What does the word Wallake mean?
The word “wallake” means boiled, and it is the pre-Hispanic dish par excellence. Ideal for the cold days of the city, wallake soup is made with native potatoes, yellow chili pepper, chuño (dehydrated potatoes), qoa, which is a native Andean herb, and, of course, karachi, an endemic fish of Lake Titicaca and the Andes, currently endangered. With a spicy touch made from native chili pepper and served very hot, this soup is an experience you cannot miss. The people of La Paz start their workday with a bowl of wallake soup, due to its high nutritional value and its ability to warm you up. This broth is also consumed at lunch and even in the afternoon. Wallake is the oldest and purest dish of the Altiplano, served with truly Andean ingredients.
Where to Enjoy This Delicacy?
In La Paz, authentic gastronomy can be found at the Permanent Fish Fair, a vibrant open-air market where you will find a wide variety of fresh fish, brought directly from the waters of Lake Titicaca or from the Bolivian lowlands.
This culinary spot is ideal for lovers of traditional food. Here, you can not only buy fish such as karachi, trout, or silverside, but you will also have the opportunity to taste dishes containing fish. Each stall invites you to discover Bolivia’s ancestral flavors in an atmosphere full of tradition.
How to Get to the Market?
From Hotel Casa Fusión, take the yellow, silver, and red cable cars, get off at the Cemetery Station of the red cable car, cross the cemetery, and as you exit, turn right to find Valentin Navarro Street. You can also take a taxi.
It is a popular and traditional area of La Paz filled with people, markets, vendors, many vehicles, and pedestrians, mostly speaking Spanish and Aymara. The best times to visit are from 10 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon. Also nearby are the Quitapenas ice creams. Don’t worry—at Hotel Casa Fusión, we’ll explain in detail how to get there.
Information that may interest you:
https://www.urgente.bo/noticia/wallake-la-sopa-originaria-por-excelencia
Photographic resources:
https://www.boliviandando.com/es/atracciones/gastronomia-tipica-wallaqi/
