Sucre Carnival, Bolivia
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Content of this article
What is the Carnival of Sucre?
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The Carnival of Sucre in Bolivia is a celebration of annual character, whose intention is to celebrate the colonial festivities. This carnival has the particularity of possessing features of yesteryear. In fact, almost the entire theme of the carnival tries to recreate the colonial era, using dresses, costumes, masks and period floats.
The carrozas, comparsas, agrupaciones and estudiantinas take to the streets of the city and are transported every year to the colonial era. Young people throw egg shells containing perfume and children play with water throughout the celebration. The whole city is transformed into an incredible stage, where horse-drawn carriages, colorful dresses and masks prevail.
The carnivals of Sucre have been taking place for several years with the aim of reviving and maintaining the traditions of the city and surrounding localities. The Carnival of Sucre has around 40,000 spectators who eagerly await the comparsas and carrozas that cross the streets of the city.
The Carnaval de Antaño is one of the particularities of the Carnival of Sucre in Bolivia. The people wear clothes from colonial times
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When is the Carnival of Sucre?
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The Sucre carnival takes place before Ash Wednesday, taking place in the month of February and runs until the Thursday after Ash Wednesday.
History of the Carnivals of Sucre
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The carnival in Sucre has been present since colonial times and formerly were demonstrations that served as an example for the rest of the adjacent towns. Likewise, it functioned as an activity that took place in a festive atmosphere, loaded with a greatcultural significance for the inhabitants. In the beginning there were parades with floats decorated with flowers and the young women dressed up in dresses of gala and flower bouquets. During the night dances were held in the mansions and haciendas.
During the Republican era, the carnival continued to be celebrated without major alteration or evolution. Despite this, thepopular classes began to take part in the carnivals and to establish groups and groups that also traveled the streets to the rhythm of the drums. In this way, the first comparsas began to emerge, despite the fact that at that time they did not have full freedom to celebrate. This type of celebrations was reproduced in several localities and adding other traditional elements, music and dancing.
In the 1950s, the big parties began to be held in a closed street, where the whole town participated and were not exclusive to certain groups of society. In this way, the carnivals began to take more and more public spaces, thus becoming the celebrations of great proportions that encompasses the entire locality and where the comparsas, parades and young people play with water and confetti are celebrated.
Where is the Carnival of Sucre?
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Sucre carnivals are celebrated in the city of Sucre, Bolivia. Some of the sites where the celebrations are held in the city are La Recoleta and Plaza 25 de mayo.
People celebrate, sing and dance in the streets during the carnival of Sucre in Bolivia
How is the Carnival of Sucre celebrated?
Every year some celebrations take place before the official start of the carnivals in Sucre, some of these are the help collections in the city square or the traditional food fairs that are installed in different spaces. Likewise, two weeks before the carnivals, the Thursday of Compadres and Comadres takes place. Once the carnivals formally begin, the quiet streets of the city begin to celebrate the festivities in a big way, since every day you can find in the streets dancers, music, costumes and crafts..
Carnivals are filled with activities and celebrations, starting with the Gathering Friday and traditional street food, as well as the children’s carnival and the old carnival characteristic of the festivities in Sucre. On Sunday, the Gran Carnival takes place with the Grand Parade that goes around the city. Likewise, small celebrations are held with sale of handicrafts and traditional food. Finally, rural and peasant areas honor the Pacha Mama.
If you want to know more about tourism in this country I recommend this guide:.
Tips for going to the Carnivals of Sucre
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If you want to attend the Sucre carnivals in Bolivia, we recommend you to plan your trip in advance, make an itinerary with activities you want to do and book the accommodation of your choice with some time.
Events in Sucre Carnival
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The first week of carnival, there are some comparsas and activities carried out by the institutions of the city. Then, the “Carnaval de Antaño” takes place, where people dress in colonial clothes and original from theRepublican era. Likewise, the comparsas and observers take the streets to the main square.
On Sunday thechildren’s carnival is celebrated in the morning, when children dress up in costumes and hold contests. In the afternoon, the Gran Carnaval or gran desfile takes place with large and vivid floats made by the comparsas, which are always loaded with messages of satire and political and social criticism. Some prizes are awarded, some snacks are handed out and the festivities end in the streets with dancing, music and drinks.
