Everyone is invited to the celebrations of 200 years of the proclamation of the first independent government in Latin America held in La Paz, Bolivia on July 16, 1809.

The bicentennial celebrations will last the entire month of July and officially began the first of July, with the flag hoisted in La Paz and the lighting the torch located at the Plaza Murillo, representing the fire of freedom that never goes out, near the monument to Pedro Domingo Murillo, a leader of the Junta Tuitiva, the first independent government in Latin America that was under the Spanish rule.

As part of the celebrations, commemorative coins have been minted. Also the mayor of La Paz has planned the execution of an endless array of activities throughout the month. But the high point of the celebrations will take the 15 and 16 with parades and music festivals throughout the Department of La Paz with the participation of all citizens of the city, including the national government and guests from around the world. The festival will be extended naturally to other cities in the La Paz Department, El Alto, Copacabana, Coroico, Tiwanaku, and so on. An excellent opportunity for those who are in the city of La Paz on these dates to be part of the party, and share the patriotic fervor of the party.

Eight presidents and heads of state are on the list of special guests from the municipality of La Paz that will arrive for the central events of the Bicentennial celebration of the Revolution of July 16, 1809. Among them are Fernando Lugo of Paraguay, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina, Hugo Chávez Frías of Venezuela, Luis Inacio Lula Da Silva of Brazil, Rafael Correa of Ecuador, Álvaro Uribe of Colombia, Michelle Bachelet of Chile and Manuel Zelaya of Honduras.

The Mayors of 20 cities from around the world will also join the celebration from cities like Madrid, Quito, Santiago, Mexico City, Montevideo, Santo Domingo, Bogotá, Lima, among others.

2009 Coroico Folk Festival (Festival Internacional de Coroico 2009)

Coroico is a small town with a resort-like feel, 3 hour bus ride from La Paz, it has mild weather year round. Coroico is known among tourist for been a tourist hot spot in South America due to is amazing landscape and nature. The Coroico Festival was created in 2,007 to promote Coroico and its tourist attractions. The Coroico Folk Festival promises to surpass the success of the previous version. The event expects to host close to 10,000 visitors.

The festival showcases Andean and Latin-American music; in which some of the top artists from Bolivia perform, they will be joined by international artist. This is a great opportunity to visit Coroico and the Bolivian Amazon, most tourist use Coroico as the gate to it, on they’re way to the Madidi natural reserve. The Festival: Start Time: starts on Friday, July 3, 2009 and ends Sunday, July 5, 2009.

The Unidad de Transito (Bolivian road authority) reported that the road should be in optimal conditions.

Practical recommendations: • In the winter season (June-August): bring warm clothing. Although Coroico enjoys a template climate normally it feels cold early in the morning. • If you're decide to camp don’t forget to take with you: first aid kit, pocket knife, flashlight, batteries, bug repellent, medication (if you’re taking any), antihistaminic and whatever you feel necessary for your comfort and safety.

If you want to know more about Coroico click here

Celebrate the "Coldest night of the year" in Bolivia

The Coldest night of the year will be celebrated on June, 23rd and the fist hours of the 24^Th. That night entire Bolivia celebrates the Noche de San Juan (St. John’s night) it’s a very ancient tradition which is celebrated in many parts of Europe and Latin America, and is an established event in Bolivia, this is a tradition brought to the country by the Spanish colonist; in the northern hemisphere Noche de San Juan celebrated the shortest night of the year and the arrival of summer; while here in Bolivia it was adapted to celebrate the coldest night of the year and the arrival of winter. The traditional way to celebrate this event consisted in bonfires where fire wood was burned, families and friends gathered together around the bonfires to celebrate the coldest night of the year. The bonfires were accompanied by heartily food, “ponche” (milk based alcoholic beverage, served hot), music, dance and a lot of fireworks. In modern times and due to ecological concerns authorities have banned bonfires, but the party and the family reunion continues to live on. In small towns and remotte areas of the country bonfires are still lit on San Juan Night.

In the modern version of Noche de San Juan, the party has also met the modern life, been carried out in clubs, bars and discotheques as well. It’s a well publicized event around Bolivia, just ask you’re hotel concierge or taxi driver for a good San Juan Night party and they will give you good tips on how to get to one. Music, dance, hot dogs and ponche are a big part of the party and off course fireworks.

Aymara New Year 5517 at Tiwanaku

Bolivian Government agencies launched on Monday 15^th the official program for the Aymara New Year 5517 in the ruins of a pre-Columbian city of Tiwanaku, 72 kilometers from the seat of government, the next 20 to June 21.

The official launch was held in the Plaza Murillo in La Paz, with the participation of Bolivia's Chancellor David Choquehuanca, the Minister of Culture Pablo Groux, the prefect of La Paz, Pablo Ramos and the Mayor of Tiwanaku, Eulogia Quispe, who invited national and international people to be part of the ancient rite of "Willkakuti 2009" (return of the sun) will start the new year aymara 5517.

“According to shamans, Tiwanaku is part of network of energy centers around the world. Every year we prepare to receive the energy of the new sun. We invite all to come to Tiwanaku and celebrate with us on June 21," said Chancellor Choquehuanca.

Tiwanaku has been the center of spiritual and political life of the Tiwanaku culture. After the extinction of this culture, Andean people had gathered here to celebrate the Willkakuti, for many centuries. The celebration of the New Year or Willkakuti coincides with winter solstice in the southern hemisphere, when the sun is farthest from the planet. This natural phenomenon marks the beginning of a new planting season.

According to the official program, the June 20 will start on the town’s main square of Tiwanaku, with a pilgrimage to Quimsa Chata, where there will be an offering to mother earth.

Later at 5 p.m. on the main square of the town there will be a Cultural Festival for all visitors, this will last trough the night and it will be accompanied of native music and. The next day all will be ready for the Ritual Ceremony of the Great Willkakuti at the temple of Kalasasaya. The sun will rise around 07:25 a.m. when all locals and visitors will receive the Cosmic Energy of the first rays of the sun on a New Year. This will be done by raising the hands to the rays of the new sun as tradition calls.

Tours for this celebration are easy to find around Sagarnaga Street in La Paz. It’s advised to bring warm clothes, gloves and something warm to drink, due to the frigid conditions of the Andes during the night.

We wish you all a Happy New Year 5517.

Fiesta de Jesús del Gran Poder 2009

Fiesta de Jesús del Gran Poder 2009

If you're in La Paz on June 6th this is an event you can miss. The Fiesta de Jesús del Gran Poder (Jesus Almighty) is one of the larges celebrations in Bolivia outside the Carnaval. The religious celebration include a dancers parade a across the city of La Paz, the dances are performed by devotes of the image of Jesus of el Gran Poder, one of the most revered and venerated images in Bolivia.

The dancers parade starts around 10:00 a.m. and lasts the entire day, it starts at Cementerio near the Jesus of Grand Poder Chruch and finishes at Park Roosevelt near the Hernando Siles Stadium, crossing the entire downtown area, you'll need to get a sit early in the morning, the area near Plaza San Francisco is considered to be one of the best places to be watch this magnificent traditional dances display.

June 6th (Movable according with the Catholic Calendar)
Fiesta de Jesús del Gran Poder
La Paz-La Paz
Religious/ethnic