here are weird or that it is a “tourist trap.” Much of what is “scary” stems from cultural differences, so an open, respectful, and non-condescending approach is necessary. In addition, according to most reports, the merchants and sellers here are far from the “classic” image of witches and instead tend to be friendly. The market is a well-known and relatively safe tourist site, with tourists, guides, and police officers. Still, as in any crowded place, it is essential to be careful of pickpockets and dubious types.
So what is the conclusion? While El Mercado de las Brujas can seem scary at first glance to some people, most visitors replace that initial apprehension with curiosity and interest. An open approach, respect for the local culture, and even joining a guided tour can make the visit a positive and enriching experience.
Is It Worth Shopping At The Market?
The average tourist who comes to South America will not do so to fill an empty suitcase with products bought at the witch market (at least we hope not, because it might seem a little strange). Still, it is certainly possible to spend a few hours here as part of the exposure to the original culture, as a unique or even anthropological experience.
A visit to the colorful markets of South America is an excellent choice. It can allow you to stock up on beautiful products, whether souvenirs, fashion items, decorations, or anything else. Some people choose to equip themselves with products for the rest of the trip, such as medicines that make it easier to be at the unimaginable heights of Bolivia.
If you give El Mercado de las Brujas a chance, you will find that you are not the only one. The market’s audience includes many residents who come here from La Paz or nearby areas to buy products they genuinely believe in, which can do the job (whether scientifically proven or not).
Along with the locals, you will find international tourists from all over the world, alternative healers who want to learn about traditional healing and treatment methods, cultural researchers – and so on. From our impression, this is not a classic tourist trap that tries to make money from tourists, but a market that is run out of local faith and attracts mainly locals.
The average tourist will not find too much to buy here, and we recommend that you come mainly to experience the place. If you purchase a few items as a souvenir or out of faith in the virtues of witchcraft, the prices can be very reasonable. In The Witches’ Market, it is possible and recommended to bargain when successful bargaining can lower your costs by several tens of percent. In addition, similar products return in some stands, so you can do a “market survey” – literally – before making a decision.
How Do You Visit La Paz Witches’ Market?
The Witches’ Market is in a relatively accessible area of La Paz, near some of the points of interest, such as the San Francisco Church. If you are visiting the city, you can get there on foot or by public transportation (from our experience, most tourists prefer not to drive a rental car in these areas).
Suppose you are looking for an enriching experience that will teach you about the traditions of the market, the traditional customs, and some of the products sold here. In that case, you can join a local tour of the market and its surroundings or take a more comprehensive tour of La Paz, including the market.
Were you inspired? Here are some fantastic witch products:
