Amazon Bolivia: Market, Fruits and Bolivian Indigenous people of the Amazon.

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Apr 20

Written By Leelush

Discovering the beautiful people of Bolivia, the mix of locals Bolivians and indigenous people of the Amazon.

Discovering the local Bolivians and indigenous of the Bolivian Amazon on the river bank of the Beni River, Rurre, Bolivia.

The indigenous people in Bolivia are Bolivians who are of predominantly “Amerindian” ancestry, which is the English term short from “indians of the Americas”. They belong to 36 recognized ethnic groups. The only South American country that presently has a major indigenous population is Bolivia with 62% of Bolivian identifying as a member of an indigenous group. There are 29 indigenous people in the territory of the Amazonas of Bolivia. On the River bank of the Beni River in the city of Rurrenabaque, also known as “Rurre”, we met the mix of the different ethnic groups of the indigenous of the Amazon.

Bolivian woman picking vegetables at the market in Rurre, Amazon, Bolivia.

We felt fortunate and blessed to have the opportunity to meet the indigenous people in Bolivia and the local Bolivian population. The best way to co-mingle with them is by visiting the communities on the Beni river bank or going by land to the Amazon communities nearby. We decided to visit the community “Takana Tumpasa” by land and explore the way they live. We met with the locals, we enjoyed the hospitality and the fruits we were offered.

A gift of fresh papaya cut from the tree of the native Bolivian woman in the Amazon.

Carmit & Noy exploring the village of “Takana Tumpasa” in the Amazon of Bolivia.

On Sunday, in Rurre there was a big market for all the communities in the area. The market was placed on the bank of the Beni River in the port of Rurre. The preparation for the market was for a few days. To prepare for the market, people arrived from La Paz and from the remote communities of the Amazon jungle. The visitors from La Paz brought with them clothing, shoes, and different type of commodities such as rice and beans.

Amazon Bolivia canoe with platano for the market.

Papaya and platano in the market in Rurre, Amazon, Bolivia.

The people from the Amazon jungle, brought on canoes their platanos, bananas, papayas and other fruits typically harvested in the Amazon. The local communities who were also fishermen, provided big fresh fish that were brought to the market that early morning. The Bolivians indigenous and the local Bolivians co-exist together as can be witnessed during the time of the market. The groups of people from the jungle, from the community, from the city, co-mingle together for a big festival of the local market. I have witnessed people eating together, the typical foods as was provided in cabins that were specifically constructed for cooking food on the spot.

Buying fresh bread at the market in Rurre, Amazon, Bolivia.

Fresh fish in the local market of Rurre, Amazon, Bolivia.

At the market, we enjoyed buying the local bread and cheese that was made at home by the local Bolivians. We also enjoyed drinking fresh coconut water, while touring the market. As a dessert, we bought local ice cream and we shared it with the local Bolivian children that were all around us.