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Want Good Luck In Bolivia? Buy A Llama Fetus

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Yes, you read that right, a llama fetus. Wandering around the Witches’ Market in La Paz, Bolivia, you’ll find many indigenous and magical cures to all your problems.

Aphrodisiacs, herbal remedies, and religious paraphernalia line the tables, and you can even visit one of the witch doctors in the area to help yourself and learn about your future.

While perusing the market, the most unusual item you will find – to most Westerners anyway – is a mummified llama fetus.

These are actually traditional offerings from Andean culture. What you’re supposed to do is bury the fetus under the foundation of a new home for good luck. While this may seem odd to foreigners, it’s very important to Bolivian culture.

A close-up of a llama with a fluffy, white coat, standing outdoors with a soft-focus background. The llama's expressive eyes and gentle demeanor are captured in the natural light.
Photo via Manfred Richter for Pixabay.

What cultural rituals have you learned on your travels?

About Jessie Festa

Jessie Festa is a New York-based travel content creator who is passionate about empowering her audience to experience new places and live a life of adventure. She is the founder of the solo female travel blog, Jessie on a Journey, and is editor-in-chief of Epicure & Culture, an online conscious tourism magazine. Along with writing, Jessie is a professional photographer and is the owner of NYC Photo Journeys, which offers New York photo tours, photo shoots, and wedding photography. Her work has appeared in publications like USA Today, CNN, Business Insider, Thrillist, and WestJet Magazine.