Andean Ancestral Ritual in La Paz
Discover the hidden mysteries of Andean culture by participating in an ancestral offering ritual to Pachamama. This ritual has been passed down through generations and has remained a living tradition to this day.
First, you will visit the Witches' Market, where you will purchase the ingredients for the ritual. There, you will meet the "chifleras," wise women and healers who prepare the offerings for Pachamama.
Afterward, you will dine on a traditional "Apthapi" banquet of meat (charque) and different types of potatoes, a tradition in the Andes region.
Finally, you will participate in the ceremony in which you will prepare a "mesa" (sweet offering) for Pachamama and place it on the fire for the ritual. You will pray for health and fortune until the flames of the fire turn the offering to ashes. To close the ritual, you will receive the smudging of incense.
Options
Andean Ancestral Ritual in La Paz
Pickup included
What's included in Andean Ancestral Ritual in La Paz
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Mercado de Las Brujas
The guide will accompany you on a tour of the Witches' Market. He will tell you about Andean traditions and explain how to purchase a traditional "mesa" (offering) for the Andean ritual to Pachamama. The guide will show you the shop of a renowned "chiflera" (Andean healer) where you can purchase the "mesa" for the ritual. At the Witches' Market, you can also purchase handicrafts if you wish.
The guide will take you by shuttle to the southern part of the city, where you will dine an Apthapi (a traditional feast from the Andes region) at the guide's home. Apthapi is prepared with charque (dried beef), a variety of potatoes, cheeses, corn, and llajua (hot sauce). The guide will also serve you a hot drink called Té con Té. This is a sweet drink containing a distilled Bolivian liquor known as Singani. The guide will tell you all about this traditional feast and its importance as part of the Andean ritual of offering to Pachamama.
The guide will lead you to the patio of the house in Los Rosales neighborhood to perform the ceremony of offering the table to Pachamama. The guide will explain all the steps to follow to prepare the table, from selecting sacred leaves and placing sugar and cinnamon on top to pouring alcohol over the table. Once it's ready, with the help of the guide, you can place the table on firewood to light the fire. As the fire consumes the offering, the guide will tell you stories of how his mother and grandmother passed on their ritual knowledge to him and will explain the importance of each new generation preserving and passing on this ancestral knowledge. You will conclude the ceremony by receiving a smudging of incense from the guide.
Inclusions
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Public transportation
- Dinner
- Supplies for Andean ritual
- Souvenirs and/or gifts
- Gratuities
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
Choose to be picked up from a list of locations
Please arrive at the pick up point 10 minutes before departure time.
Additional Information
The guide will be waiting for you at the only statue next to the El Prado Fountain, and will be holding a sign with the words ANDEAN RITUAL.
