Yampara weaving from Tarabuco
Finely patterned cloth, often showing everyday life and animals, hand-woven on the loom. The Sunday market is the best place to find it.
Culture and traditions
Crafts and markets
Weaving, carved wood, silver, and the markets where everything is sold.
Jalq'a textiles
Red and black, full of fantastic creatures from the underworld: the weavings of the Jalq'a communities around Maragua are among the most striking in the Andes.
Where: Maragua Crater · Chuquisaca
Kallawaya weaving
Around Charazani, weaving goes hand in hand with traditional medicine: coca-leaf bags and brightly coloured ponchos, made in the communities.
Chiquitos woodcarving
Angels, saints and altarpieces: San Miguel's workshops carry on the carving of the Jesuit missions, and still restore the region's churches.
Aiquile charangos
The small ten-string Andean guitar, made by Aiquile's luthiers. You can order one made to measure.
Where: Aiquile · Cochabamba
Totora reed boats
On Lake Titicaca, boats are still built from the lake's reed. Huatajata's craftsmen also make small models.
Where: Huatajata · La Paz
Potosí silver
Silver jewellery and small objects, in the town that minted the Spanish empire's coins. Buy in shops, with a hallmark.
Where: Potosí
Alpaca and llama wool
Warm jumpers, scarves and ponchos for the Altiplano. In La Paz, Sagárnaga and Linares streets are full of them; check that it really is wool.
Where: La Paz
Tiwanaku ceramics and stone
In the village, craftsmen reproduce Tiwanaku ceramics and sculptures. Fine copies, not to be confused with ancient pieces.
Where: Tiwanaku · La Paz
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Feria 16 de Julio
On Thursdays and Sundays, miles of stalls in El Alto selling everything from car parts to cholita clothes. Visit without anything valuable.
Where: El Alto · La Paz
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Witches' Market
Linares and Jiménez streets in La Paz: herbs, amulets, llama foetuses and offerings for Pachamama, prepared by the yatiris.
Where: La Paz
La Cancha
One of the largest open-air markets in South America, in Cochabamba: fruit, spices, crafts, everything is sold in a maze of streets.
Where: Cochabamba
Los Pozos market
Santa Cruz's market for tropical fruit, fresh juices and local food: ideal for trying a majadito or a cuñapé.
Cotoca pottery
Jugs, pots and terracotta figures made by Cotoca's potters, right next to Santa Cruz. You'll find them around the sanctuary.
Where: Cotoca · Santa Cruz