Travel Photo 325001

One of Bolivia's quirkiest and most fascinating rituals is the ch’alla—a blessing for vehicles. It takes place in places like Copacabana, where locals (and travelers!) bring their cars, trucks, and even bicycles to be sprinkled with holy water, adorned with flowers, and showered with small offerings like confetti, beer, and coca leaves. The idea is to invoke protection and good fortune for your journeys, a must if you’re braving Bolivia’s winding mountain roads. We met some friends who took part in this ritual, and they loved the experience—it’s festive, colorful, and an unforgettable cultural immersion. As much as I appreciated the tradition, I decided to skip the ceremony and put my money toward new oil filters instead. Call me practical, but I figure clean oil is more likely to keep me on the road than confetti and beer!