San Miguel Carnival, El Salvador

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What is the Carnival of San Miguel?

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The carnival of San Miguel is one of the most important celebrations in El Salvador. The carnavales de San miguel is a floating show that commemorates the patron saint festivities of San Miguel. Although the San Miguen carnivals take place in the month of November, the festivities begin a month earlier, when small events known as “carnavalitos” are held in the various neighborhoods of San Miguel..

One of the most anticipated events in theSan Miguel Carnival is the election of the Carnival Queen, which event composes a gala of approximately 6 hours. The main festivities last about a week, being the weekend the most eventful, since it is when the carrozas, dancers and musicians take to the streets of the town to celebrate to the fullest.

 

 

Year after year, thousands of people come to San Miguel to witness one of the most colorful events of the year. Thus, we accompany you to learn all about the incredible Carnivals of San Miguel.

 

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When is San Miguel Carnival?

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The San Miguel Carnival is celebrated every year in the last week of the month of December. The San Miguel Carnival will be held on approximately November 27th.

 

 

History of the Carnivals of San Miguel

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Although the carnival of San Miguel is celebrated in November, it was formerly held on May 8, which refers to the day on which the city was founded. In the mid-twentieth century, the council of the municipality decided to change the date of the carnivals to November 21 to honor the Virgin of Peace. At that time small celebrations were held in the different neighborhoods of the city, while the larger celebrations took place in private halls and events. However, in 1959 the festivities were adapted and the celebrations began to be introduced to the streets.

For several decades, the Carnival of San Miguel has been taking more and more notoriety to the point of attracting various characters of great importance for the country and the region. Todaythe San Miguel Carnival is celebrated throughout the city and is considered one of the most important events in the country..

 

Where is the San Miguel Carnival

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Carnivals are celebrated in the municipality of San Miguel in El Salvador. The parades take the main thoroughfares of the city. The various smaller carnivals take place in various locations in the city and there are also some larger events at the Felix Charlaix Stadium.

 

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How the San Miguel Carnival is celebrated

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The carnival of San Miguel takes place in November; however, celebrations begin to flood the streets of the city a month before. During that month, the local neighborhoods and barrios hold certain events such as concerts, parades, mechanical games, food fairs and alcoholic beverages. Likewise, the Carnival Queen is also selected, whose ceremony and election are one of the largest and most important events during the carnivals. In addition, small parades and shows known as “Carnavalitos” are held in the various neighborhoods of San Miguel.

The main parades take place on the last weekend, when around 200 allegorical floats participate, along with hundreds of dancers and musical bands that brighten up the streets of San Miguel. Due to the importance of the carnivals, there are also elive music events in which national and international artists participate. In addition, along the streets, different food stands are distributed, as well as musical orchestras, bands and artists who elaborate small pieces for people to enjoy the entertainment.

Likewise, during the carnival celebrations tribute is also paid to the predominant religion, since on November 20 religious ceremonies are held in the town with live music and different shows in commemoration of the Virgin of Peace.

 

Tips to go to the Carnival of San Miguel

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Because the carnivals are of great importance to El Salvador, many people from various parts of the country, as well as international tourists come to be part of these celebrations.

We recommend you to plan your trip in advance, as well as your lodging so you do not miss out on celebrating these important carnivals. Be sure to look for the best place to watch the parades, as well as stroll through the streets so you can be part of all the events happening simultaneously.

 

Events in San Miguel Carnival

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During the Carnival of San Miguel different events take place both the month before the official events. The different neighborhoods of the city start celebrating the carnivals with minor festivities called “carnavalitos”. Here different activities take place such as concerts and games. However, this does not mean that nothing important happens, you will always find one or two important events a day. In addition, there are religious celebrations with live music where different religious figures of great importance to the city are commemorated.

 

 

The crowning of the Carnival Queen is also an event of utmost importance that you cannot miss. TheCarnival Queen selection gala and crowning can last approximately 6 hours, so it should not be taken lightly.

Finally, there are the comparsas and parades that take place at the end of the carnivals. During this day, around 200 floats, dancers, musicians and orchestras participate to make the carnivals a celebration without comparison.

