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Nor Yungas Bolivia — valles donde viven las comunidades afrobolivianas de Tocaña y Mururata
— Nor Yungas · Tocaña · Saya · History~25.000

Afro-Bolivian
Communities.

500 years of African heritage in the Bolivian Andes. Descendants of the enslaved in Potosí's silver mines, now in the Nor Yungas valleys. Saya, the African King, and a history almost no one outside Bolivia knows.

The history ↓Base: Coroico →Gallery ↓
Population
~25,000 people
Communities
Tocaña · Mururata · Dorado Chico
Region
Nor Yungas · La Paz
From Coroico
20–40km · 30–60 min
Tradition
Saya · African King
Origin
16th century · Potosí
— Afro-Bolivian history & culture

500 years in six chapters.

From Potosí's mines to the Nor Yungas valleys — the complete story of the Afro-Bolivians.

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16th century: Potosí silver mines

The first Africans arrived in what is now Bolivia in the 1540s — enslaved by Spanish colonisers and transported from West and Central Africa to work the silver mines of Potosí. At peak production (1580–1650), Potosí was the largest city in the Americas and required an enormous labour force. An estimated 8 million people died in the Cerro Rico mines over two centuries — among them tens of thousands of enslaved Africans alongside indigenous Mita workers.

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Relocation to the Yungas valleys

After the abolition of slavery and the decline of Potosí's silver production in the late 18th century, Afro-Bolivian communities were relocated to the Yungas valleys — a warm subtropical zone suited for coca and sugar cane cultivation. This relocation is central to Afro-Bolivian identity: the Yungas valleys became home, while their Andean highland heritage was partially preserved through music, communal traditions and oral history.

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The African King: Rey Africano

The Afro-Bolivian communities maintain a unique institution — the Rey Africano (African King), a hereditary symbolic monarchy tracing descent to the African chiefs who were enslaved. The current dynasty descends from the historic Uchicho family. The Rey Africano has no political power but is a powerful cultural symbol of community identity and continuity. The king participates in major community festivals and is the living embodiment of five centuries of Afro-Bolivian survival.

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Saya: music as resistance and identity

The saya is the most visible expression of Afro-Bolivian culture — a polyrhythmic music and dance form with two types of drums (cununus and tumbas), female lead vocalists (captanas) and male chorus response, accompanied by a cowbell (guatia). The saya was officially recognised as Bolivia's Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009. It is performed at community festivals, national events and international stages. The rhythm combines West African musical structures with Andean and Bolivian influences accumulated over 500 years.

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The communities today: Tocaña, Mururata, Dorado Chico

The main Afro-Bolivian communities in the Nor Yungas are Tocaña (20km from Coroico), Mururata (35km) and Dorado Chico (40km). Tocaña is the most accessible and the primary destination for cultural visits — it has a community centre, a small museum, and an established responsible tourism protocol. Mururata is the royal seat of the Rey Africano and slightly more reserved about external visitors. Dorado Chico is the most remote and authentic, receiving very few visitors.

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How to visit responsibly

Responsible visits to Afro-Bolivian communities require: (1) advance contact — never arrive unannounced; (2) a community-approved guide or local contact; (3) respecting photography restrictions — always ask before photographing people; (4) contributing economically — pay for community music performances, buy local products; (5) understanding the visit is a cultural exchange, not a performance for tourism. The best festivals for visits are Santos Inocentes (28 December) and La Candelaria (2 February).

The Afro-Bolivian communities of the Nor Yungas are the only group in South America with a surviving African royal dynasty — the Rey Africano. Their saya music was recognised as Bolivia\'s Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009. Approximately 25,000 people today maintain a 500-year cultural heritage in the valleys 3 hours from La Paz.

FAQ

Questions about the Afro-Bolivians.

Organise your visit →

Afro-Bolivians are the descendants of enslaved Africans brought to the Viceroyalty of Peru by Spanish colonisers from the 1540s to work the silver mines of Potosí. After the abolition of slavery, they were relocated to the Yungas valleys for coca and sugar cultivation. Today they number approximately 25,000 people — concentrated in the Nor Yungas of La Paz department, particularly in Tocaña, Mururata and Dorado Chico.

The saya is the most important musical and dance expression of Afro-Bolivian culture — a polyrhythmic percussion form with two types of drums (cununus and tumbas), female lead vocalists and male chorus response, accompanied by a cowbell. It was recognised as Bolivia's Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009. The rhythm combines West African musical structures with 500 years of Andean and Bolivian influences. Saya performances occur primarily at community festivals: Santos Inocentes (28 December), La Candelaria (2 February).

The Rey Africano is a hereditary symbolic monarchy unique to the Afro-Bolivian communities — tracing descent to the African chiefs who were enslaved and brought to Bolivia. The current dynasty descends from the Uchicho family. The Rey Africano has no political power but is the most powerful symbol of Afro-Bolivian cultural identity and five centuries of community continuity. The king participates in major festivals and community events.

Always visit with a community guide or through an operator with established community contacts — never arrive unannounced. Pay the community visit fee (ask your guide). Respect photography restrictions — always ask before photographing people; some elders and traditional ceremonies are off-limits. Buy local products and pay for music or cultural demonstrations. The best time for a visit with active cultural programming is during community festivals (Santos Inocentes 28 December, La Candelaria 2 February). Contact Love Bolivia for the complete Tocaña cultural visit circuit.

Yes. The 2009 Bolivian Constitution explicitly recognised Afro-Bolivians as a distinct people with collective rights — the first such constitutional recognition in South America. The saya was recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009. The Afro-Bolivian Movement (Mocusabol) has been active since the 1980s in cultural preservation and political recognition. Despite legal recognition, Afro-Bolivians remain among Bolivia's most economically marginalised groups.

— Getting there and when to go

Arriving with respect, staying with purpose.

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How to get to the Afro-Bolivian communities

  • Recommended base: Coroico (Nor Yungas) · 3h from La Paz on the new paved road.
  • From Coroico to Tocaña: ~20km on dirt road · taxi or 4x4 · 30–40 min.
  • Mururata and Dorado Chico: 25–40km from Coroico · similar dirt-road access.
  • From La Paz direct: bus to Coroico (Villa Fátima terminal, ~20 Bs) + local taxi to the community.
  • Always visit with a guide or advance community contact — never arrive unannounced.
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When to visit and what to expect

  • Festivals with live saya: Santos Inocentes (28 Dec) and La Candelaria (2 Feb).
  • Cultural visits year-round: saya workshops, oral history and Afro-Bolivian cooking with advance booking.
  • Dry season (May–Oct): best for the dirt roads of the Nor Yungas.
  • Recommended duration: half-day visit from Coroico or as part of 2 nights in the Nor Yungas.
  • Ideal combination: Coroico + Tocaña + coffee farm + Death Road descent = 3 days.
— Responsible community visit

500 years of history
waiting in Tocaña.

We organise your Afro-Bolivian community visit with advance community contact, local guide and responsible protocol.

$90 · €85 · Bs. 623

Book consultation → $90 · €85 · Bs. 623Base: Coroico →