Witches' Market

The Witches' Market, also known as El Mercado de las Brujas and La Hechiceria, is a popular tourist attraction located in Cerro Cumbre, a mountain clearing in La Paz, Bolivia.[1] The market is run by local witch doctors known as yatiri, who sell potions, dried frogs, medicinal plants like retama, and armadillos used in Bolivian rituals.[2] The yatiri can be easily identified by their black hats and coca pouches containing amulets, talismans and powders that promise luck, beauty and fertility.[3] Most famous of all the items sold in The Witches' Market are the dried llama fetuses.[4] These llama fetuses are buried under the foundations of many Bolivian houses as a sacred offering to the goddess Pachamama.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Istvan, Zoltan.Witches' Market in Bolivia Sees Brisk Sales in Spells, National Geographic, May 30, 2003
  2. ↑ Shahriari, Sara. Bolivia's Witch Markets Offar Llama Fetuses and More, Huffington Post, March 18, 2010
  3. ↑ Carroll, Thomas. Bolivia's Witches' Market, Travelmag, June 20, 2003
  4. ↑ Bolivia Travel. Witches' Market, La Paz, Uyuni Tours
  5. ↑ Anabel. Bolivia Travel Tale: Baby Llamas in The Witches' Market in La Paz, Peru For Less Travel Blog, February 3, 2012

16°30′00″S 68°08′56″W / 16.5000°S 68.1490°W / -16.5000; -68.1490

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