Oruro Carnival | AllCheapFares

 

Bolivian modern day culture is a unique mix of thousand year old traditions, Spanish influences and globalisation. Capital of folklore is the Altiplano mining town of Oruro, where there is a citywide party going on at least once a week, but which complete explodes with music, dancing and drinking for Carnival in February. Don’t miss it if you’ve got the opportunity. 

 

The Carnival of Oruro is a religious festival dating back more than 2000 years that takes place in Oruro, Bolivia. It is one of UNESCO's Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Originally an indigenous festival, the celebration later was transformed to incorporate a Christian ritual around the Virgin of Candelaria, which takes place on February 2nd. 

 

Marching bands compete simultaneously in the grotto of Pie de Gallo on Sunday, which is the greeting to the Virgin. The highlight of the festival is the three day and three night parade of 48 groups of folk dancers over a four kilometer route to the sanctuary of the tunnel. Three days prior to this Saturday pilgrimage, people visit the symbolic pagan condor. A week after the pilgrimage, the visit the snake south of the city, the toad to the north and the ants to the east.