 

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San Miguel Carnival Parades

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The main parade takes place in the main street of the town where the presence of floats, musicians, orchestras, dancers and of course, the Carnival Queen is seen. People wear costumes, dresses and uniforms of varied colors, along with different accessories to turn these celebrations into something really special.

 

Parade route

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The route of all the floats accompanied with the queens takes place along Alameda Roosvelt.

 

 

What to eat during the San Miguel Carnival[/h2>.

During the carnival you can find different food stalls located in the different points of the city. The stalls sell a large amount of food, some of these are fast food, others with more traditional alternatives. In some of these places you will find the iconic pupusas, which are a kind of corn or flour tortilla filled with one or more ingredients. We can also find the characteristic traditional tamarind sweets of the country.

The city offers you some food places, the most famous are El Taurino, Don Beto Restaurante Mexicano or La Pampa Argentina. These places offer a variety of food, both local and Argentinean, Mexican, among others.

 

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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 insurances. Read more information about all insurance offers here:

 

 

What to see and do inside the San Miguel Carnival

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Within the carnival you have a wide variety of events to attend. If you head to San Miguel before the main parade, you can attend the different carnavalitos that take place in the various sectors. Also, you can watch the religious celebrations during the carnival, visit the food and handicraft stalls.

If it catches your attention, you canwatch the crowning ceremony of the Carnival Queen and finally, you can see the city parade with its floats, dancers, singers, orchestras and an endless number of events that will make you want to come back next year.

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 Carnaval de San Miguel

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Throughout the city there are several attractions that you can attend if you wish to walk the streets and discover what the city has to offer. Some of these attractions are:

 

Catedral Basílica Santuario Nuestra Señora de la Paz

(Cathedral Basilica Sanctuary of Our Lady of Peace).
Also known as the Cathedral of San Miguel, it is located in the city of San Miguel. In the year 1740, it was located a small parish church that in 1862 was demolished to be built a larger temple. It is said that the first stone of the church was laid by President Gerardo Barrios on November 21, 1862.

 

Francisco Gavidia National Theater

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Located in the city of San Miguel and is under the administration of the General Directorate of Arts of the Secretary of Culture. Its construction lasted from 1903 to 1908 and its inauguration was in 1909.

 

Olomega Lagoon

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The lagoon is a body of water located 15 kilometers from San Miguel. You can find a large number of birds as well as fish. From here you have an imposing view of the vegetation.

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

 

Safety in San Miguel Carnival

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The city of San Miguel, as well as El Salvador are relatively safe places for tourists coming to the city to enjoy the carnivals. However, some governmental institutions consider that when traveling to El Salvador and its different cities, you should take certain precautions.

Keep your documents and personal belongings in a safe place, do not carry large amounts of cash and watch your surroundings, especially in crowded places. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your belongings safe:

 

 

Weather at San Miguel Carnival

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During San Miguel Carnival, the weather is quite pleasant. The temperature of the city ranges between 22 and 34 degrees Celsius.

 

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How to get to San Miguel Carnival

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How to get there by plane

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San Miguel is a city located relatively close to the capital, which is why the closest airport is the one located in Manua, being the International Airport of El Salvador. From there, you can transport yourself to the city that will hold one of the most important carnivals in the nation.

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

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From the San Salvador International Airport, you must go to the town of Olocuilta and from there you can take the bus that costs about $ 5. From there you must make a few stops before arriving in the city of San Miguel. The route would be, Olocuilta-Terminal Plaza Amanecer and Terminal Plaza Amenecer-San Miguel. The journey is almost 4 hours.

 

How to get there by car

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From the international airport you can take a private vehicle, you take the main road until you reach San Miguel. The journey takes about 2 hours.

 

Where to stay in San Miguel Carnival

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Booking.com

 

Comfort Inn Real San Miguel

4-star hotel located 3.4 kilometers from the city center. Facilities offer complimentary breakfast, swimming pool, exercise room, and room service from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. All rooms feature air-conditioning, cable TV, and free internet access.

 

Hotel Florencia

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Hotel located 4.2 kilometers from the city center. Facilities include restaurant, room service and internet throughout the property. Rooms have television and private bathrooms with toiletries.

 

Hotel Tropico Inn

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Hotel located 750 meters from the city center. Facilities include swimming pool and restaurant. Each room has cable TV, air conditioning and private bathroom with toiletries.

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

 

Thank you for reading

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