Two Latin American festivals have made it into the London Telgraphs Best parties of 2011 list – which documents the best parties and festivals upcoming year. These are the world famous Rio Carnival and Oruro Carniva in Bolivia:
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 5-8
Carnival in Rio
The samba parade is the climax of this riotous display of Brazilian bacchanal. Various balls are also held throughout the city, such as the hugely popular Gala Gay ball, a flamboyant affair, open to all. Street parties are found wherever there is a band or a sound system.
Oruro Carnival
Oruro, Bolivia, March 4-8;
In between the capital La Paz and the Bolivian salt flats lies Oruro, a high-altitude mining town. Its carnival showpiece is La Diablada, a “dance of the devils” played out in elaborate costume. The parade pays homage to the patron saint of miners and to Pachamama, the Earth mother. Featured are 20,000 dancers and 10,000 musicians, dressed as devils, Andean spirit animals, Inca characters and conquistadores. Dances depict battles between good and evil.
Join the party by throwing water bombs – but be wary: tourists make good targets.