Charazani


Charazani or Charasani is a small town in the South American Andes in Bolivia.

Location

Charazani is the capital of Bautista Saavedra Province and central town of the municipality. It is situated on a spur at an elevation of 3,200 m amsl between Cordillera Muñecas in the south and Cordillera Apolabamba in the north, on a Mapiri River tributary which itself flows towards Beni River.

Infrastructure

Charazani is located 254 km north-west of La Paz, the capital of La Paz Department. From La Paz, the asphaltic highway Ruta 2 goes 70 km north-west to Huarina, where the asphaltic Ruta 16 branches south-west for another 97 km along Lake Titicaca till Escoma. From Escoma a dirt road goes north and reaches Charazani after 87 km.
The weekly village market attracts vendors and visitors from a wide area. The market makes Charazani economically the most significant locality in the Charazani valley.

Population

The population of Charazani has risen by 20% in the recent decade, from 501 inhabitants to 604 inhabitants. Most inhabitants of the Charazani municipality live in poverty: 91,5% of the municipality are unable to suffice their basic needs.
It boasts of a population that speaks Aymara, which is also learned at school. About 14% of the municipality speak Aymara as a primary language.
Charazani is a major locality for the Kallawaya, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage culture of ritualistic healers. More Kallawaya however live in Niño Corín on the other side of the Charazani valley.