Bolivia Travel Articles
- Information on getting to Oruro by bus, train or plane.
- Information on timetables and bus companies in Uyuni.
- The Willkakuti, known as the Aymara new year, is celebrated on June 21st in the pre-inca ruins of Tiwanaku.
- The Uyuni Salt Flat (Salar de Uyuni) in Bolivia is an immense white plain of 12.000 square kilometers of salt. It is the only place on Earth visible by the naked eye from the moon.
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How to get to Uyuni and when to go
It is possible to get to Uyuni by plane, by train or by bus. However, the best and most comfortable option is to fly to Uyuni from La Paz or Santa Cruz. -
The Gran Poder Folkloric entrance is a traditional festival that takes place in the well-known Ch'ijini neighborhood of La Paz city since 1974.
- Information on getting to La Paz city by air and road.
- Important tips and useful advice for a great Oruro Carnival Experience
- The Carnival of Oruro is a unique folkloric and religious celebration with over 50000 dancers and many cultural activities.
- The Tobas dance is a special representation of energy - a singular dance with impressive jumps performed by the dancers to impress the audience. This unique dance is performed during religious and other festivities as well as the Oruro Carnival.
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Llamerada - Oruro Carnival Dance
The Llamerada dance is known in aymara as "qarwani". The dance has a festive religious sense performed by llama, alpaca and vicuna raisers of La Paz. The Llamerada dance is a representation of the Sheppard’s long journey to exchange basic products.
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The Incas dance is a representation of the old "wanka" (story, tragedy) in quechua and the Spanish performed it since 1871. The Sunday carnival in front of a shiny Inti (sun god), the sun sons remember the tragic end of Atahuallpa. The costumes have symbols that represent nobility.
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La Diablada - Oruro Carnival Dance
The Diablada is a dance that originally comes from Oruro and is a material representation of a deep religious inspiration. The choreography of the Diablada represents the struggle between good and evil and the defeat of the seven deadly sins. This dance is performed in all the artistic and folk expressions of Bolivia and particularly in Oruro during the Carnival time.
- The Tinkus is the name of the ritual fights between the Alasaya and the Majasaya. The tinku dance represents the encounter of two elements with opposite directions and origins.
- The kantu dance is one of the most important dances in La Paz small towns, and is performed during the Oruro Carnival as well. The music and dance are characterized by ceremonial melodies and therefore attached to different kallawayas rituals.
- The Morenada dance mocks white men, who are depicted leading imported African slaves. Some highly embroidered and colorful costumes imitate pre-Columbian dresses.
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Negritos - Oruro Carnival Dance
The Negritos Bolivian Dance has its origin in the mutual admiration of the Aymaras and Negros, and the meeting of the cultures and history along the colony. It is performed during the Oruro Carnival and other important festivals.
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Kallawayas - Oruro Carnival Dance
The kallawayas dance expresses through a rich choreography and colorful dresses the representation of the "yatiri" (healer) with his relevant status inside the community and profound respect in the Andean world.
- The dance of the waka tokoris (dancing bulls) satirizes bullfights and represents with irony the Spanish conquerors. The dance origin is Umala town, Camacho province in La Paz. Umala was built as a resting place for the Spanish people on their journey towards the Pacific Ocean while carrying silver. The female dancers use many polleras (traditional skirts) and move the hips following a contagious and hypnotic rhythm, moving approximately 10 kilograms of clothes.
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Potolos - Oruro Carnival Dance
The Potolos dance has its origin in Potolo and Potobamba towns, the first one located in Chuquisaca and the other in Potosi. The dance is a mix of rhythmic movements and funny hip movements. It Is performed in Oruro Carnivals and in other important religious festivities. -
Pujllay - Oruro Carnival Dance
The Pujllay is a historical dance, locally interpreted by the natives called Tarabucos. The word tarabuco comes from Tarka Phuku which means, "The ones that blow or play the tarkas or moxenos" (wind instruments).
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Tarqueada - Oruro Carnival Dance
The Tarqueada is a dance mostly known in the aymara area of Bolivia. The dance is accompanied by the sound of the Tarqa a musical instrument made of wood. It has a particular sound. In the markas communities there are several ways to dance the tarqueada with variations of the choreography. - The Kullawada dance recalls the knitter ritual. It is a festive dance popular among the aymara knitters. Men and women participate directed by a Waphuri. The Waphuri is an important person who when the word "Waphur" is screamed, makes the choreographies change.
- The Caporales is a typical Bolivian dance legacy of the Spanish. The dance is very popular especially in the carnivals and festivities such as the Oruro Carnival. A male caporal dress would depict an old Spanish military guard. Wearing heeled boots bearing large bells known as "cascabeles", a male dancer carries a hat in his left hand and a whip in his right.
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Doctorcitos - Oruro Carnival Dance
The doctorcitos dance is a satire of the lawyers of the colonial epoch and of their secretaries for the use of wayra Levas.
The costumes for the men are a top hat, black suit, a white shirt, a bow tie, and a cane. The ladies use a dark skirt, a vest and a stick.