canchitas - more than a game

July 2024

It’s great to have you back for a new newsletter from the Andes.

I hope you're having a fantastic week wherever you are. This week in the travel letter from the Andes, we’re going to talk about local games. Does it sound boring? Let me tell you one thing—it’s not! Exploring local games is actually one of the coolest ways to get closer to local people, understand the culture, and meet new friends you might have just met in your hostel or hotel.

When I travel, I love to visit local markets or parks where people gather to play games. Many times, I've watched people play and then been invited to join in. Sometimes, these are table games with complicated rules, and other times, they’re simpler games like

Jianzi. I remember playing this feather ball game, with the locals in parks in China and even if we couldn’t understand each other, it was a lot of fun!

Wherever you are, there’s always a beautiful way to learn more about traditions, daily life, and connect with people.

famous canchitas

In many traditional Bolivian markets, parks, and neighbourhoods, you can find the cool soccer game “Canchitas”, played by Bolivians of all ages.

The metallic players are painted with the color of the favorite teams from the area. It can be played one against one, but it’s even more fun two against two. If you’re in a market and see people playing, ask to join. The rules are easy, and the game is always full of laughter. In our restaurant, Tambo (link), we have a Canchitas game that you are always welcome to come and play. We have tournaments with cool prizes, and it’s a great way to make new friends and have fun together.

It’s also a perfect place to practice before you go to the real fields in the markets, where you’ll meet the real deal—the Bolivians.