I was delighted to open this Saturdays Telegraph to see the Bolivian Oruro Carnival rated as one of the world's top 10 street carnivals. The small, high altitude mining town of Oruro is fairly sleepy for most of the year, awaking for three to four days in March to offer Bolivia's equivalent to the Rio Carnival .
As the largest annual cultural event in Bolivia, 'La Diablada' was declared by UNESCO as one of mankind's 'Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity' in 2001. The traditional street parades pay homage to Pachamama (Mother Earth) and spans for some four kilometres - a true spectacle.
Oruru is easily combined with the charming indigenous market of Tarabuco, colonial city of Sucre, Madidi National Park in the Amazon with spectacular salt flats of the Salar de Uyuni Bolivia is a must on anyone's list. If you can't make the main March event, our Bolivia - Textile and Weaving tour in October 2011 journeys to Oruro and visiting textile workshops where costumes are made for the carnival.
Contact me for more information or to put together a trip to Bolivia, joining our textile and weaving tour or to celebrate during carnival time in March on 01285 885333 or email me emma@steppestravel.co.uk