Ingavi Province


Ingavi is a province in the La Paz Department in Bolivia. This is where the Battle of Ingavi occurred on November 18, 1841, and where the World Heritage Site of Tiwanaku is situated.
During the presidency of Eliodoro Villazón the province was founded on December 16, 1909, with Viacha as its capital.

Geography

Ingavi lies on the southern shore of Lake Titicaca. The Chilla-Kimsa Chata mountain range traverses the province. Some of the highest mountains of the province are listed below:

Subdivision

Ingavi Province is divided into seven municipalities which are partly further subdivided into cantons.
SectionMunicipalityInhabitants Inhabitants Seat
1stViacha Municipality46,59651,540Viacha
2ndGuaqui Municipality7,5528,608Guaqui
3rdTiwanaku Municipality11,30912,936Tiwanaku
4thDesaguadero Municipality4,9815,395Desaguadero
5thSan Andrés de Machaca Municipality6,2996,967San Andrés de Machaca
6thJesús de Machaca Municipality13,24714,653Jesús de Machaca
7thTaraco Municipality5,9226,774Taraco

Population

The people are predominantly indigenous citizens of Aymara descent.
Ethnic groupViacha Municipality Guaqui Municipality Tiwanaku Municipality Desaguadero Municipality San Andrés de Machaca Municipality Jesús de Machaca Municipality Taraco Municipality
Quechua2.91.30.41.30.30.30.2
Aymara84.491.196.192.996.094.496.4
Guaraní, Chiquitos, Moxos0.20.30.10.20.10.10.0
Not indigenous12.27.13.35.63.34.33.3
Other indigenous groups0.20.10.00.10.40.90.1

Tourist attractions

Some of the tourist attractions of the municipalities are:
  • In Viacha Municipality:
  • * The town of Viacha
  • * Viliroco lagoon, a small man made lake in Viacha Canton
  • * Qalachaka bridge in Viacha Canton
  • * "Virgen de Letanías" Sanctuary in Viacha Canton
  • * "Pan de Azúcar" mountain in Viacha Canton
  • * Fields of the Battle of Ingavi in Viacha Canton
  • In Guaqui Municipality:
  • * Guaqui festivity from July 23 to July 25 celebrated in honour of Apostle James
  • * Apostle James church of Guaqui built between 1625 and 1784
  • * Guaqui port
  • In Tiwanaku Municipality:
  • * archaeological site of Tiwanaku in Tiwanaku Canton
  • * Saint Peter church in Tiwanaku
  • * Willkakuti, the Andean-Amazonic New Year, celebrated on June 21 of every year in the viewpoint of Kimsa Chata mountain in Tiwanaku Canton
  • * Tiwanaku festivity celebrated in Tiwanaku Canton in September
  • In Desaguadero Municipality:
  • * The international fair of Desaguadero on the Peruvian border
  • * Desaguadero River with its avifauna and native Aymara and Uru communities along its banks. The river runs along the entire Altiplano.
  • In San Andrés de Machaca Municipality:
  • * Afiani lagoon in San Andrés de Machaca Canton
  • * The chullpa of Kañoma in San Andrés de Machaca Canton
  • * The church of San Andrés de Machaca, built between 1806 and 1836
  • In Jesús de Machaca Municipality:
  • * The archaeological site of Qhunqhu Wankani in Jesús de Machaca Canton
  • * Jesús de Machaca, an indigenous community
  • * Yakayuni saltflats in Jesús de Machaca Canton where salt exploitation is possible
  • * Uru Iruwit'u community in Jesús de Machaca Canton and the Uru Iruwit'u museum in Jesús de Machaca
  • In Taraco Municipality:
  • * Taraco Peninsula in Taraco Canton with its archaeological sites:
  • ** Chiripa and its museum
  • ** Qala Uyuni, Pumani and Achacachi Coacollo in Coacollo
  • ** Iwawi in Higuagui Grande, Taraco Canton
  • * Sikuya Island in Taraco Canton
  • * The church of Taraco dating from 1767
  • * Taraco museum in Taraco Canton