Desaguadero (Peru), the hope of Bolivians in search of dollars and food

Desaguadero, the border town where many Bolivians head in search of dollars and food, is where the central market is located. In this market, bags of potatoes are piled on the ground and cuts of beef hang unrefrigerated. A street stall serves buyers crossing the border. In addition to bananas and oranges, there are bottles of refined soybean oil from Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia), which are sold in southern Peru for twice the price they can be purchased in La Paz. Oil is just one of many staple foods—such as eggs, chicken, and rice—whose prices are excessively high.