Tradition / Region: Bolivian Mythology, Argentine Mythology
Alternative names: Ucumarí, Jucumari, Ucumare
Category: Bear
The Myth
The Ucumar is a fearsome creature of Argentine and Andean folklore, particularly associated with northwestern Argentina and neighboring Bolivia. Its name means “bear” in Aymara, and it is commonly described as a bear-man whose appearance varies from a squat, shaggy bear with human features to a wild, hairy man with a long beard and a narrow forehead.
The creature is said to dwell in caves deep within ravines, although it frequently wanders along rivers and springs, where it bathes. Its large footprints, resembling those of a bear, are often said to reveal its presence. Traditions also describe it as immensely strong and agile enough to climb the tallest trees.
The Ucumar is most feared for kidnapping people. According to many legends, the male abducts women and fathers children with them, while other traditions tell of a female Ucumar that captures young men. It is also said to steal children, making it a common figure used to frighten youngsters into obedience.
Those who encounter the Ucumar describe it as appearing suddenly and inspiring overwhelming terror. If someone shouts at the creature, it is said to answer from a distance with voices that sound eerily human. When attacked by dogs, it defends itself by striking them with a heavy club.
Among the Colla people, the Ucumar is instead portrayed as a gigantic ape-like being that walks upright through the forests. In this tradition, the male pursues women while the female hunts men, carrying their victims into remote wilderness where they are beaten to death. Some later writers have suggested that stories of the Ucumar may have been inspired by encounters with the spectacled bear of the Andean forests, though the legendary creature itself is regarded as a supernatural being rather than an ordinary animal.
Sources
Pueblos Originarios. (n.d.). Ucumar. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://pueblosoriginarios.com/sur/andina/colla/ucumar.html