JUAN KARITA

A woman competes in the Miss Cholita Pacena beauty pageant, an annual contest aiming to recognize Aymara Indigenous women's fashion and beauty, as well as their command of the Indigenous lifestyle and language, in La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Photos of the Cholita Paceña contest that honors Aymara women
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — In La Paz, Bolivia, the Cholita Paceña contest celebrates Aymara Indigenous women, recognizing their traditional fashion, beauty, fluency in Indigenous language and cultural knowledge.
 
Aymara Indigenous people hold up their hands to receive the first rays of sunlight in celebration of the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere's winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Photos of Bolivians ushering in the Andean New Year 5533 with sunrise celebrations
 
Women eat noodle soup at a street stall in El Alto, Bolivia, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
AP PHOTOS: Bolivian street food finds its place at the fine dining table
It’s a signature dish of Chef Dennis Llusco at La Rufina, a restaurant in the Bolivian capital, La Paz, that was recently lauded by the U.K.-based organization 50 Best Discovery as one of the world’s best restaurants.
 
Former President Evo Morales chews coca in the Lauca N, Chapare region of Bolivia, Nov. 3, 2024, amid an ongoing political conflict with the government of President Luis Arce. (AP Photo/Juan Karita, File)
Bolivia’s former leader Evo Morales seeks a political comeback from his stronghold in the tropics
Bolivia will elect a new president in August and already, a political battle is looming between two adversaries, the country’s former leader Evo Morales and his onetime ally turned rival, President Luis Arce.
 
A woman models a creation by a local designer at a Chola fashion show, promoting the Andean style and beauty of Aymara women, in Viacha, Bolivia, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
In Bolivia’s scrappy highlands, proud Indigenous Cholas take the runway by storm
In the huddled market stalls, sprawling farms and pulsing parties of Viacha, a scrappy town southeast of Bolivia’s capital, it’s typical for women to sport bowler hats, tiered skirts and fringed shawls.
 
Former President Evo Morales chews coca leaves during a hunger strike in Lauca N, in the Chapare region, Bolivia, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, amid an ongoing political conflict with the government of President Luis Arce. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Bolivia’s Evo Morales tells AP he’ll press on with a hunger strike until his rival accepts dialogue
Bolivia’s transformative and divisive former President Evo Morales has told the Associated Press that he would press on with a hunger strike until the government of his protégé-turned-rival agreed to a political dialogue.
 
Supporters of former President Evo Morales, below, face off with supporters current President Luis Arce in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Rival protesters clash in Bolivia as ex-President Evo Morales leads a march to the capital
Bolivia’s pro-government supporters and security forces have confronted protesters loyal to former President Evo Morales in a street melee. It was the second such violent escalation this week as fears grew of further unrest in the Andean nation.
 
Bolivia: 5 dead in clashes challenging interim government
Bolivian security forces have clashed with supporters of former President Evo Morales in a central town, leaving at least five people dead, dozens more injured and escalating the challenge to the country’s interim government to restore stability.
 
Bolivians dangle ‘death dolls’ to warn off thieves
“Death dolls,” made of old clothes stuffed with rags, have become a common sight in this impoverished city plagued by crime. They are often accompanied by hand-scrawled signs. “The thief who is caught will be burned,” say many.
 
Andean farmers freeze-dry spuds the ancient way
At the end of the harvest, farmers spread potatoes by the sackful on the ground for three days until they are frozen solid. Then they stomp the frozen spuds with bare feet and let the resulting mash dry in the sun until dark in color.