Alasitas Festival Walk: Miniatures, Food & Traditions
ID: GYG1211481-1859853
Category:
Country: Bolivia
Duration:
01:30 hours
Description
You explore the Alasitas Fair, discover the meaning of miniatures and Ekeko (God of furtune), enjoy local street food, and take part in a tradition full of wishes and hope.
You start the experience in the city center, walking through Mercado Camacho, where everyday local life sets the tone of the tour. From there, you head toward the colorful Alasitas Fair, learning how the fair is organized and why miniatures play such an important role in this tradition.
As you walk, you enjoy a small traditional snack, just like locals do during the fair. You then arrive at the heart of Alasitas, where you learn about Ekeko, the Andean symbol of abundance and prosperity, and what he represents in Bolivian culture.
You choose and buy your own symbolic miniature souvenir — such as a house, money, or an animal — representing wishes and goals for the year. To warm up and taste local flavors, you enjoy a selection of traditional foods:
Api: a hot drink made from purple corn boiled with cinnamon and sugar, often described as the Bolivian version of hot chocolate
Fried empanada served alongside the api
Anticuchos: grilled beef heart served with potatoes and peanut sauce
Vegetarian option: Huminta, a small corn cake filled with melted cheese
After tasting the food, the experience continues with traditional fair games, where you choose one simple game to play, just like locals do. The tour ends with an explanation of how Alasitas is the way Bolivians express wishes and manifest hopes for the year ahead.
Highlights
- The experience is focused on real cultural practices, not staged attractions.
- This experience goes beyond by immersing you in a living Bolivian tradition.
- You don’t just visit the Alasitas Fair — you actively take part through it
Guiding languages
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please inform us in advance if you have any dietary restrictions, food allergies, or special requirements.
This experience includes street food; availability of specific items may vary slightly depending on the day.
Please make sure to provide a valid WhatsApp number when booking, as this will be the main way we contact you for coordination.
Wear comfortable walking shoes and warm clothing, as parts of the tour are outdoors.
The tour operates even if it rains so be prepared for the weather
A valid WhatsApp number is required. Please make sure the number entered during booking is correct, as we will use WhatsApp for coordination and updates.
We meet at the main entrance of Mercado Camacho, at the fruit section entrance. Your guide will be wearing a hat with the Alpaca Steps logo, making them easy to recognize.
INCLUDED
- Local guide throughout the experience
- Explanation of Alasitas traditions and the Ekeko
- One symbolic miniature souvenir (house, animal, or similar)
- Traditional snack (masita) during the walk
- Api (hot purple corn drink with cinnamon and sugar)
- Fried empanada
- Anticuchos (grilled beef heart with potatoes and peanut sauce)
- Vegetarian option: huminta (corn and cheese cake)
- Participation in one traditional fair game
NOT INCLUDED
- Additional miniatures or souvenirs beyond the one included
- Extra food or drinks not listed in the inclusions
- Personal purchases at the Alasitas Fair
- Tips or gratuities (optional)
- Transportation to or from the meeting point
When should I book?
To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.
Cancellations
This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.
