La Paz has a very uncommon market – a witch market, where vendors sell llama fetuses, dried frogs for Aymara rituals, as well as soapstone figurines and aphrodisiac formulas, amongst other things. Other common products include dried herbs, seeds and various parts of frogs and insects used in rituals.These are used in folk remedies and a variety of fascinating ingredients used to manipulate the many spirits that populate the Aymara world.
The most visible product in most stalls are dried llama fetuses – these are always buried in the foundations of new constructions or businesses as an offering to the goddess Pachamama (Mother Earth). The llama sacrifice encourages the goddess to protect the workers from accidents and bring good luck to the business.
