Joy for Life Carnival, Nicaragua

---

 

What is the Alegria por la Vida Carnival?

.
The carnival “Alegria por la vida” is a celebration that takes place every year in the city of Managua, Nicaragua. The carnival of Joy for Life is a festival that encourages Nicaraguan culture through different cultural manifestations, such as dancing, music, dress and food. Alegria por la Vida carnivals never rest, as participants and organizers work all year long to carry out the activities and parade.

The celebration of theAlegria por la Vida Carnivals features a large repertoire of activities, comprising around 400 activities, the parade of 200 floats and dozens of comparsas. In addition, there is a great variety of sporting, tourist, gastronomic, cultural and religious events.

 

 

The carnivals are of great importance for the country, since they grant spaces to the different groups to represent theNicaraguan folkloric and cultural elements. Currently, the parade is one of the most attended festivities in the city, receiving around 30,000 people each year to witness the parade and be part of the activities.

 

.

 

When is the Alegria por la Vida Carnival?

.
Alegria por la Vida carnival in Nicaragua usually takes place between March and April.

 

 

History of the Alegria por la Vida Carnivals

.
Alegria por la Vida Carnival is a somewhat young celebration, since it began to be held in 2002. The project was born with the objective of developing, preserving and promoting Nicaraguan culture and traditions. Thus, the carnival had a start with some comparsas and the celebration of the Carnival Queen.

Today theAlegria por la Vida carnival has grown exponentially, counting with the participation of dozens of comparsas and floats, hundreds of activities comprising theareas of sports, tourism, culture, gastronomy and religion.

 

Where is the Carnaval Alegría por la Vida

?
The Alegria por la Vida Carnival is held in the city of Managua, Nicaragua. Nicaragua.

 

 

How is the Alegria por la Vida Carnival celebrated?

.

Every year the streets of thecapital of Nicaragua are filled with thousands of colorful costumes that transmit the cultural and folkloric richness of the country. In addition, carnival events also include dances and music. During the festivities, dozens of comparsas from different parts of the country and the capital are presented to parade and perform folkloric choreographies..

The festivities feature different comparsas performing different dances ofAfro-descendant roots such as “Palo de Mayo“, the marimba, polkas or mazurcas, as well as different genres that come from different regions of Nicaragua. Hundreds of people take to the streets as dance floors to show off their colorful costumes and floats while dancing to the rhythm of live bands playing.

In addition, the Carnival Queens are a must-see component of the Carnival of Joy for Life celebrations. In fact, the selection of the queens takes place some months with alteration and dozens of contestants from all parts of the country participate.

Finally, the carnival also offers spaces for the celebration of hundreds of sports, gastronomic, cultural, folkloric and religious activities, trying not to leave out any component of any sector without representation during the celebrations.

 

Tips for going to the Alegria por la Vida Carnivals

.
If you wish to attend the Alegria por la Vida carnivals, we recommend planning your trip in advance, making an itinerary of activities and booking your accommodation in advance.

We also recommend you to wear cool clothes, stay hydrated and use sunscreen frequently, as it is quite hot during carnival dates.

In addition, some streets in the city will begin to close a few hours before the event, so we recommend you arrive early or avoid arriving at the carnival site via private vehicles.

If you want to know more about tourism in this country I recommend this guide:.

 

Events at Carnival Alegría por la Vida

.
Alegria por la Vida Carnival is made up of a variety of events that take place in the streets of the city. Along with the celebration of the carnival, several activities take place simultaneously. Likewise, the activities comprise different fields of sports such as corrida de todos, as well as various activities related to tourism, religion, culture and folklore.

 

 

The Grand Parade begins to take to the streets usually at 4:00 pm, going through the main streets. The comparsas and dancers that are part of the event perform different choreographies, some intensely related to the culture and folklore of Nicaragua.

 

 

Alegria por la Vida Carnival Parades

 

The parade takes place with the participation of dozens of comparsas and floats that animalize the public watching from the stands. The dancers perform different choreographies and the carrozas dazzle visitors with their large size, decoration and bright colors. In addition, the parade cannot miss the presence of the Carnival Queen, who is eagerly awaited by the entire audience.

