Iglesia de Jesús de Machaca, Colonial church in Jesús de Machaca, La Paz Department, Bolivia

Iglesia de Jesús de Machaca is a baroque church in La Paz Department with elaborate decorative elements and interior spaces typical of colonial religious architecture in the Andes. The building features characteristic ornaments, curved forms, and a prominent altar that anchors the devotional space.

Construction of the church ended in 1706, the tower dates from 1754 and the atrium from 1778. The cacique José Fernández Guarachi and the priest Juan Antonio de las Infantas y Mogrovejo oversaw the work, fulfilling the wish of Gabriel Guarachi, his predecessor as cacique. The Cusco mason Juan Quispe Huamán and builders from Huarina, Achacachi and Chucuito took part, and the parish archive records a cost of 193,620 pesos.

The church displays large religious paintings by Juan Ramos from the early 1700s that reflect the faith and practices of the local community. These works remain visible on the presbytery walls and shape the interior space today.

The church stands in the town of Jesús de Machaca, in Ingavi Province, not in La Paz city itself, so allow for the overland trip from the city. The atrium dates from 1778 and the tower from 1754, so look up and around before entering. As a national monument since 1967, access depends on local caretakers.

The 1706 paintings in the presbytery, the Triumph of the Immaculate Conception and the Triumph of the Eucharist, are signed by Juan Ramos and show the cacique José Fernández Guarachi and the priest Juan Antonio de las Infantas y Mogrovejo as donors, fulfilling the wish of Gabriel Guarachi.