South+America

Of all the people, on all the continents, South Americans really know how to party. Their roots and Christian colonization leads to an amazing assortment of fiestas. Chose from harvest festivals to religious holidays that have music and performances, with celebrations that range from chaos to more serene events. If you want to visit South America, these South American festivals are worth planning a trip around. //Oruro Festival, Bolivia. Photo courtesy of VMT Bolivia.// = = =Celebrate The Virgin Of The Mineshaft At The Oruro Festival In Oruro, Bolivia= Travel back in time in one of the highest and most remote countries on earth. Bolivia is rich in both silver and local culture, with more indigenous peoples than any other country in the Americas. You can experience this diverse mix of multi-ethnic cultural experiences first-hand combined with the importance of salt mines if you visit during the Oruro Festival in one of Bolivia’s old mining towns. Legend has it that in 1756, a mural of the Virgin Mary miraculously appeared in a mineshaft of the city’s richest silver mine. Ever since, the townspeople have honored the Virgin of the Mineshaft at their annual Carnival at and around the Church of the Mineshaft. The carnival starts with a ceremony dedicated to the Virgen del Socavon before about 50 groups of folk dancers perform a pilgrimage to the Tunnel Shrine. Marching bands greet the Virgin with a competition in the grotto of Pie de Gallo and the festival culminates in a three-day parade. While in Bolivia, further explore the mining culture with a visit to San Jose silver mine. For a truly out-of-this-world experience, visit the Salt Desert of Uyuni with 4,000-square-miles of salt flats. You’ll see locally fashioned structures made entirely out of salt bricks including a historic hotel and Isla de Pescadores, a bizarre island studded with 20-foot cacti. You can also unwind at the luxury hotels on shores of Lake Titicaca, South America’s largest lake.