The music bands brighten up the afternoon and set the pace for the various groups that pass through the streets.

 

Parade route

 

.

 

Usually, the parade starts from the Ministry of Government, passes through Avenida Bolívar and ends at the Plaza de la Fe. However, in previous years the parades have ended at the Rotonda Hugo Chávez, near the Avida Bolívar.

The parade route covers approximately one kilometer in length.

 

 

What to eat at the Alegria por la Vida Carnival

.
One of the typical drinks of the country is the Toña beer, with an alcohol content of 4.6%. You can also try the gallo pinto, a rice dish with beans and adobo.

Some of the most famous restaurants that the city of Managua has to offer are: Gastronomía El Buzo, Restaurante Don Cándido and Los Ranchos.

 

.

 

Travel Insurance

.
From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurance. Read more information about all insurance offers here:

 

 

What to see and do inside the Alegria por la Vida Carnival

.
At the carnivals you can witness hundreds of cultural performances that take place during the parade with the dozens of comparsas, dancers and musicians. In addition, you can stand on the sides of the street to see the colorful and beautifully decorated floats.

Also, don’t forget toparticipate in the various cultural, folkloric, sports and musical activities that take place during the Alegria por la Vida carnival.

If you don’t want to complicate things, here you can book interesting excursions in Spanish in this city:.

 

What to see and do outside of the Alegria por la Vida Carnivals

.
Some of the most popular attractions in the city of Managua are:

 

Antique Cathedral of Managua

.
This cathedral was built from 1928 to 1938 and was damaged by the 1972 earthquake.

 

Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Mary of Managua

.
It is the current cathedral of the city. Its construction dates from 1991 to 1993.

 

Plaza de la Revolución

.
It is located in the historic center of the city. The current square fe built on the former Plaza de la Republica.

Also if you want to visit museums and important buildings in this city we recommend that you book your ticket in advance through Tiquets: .

 

Safety at the Alegria por la Vida Carnival

.

 

The city of Managua and Nicaragua are relatively safe places. However, practice basic safety measures, wear modest clothing, keep your documents and belongings in a safe place and be alert to your surroundings.

In addition, during carnivals the fire department and police are deployed to secure the premises and avoid any complications. In addition, during the festivities it is forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages in glass containers. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your objects safe:

 

 

Carnival Climate at the Alegria por la Vida Carnival

 

During the carnival celebration, the city has a somewhat hot weather, with temperature ranging between 22 and 34 degrees Celsius.

 

 

How to get to the Alegria por la Vida Carnival

.

How to get there by plane

.
The Augusto C. Sandino International Airport is the city’s main airport that receives a good number ofinternational flights. Once here, you can get around by different means of transportation.

We recommend buying airline tickets through Kiwi.com or Skyscanner where they are usually cheaper. More information on this link to review Kiwi.com..

 

How to get there by bus

.
From the airport take a bus that will take you directly to the center of thecity of Managua. The ride is 40 minutes.

 

How to get there by car

.
From the airport take the NIC-1 route to the city center. The drive is 20 minutes.

 

Where to stay at the Alegria por la Vida Carnival

.

Booking.com

 

Hotel Mozonte

.
3 star hotel 1.2 km from the city center. Rooms feature cable TV, air conditioning and private bathrooms. Facilities offer 2 swimming pools, airport transfers, bar, parking and private bar.

 

Holiday Inn Convention Center

.
4-star hotel 2.5 km from the city center. Rooms have cable TV and private bathrooms. Facilities include bar, restaurant, fitness center, airport transfers, parking and free wifi.

 

Hotel Contempo

.
4-star hotel 9 km from the city center. Rooms have satellite TV and private bathrooms. The hotel has a bar, swimming pool, airport transfers, wifi and private parking.

We recommend you use Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.

 

Thank you for reading

.

If you liked this article and found it useful share it on your social networks or collaborate by inviting us for a coffee at Paypal so we can continue creating useful content. Click here to collaborate: