Tarabuco is located at an altitude of 3,284 m above sea level in the Province of Yamparaez, in the Department of Chuquisaca. The town has a population of 20,000 and can be reached from Sucre in an hour and a half. Surrounded by Yampara weaving communities, this indigenous stronghold is renowned for its dances, music, clothing and traditions that are still alive and thriving today.
Tarabuco hosts Bolivia’s biggest rural market, a tradition carried over from colonial days. The people living in the surrounding villages attend the market wearing beautiful traditional clothes, especially noteworthy for the high quality of their weaving work. After Mass, which is said in Quechua, agricultural produce is bartered and textiles and handicrafts are sold, providing you with a fascinating opportunity to experience the living culture of Bolivia’s countryside. The Sunday market is the most important weekly event for the area’s different communities. Visitors will find plenty of opportunities to shop for souvenirs around the main square.
One of South America’s most stunning, native cultural events takes place every third Sunday in March. It recalls the indigenous people defeating the Spanish in the battle of Jumbate on 12 March 1816 during the war of independence. The festival also celebrates the renewal of life and abundance brought on by the rainy season. Pujllay is the Quechua word for “game”. The colorful parade moves towards the “Pukara”, a ladder-like altar that is richly decorated with food. The lavishly dressed dancers then tirelessly move in circles around the altar to the sound of different flutes as well as a horn clarinet. The sounds, dances and costumes evoke the ‘Tata Pujllay’, a demonic and fruitful entity with boundless energy. The Pujllay with its music and dances of the Yampara culture is a Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity listed since 2014.