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Cochabamba Carnival, Bolivia

El Carnaval de Antaño es una de las particularidades del Carnaval de Sucre en Bolivia. La gente viste prendas de época colonial
Sucre Carnival, Bolivia
Los carnavales en Tarija es la celebración más esperada. La gente sale a la calle a festejar con ropas coloridas y música tradicional
Tarija Carnival, Bolivia

 

What is the Carnival in Cochabamba?

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The carnival of Cochabamba, also known as the Carnival of Concord, is one of the most anticipated celebrations held in Cochabamba. This celebration takes place every year and is an event in which the different sectors of the city are included, it celebrates with music and traditional dances, costumes, food, water and confetti.

Since a few years ago, it was decided that the Cochabamba carnival had to emphasize the different aspects of culture and recover forgotten traditions, so they included in the festivitiesgastronomic and musical traditions. Currently these activities are still carried out, becoming more and more consolidated over time.

 

 

Likewise, the Carnaval de la Concordia seeks to promote the incorporation of parades, corsos and comparsas into the traditions through the celebration “Corso de Corsos“, a great celebration in which hundreds of people, comparsas and groups are included to be part of one of the biggest festivities of Cochabamba.

 

 

When is the Carnival in Cochabamba?

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The Cochabamba carnival takes place between the months of February and March, when cultural activities, gastronomies and the parades take place.

 

 

History of the Carnivals in Cochabamba

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Some of the elements of the carnivals of Cochabamba, such as the Jueves de Compadres y Comadres, began in the late 19th century. The celebrations were held in the tempo of the Mercenarios and were carried out by the market women. At the same time, some localities and neighborhoods celebrated carnival festivities thanks to the connection with some parish saint.

The first carnivalcorsos began to appear in 1887, when their only pretext was to encourage the consumption of alcoholic beverages such as beer, in order to compete with the traditional chicha. Although there was some interest in the carnival, during the first half of the 20th century, people had to pay if they wanted to wear masks in the carnivals, since this functioned as an income for the municipality. During the 1970s, the military took control of the corsos, using them as a vehicle of mockery towards the daily life of the people, satirizing certain sectors of the locality.



It was in the 80s when the project of Corso de Corsos, whose purpose was to link itself to the festivities and develop a celebration where the integration of the different sectors was carried out, leaving out the military elements. Since then, the carnivals of Cochabamba have managed to mix traditional elements of the carnival with its own culture, providing spaces for the different sectors of the city.

 

Where is the Carnival in Cochabamba?

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The carnivals of Cochabamba are celebrated in thecity of Cochabamba, Cercado province, Bolivia.

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How is the Carnival celebrated in Cochabamba?

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Before the beginning of carnival, the Jueves de Compadres y Comadres are celebrated. Likewise, the pre-carnival parades, the election of the Carnival Queen and the election of the children’s queen take place.

Once the carnival has begun, the food fair takes place with the Feria del Puchero, the different pet corsos and the corso infantil. Finally, the Corso de Corsos takes place, which is the most awaited celebration. Throughout the carnival, it is played with water and confetti. In addition, since the twentieth century, it is also customary to throw egg shells filled with scented or dyed water.

 

Tips for going to the Carnivals in Cochabamba

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If you want to attend the Cochabamba carnivals, we recommend you to plan your trip in advance, make an itinerary with activities and of course, book your accommodation in advance.

 

Events in Carnival in Cochabamba

 

At the end of January or early February, the Carnival Queen is selected and crowned. Then, thepre-carnival parades are held, followed by the election of the Children’s Queen.

Once the carnival has begun, thePuchero Fair takes place, where you can find national dishes and drinks. Likewise, thePet Parade is held on Beijing Avenue and Juan de la Rosa. Then, theChildren’s Parade takes place.

 

Finally, the Corso de Corsos, in which the different bandas, agrupaciones and comparsas that run through the streets of the city are presented. In the festivities you can the different comparsas with large and colorful traditional costumes and performing choreographies throughout the journey.

 

Carnival Parades in Cochabamba

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The Grand Parade of Carnival in Cochabamba is called El Corso de Corsos and starts at Avenida Beijing y Kishkis. During the parade you can appreciate the different comparsas, agrupaciones, grupos folclóricos and fraternidades that dance and make presentations accompanied by music. Also, you can see the different groups performing dances such as Caporales, Tobas and Morenada and many more, which makes the Carnival of Cochabamba a festival of various cultures and ethnicities..

 

Parade route

 

The Corso de Corso normally runs along Avenida Heroínas, then passes through Avenida San Martin until it reaches Avenida Ramón Rivero, ending at Plaza Quintanilla..

 

Puchero is a typical dish made of meat and vegetables

Puchero is a typical dish made of meat and vegetables

 

What to eat during Carnival in Cochabamba

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One of the most traditional drinks is chicha, an undistilled fermented drink made from corn and other cereals. Likewise, it is common to consume puchero, a kind of stew that is composed of meat, vegetables and rice.

Also, the city of Cochabamba offers some places where you can go to eat, some of these are: La Estancia, La Cantonata and CAYENNA – Bistro Café.

 

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 Carnival in Cochabamba

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Within the carnivals you can attend the coronation of the Carnival Queen, as well as the different minor parades that the city organizes. Also, you can attend the Puchero Fair where you can taste the typical carnival dish. Finally, you should participate in the Corso de Corsos which takes place on the last day and where you cansee a large number of colorful costumes and dances distinctive of the different cultures and ethnicities of the region.

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

Guided tours in Spanish around the world

 

What to see and do outside of Carnivals in Cochabamba

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The city of Cochabamba offers you some tourist attractions, some of these are:

 

El Cristo de la Concordia

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It is a religious monument that represents Jesus Christ. This is located in the middle of the city and has a height of 40 meters on its pedestal. The monument was built on November 20, 1994.

 

The Portales Palace

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The building was constructed between 1915 and 1927 and today functions as a pedagogical and cultural center.

 

The 14 de septiembre Square

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It is a public square that was erected in 1851 and its surroundings are the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Calatayud House and the prefecture.

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

 

 

Carnival Weather in Cochabamba

 

During the carnival festivities the weather is pleasant, since the city has a temperature that ranges between 13 and 23 degrees Celsius.

 

The Cochabamba carnival is a carnival of integration where various sectors participate with music and traditional dance

The Cochabamba carnival is a carnival of integration where various sectors participate with music and traditional dance

 

How to get to the Carnival in Cochabamba

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How to get there by plane

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The closest airport to Cochabamba is Jorge Wilstermann Camacho International Airport. From here you can approach the city via 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

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From the airport you can take a bus to Adela Zamudio. The ride is 12 minutes.

Likewise, you can also take a bus from different cities in Bolivia such as La Paz, Sucre, and Oruro. You can also arrive from Chile, Peru and Argentina.

 

How to get there by car

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From the airport you can take Avenida 6 de Agosto to Cochabamba.

In La Paz you can take highway 1 and RN 4 until you reach the city.

From Sucre you can take highway 5 and highway 23 to Cochabamba.

 

Where to stay during Carnival in Cochabamba

Cesar’s Plaza Hotel

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4-star hotel 200 meters from the city center. Rooms feature air conditioning, TV and private bathroom with bathtub. Facilities offer free parking, airport transfer, spa, bar and restaurant.

 

Hotel Regina

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3-star hotel 800 meters from the center. The rooms have a TV and a desk. The hotel has internet connection, free parking, airport travel, restaurant and bar.

 

Armenia Hotel

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3-star hotel 700 meters from the center. Rooms have TV and private bathroom. The hotel offers free parking, airport transfers and free wifi.

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



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