Museo de Coca

An incredible and interesting museum in Bolivia is just about Coca. Popular amongst the foreign tourists, this small museum details the history and significance of the coca plant, including the effect of the US War on Drugs. On a trip to this museum, visitors will find a great deal of information on the coca plant.

Although the displays here are in Spanish, booklets of complete translations in other languages are provided. Museo de Coca has two levels of exhibits, mostly newspaper clippings and scientific charts documenting the history of coca and cocaine. There is a small diagram, which shows how to make cocaine. It's possible to browse the entire museum within an hour, and it's conveniently located not far from the Witches Market that lines several streets.

Start with the poem about the coca plant, then browse for information about coca and mage, the meaning of coca in the mines, the begin of the coca-boom in Europe, the first Coca-wine in Paris in 1863, the prohibition of 1914 and the fight against coca outbuilding around 1950. Not to mention information about the consequences cocaine abuse.

At the end of your visit, you can collect a free sample of Coca and there's a cashpoint where you can buy coca-pastilles. These pressed coca leaves has to be used like the regular coca leaves (ojos de coca). Just put them into your cheek!