On Tuesday of Carnival there is a similar route to that of Sunday where different bands and dance groups are included. Also, there are sales of drinks and typical and traditional food..
On Ash Wednesday or Tejar Wednesday, the groups and social groups go to the farming sectors to eat traditional food and continue the celebrations, usually children play with water and confetti. Musical bands are present and the Pacha Mama is celebrated and honored.
Thursday after Ash Wednesday is the last day to celebrate. Although it does not have large numbers of people, you can still find small parties and street celebrations..
Children play with confetti, water and eggshells with perfume during the carnivals of sucre in Bolivia
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Sucre Carnival Parades
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The first parade held is theparade of yesteryear, where people wear dresses and costumes characteristic of the colonial era. The streets are decorated with antique elements, leading back to the traditional beginnings of carnival in the area.
The big parade takes place on Sunday, when the streets of the city are filled with celebrations, floats and comparsas. The streets of Sucre are filled with the sound of bandas and satirical messages directed at ppolitics and society. Likewise, the troupes perform their dance numbers and the youngsters play with water, confetti and throw eggshells with scented water.
Parade route
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People parade the streets wearing period clothes during the carnivals of sucre in Bolivia
The big parade usually starts at the Estadio Olímpico Patria to the Plaza Aniceto.
The avocado sandwich is common to find during the carnival of Sucre in Bolivia
What to eat during the Sucre Carnival[/h2>.
One of the traditional drinks during the festivities is the leche de tigre, a drink that is made with milk, sugar, eggs, some spices and an alcoholic beverage called Singani. Also, it is common to eat avocado sandwich which is simply a sliced bread filled with avocado or avocado.
Some options for eating out that the city offers are: Condor Café, Cosmo Cafe Restaurant, Kultur Cafe Berlin.
Tiger milk is a traditional drink in the Bolivian festivities
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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 insurance. Read more information about all insurance offers here:
What to see and do inside the Sucre Carnival
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Inside the carnivals you can see the parade of the carnival of yesteryear with all the clothing and dress that people wear to simulate the time of the beginnings of the carnival. You can alsobe part of the parade or Gran Carnaval with all the musical bands, floats and comparsas that take to the streets. Finally, you can eat typical food or see the craft fairs.
What to see and do outside of the Carnivals of Sucre
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Some of the tourist options that the city offers you are:
Convent of San Felipe de Neri
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It is a religious temple dating from the seventeenth century, comprises a ceramic roof and wooden balconies.
Treasure Museum
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It is a museum whose purpose is to disseminate and art and manual work of the various metals and stones found in Bolivia.
House of Liberty
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In this place the Act of Independence was signed in 1825. Also, it was where the first constitution of the country was written. It is located in the Plaza 25 de Mayo.
Safety in the Carnivals of Sucre
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The city of Sucre in Bolivia is relatively safe, however, pickpocketing and some theft can be encountered. Your best ally will be common sense, keep alert to your surroundings and communicate with the relevant authorities if you identify any strange activity. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your items safe:
Weather at the Carnival of Sucre
During the carnival celebrations, the weather is friendly, with temperatures ranging from 11 to 21 degrees Celsius.
Children also dress up during the carnival of yesteryear in the carnival of sucre in Bolivia
How to get to Sucre Carnival
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How to get there by plane
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The closest and most connected airport near the city of Sucre is the Alcantarí International Airport, which makes connections with most airports in the country and some international flights. From here you can go to the city of Sucre using different means of transportation.
How to get there by bus
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From La Paz you can take a bus from the La Paz bus terminal.
How to get there by car
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From the airport, you can take a vehicle and travel along highway 5 until you reach Sucre.
Where to stay in Sucre Carnival
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Mi Pueblo Samary Boutique Hotel
5 star hotel 450 m from the city center. Rooms feature TV, minibar and private bathroom. Stations comprise bar, hoarding and free wifi.
Hotel Boutique La Posada
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4-star hotel 200 meters from the center. Rooms feature cable TV and minibar. The hotel offers a bar and parking.
El Hotel de Su Merced
4-star hotel 350 meters from the center. Rooms have TV, private bathroom and closet. The hotel has a bar, airport transfers and free parking.
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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