Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
May 1
Labour Day (public holiday).
May 3
Día de la Cruz.
Tinku
ritual combats are staged in some communities in the northern
Potosí region.
May 25
Public holiday in Chuquisaca department.
May/June
Corpus Christi (public holiday). La Paz stages the
Señor del Gran Poder
, its
biggest and most colourful folkloric dance parade.
June 21-22
The winter solstice and Aymara New Year are celebrated with overnight vigils
and religious ceremonies at Tiwanaku, Copacabana, Samaipata and other ancient sites
throughout the country.
June 24
San Juan. Christian version of the winter solstice and Aymara New Year, marked
with bonfires and fireworks around Bolivia.
June
Santísima Trinidad. Major religious fiesta in Trinidad in honour of the Holy Trinity.
July 16
Virgen del Carmen. Processions and dances in honour of the Virgen del Carmen,
the patron saint of many towns and villages across Bolivia. Public holiday in La Paz depart-
ment.
July 31
San Ignacio de Moos hosts the largest and most colourful folkloric fiesta in the
Bolivian Amazon.
August 6
Independence Day (public holiday). Parades and parties throughout the country.
August 15
Virgen de Urkupiña. Pilgrims descend on the market town of Quillacollo, just
outside Cochabamba, for the region's biggest religious fiesta.
August 24
San Bartolomé (also known as Ch'utillos). Potosí's biggest annual fiesta, a three-
day celebration with pre-Christian roots, marked by folkloric dances and religious proces-
sions.
September 14
Public holiday in Cochabamba department.
October 1
Public holiday in Pando department.
November 1-2
All Saints and Day of the Dead (public holiday). Remembrance parties are
held in cemeteries throughout the highlands, with the decorated skulls of dead relatives of-
ten on display.
November 10
Public holiday in Potosí department.
November 18
Public holiday in Beni department.
December 25
Christmas Day (public holiday). Christmas (or Navidad) is celebrated
throughout the country, and there are particularly colourful festivities in San Ignacio de
Moxos and Tarija.
