THE SECOND CRETACEOUS PARK IN BOLIVIA

Approximately 2,500 kilos of clay are being moulded to give life to one of the most feared species of predatory dinosaurs that existed on earth. The Carnotauros lived from the Inferior Jurásico to the Superior Cretácico Period approximately 65 million years ago.

This time the giant model of the Carnotauros (eight meters long and four and a half meters tall) will be for National Park Toro Toro, which thanks to the existence of a variety of prehistoric dinosaur tracks and other marine fossils, is becoming the second Cretaceous Park in Bolivia and a tourist destiny of paleontological importance.

Some of the different types of dinosaurs proposed for the cretaceous park are: Apatosaurus, Gallimimus, Avimimus, marine turtles and giganotosaurus, the biggest of them all which will measure about 35 meters in length.

Once constructed these models of prehistoric species will be located in seven different areas of the park where remains of dinosaur tracks and fossils have been identified. These areas include: the entrance to the cavern of Umajalanta, Races Pampas, the Wayllas hill, the stone bridge, the turtle cemetery and the vista point for Torotoro canyon.

THE SECRETS OF TIWANAKU

Pachakuti: The Return of Balance
DVD directed by Miguel Montaño

This DVD explores concepts such as complementariness, community values, spiritual animism, reciprocal economies, health, education and communitarian justice all important aspect of the Tiwanakun culture.

In order to better understand these concepts the viewer is presented with a comparison between Western and Andean cultures. The DVD illustrates the enormous differences between the two cultures and reveals a cruel truth: “that western philosophy has been gradually extinguishing to the Andean culture”.
During a ceremony on the 21 of January of 2006, in the Ceremonial Center of Tiwanaku, the Council of Amautas of Bolivia and Andean first nations requested that their ancestors enlighten Evo Morales Ayma, who had been recently elected President of Bolivia, enabling him to restore the values of indigenous cultures and govern for all Bolivians.

This DVD is available in our office for 25 b’s.

Holy Week

Holy week is a time for reflection and meditation for those who celebrate this religious festival.

Many of the small villages in Cochabamba, especially in the “Valle Bajo” start the celebration with Holy Thursday. In Charamoco, Itapaya, Parotani and other villages people begin going to the churches at mid-day to help in preparing the altar of Santo Sepulcro. On Holy Friday the devout fast until mid-day and then eat 12 different traditional dishes such as: potatoe soup, Jak’alawa, Sajta de papalizas, Ch’uma de lacayote, Sopa de Pan, Arroz con Leche, Ají de Vainitas y Dulce de frutas. These are based on the traditions of our ancestors.

At midnight on Saturday is the Glory Mass for which people bring a stick or some firewood to light a fire in the door of the church. Finally on Sunday the last day of holy week the family gets together to prepare another traditional plate and drink some chicha.

Special Offers- Bella Vista “Parque Amboro”(10 th to 12 th April)
Cost: USD125.-
- Misiones + Pantanal Boliviano (08th to 12th April)
Cost: USD350.-
- Concepcion Misional (10th to 12 th April)
Cost: USD125
- Torotoro (09 th to 11th April), incluye cannoning en el Vergel (Cañon de Torotoro)
Cost: USD94.-

CARNAVAL 2009

Carnival in Bolivia is a without a doubt the most popular of the Bolivian festivals. Each region of the country celebrates carnival in their own manner. These festivals are the best demonstration of our folklore and traditions. The biggest carnival festival is in Oruro and has been declared by UNESCO as Cultural Patrimony of Humanity”.

The traditional legend is that in 1789 the Virgin of the Socavón (loosely translated as mine shaft) miraculously appeared in the largest sliver mine in Oruro. Since this time the festival has honoured the virgin and even today the most important parts of the festival of take place in front of the at the shrine of the Socavón.

The preparations for carnival take place all during the year with uncountable ceremonies and rituals. The largest of these celebrations takes place in Oruro when thousands of dancers take to the streets accompanied by large brass bands and dance for kilometres. The main dance is the diablada but one will also see morenada, caporals, suri-sicurus , la llamerada, la kullawada and Tinku as well as dozens of others.

Come with us to experience this unforgettable event Saturday 21 of Februrary.

Cost: $ 70
Contact: info@boliviacultura.com or call 452-7272

ALL SAINT'S DAY

DAY OF THE DEAD NOV 1ST AND 2ND

On November 1st the dead come back to visit the living.

All Saint’s Day is the festival of the dead. Traditional beliefs say that when a person dies and the soul leaves the body it goes to one of 3 places. The first is for the privileged Hunaj Pacha. The second is where the old go and is called Kay Pacha . The third is Uqhu Pacha, where the souls live.


The first day of the holiday, Nov. 1, families prepare the masta’akus, which is Quechua for the ritual table. On this table they put the dead person’s favourite food and drinks as well as urpus (a type of pastry made during this time), fruit, flowers and candies. Throughout the day relatives and friends stop by for a tutuma (gourd drinking vessel) of chichi and they are invited to sit around the ritual table and pray for the dead. As the night progresses groups of children visit to pray and invoke the name of the dead. In return they receive fruit, bread and other small pastries

The following day, Nov. 2, in the afternoon, the family accompanies the soul back to the cemetery. They bring everything that was on the masta’aku and place it on the loved one’s tomb. Then they despedir las almas (say good by to the souls) with music and dancing.

Todos Santos begins the month of November which is famous for another tradition known as wallunk’as. These are giant swings that are set up in an empty field or lot and decorated with flowers and colourful ribbons. Young women sit in the swings and try to catch baskets of goodies with their feet as they swing through the air. While they swing the young men sing couplets and try to win the woman’s heart

PUNATA IS CALLED THE PEARL OF THE VALLEY

24 SEPTIEMBRE FESTIVAL: SEÑOR DE MILAGROS

It is festival time in the Valle Grande.

Punata is located 45 kilometers from the city of Cochabamba and is surrounded by seemingly never ending cultivated fields and orchards. The nearby town of San Benito is famous for its delicious peaches.

On the 24th of September Punata celebrates the festival “el Señor de los milagros (miracles)”. All the towns’ houses are decorated as an offering of delight. The day begins with a religious procession and then a folkloric dance festival through the streets of the town. The day’s events end with an outdoor concert in the main plaza with local groups playing.

On the 25th there is a procession with the Señor de los Milagros which kicks off the most important festival of the year in the Cochabamaba valley. The next day there is a band competition with the participation of local authorities, dance groups and special guests. That same day a special dance show in the streets ends this three day festival.

MIZQUE - THE CITY OF THE FIVE HUNDRED PARASOLS

13-15 SEPTIEMBRE
FESTIVAL: “SEÑOR DE BURGOS”

The province of Misque is situated 171 km. from the city of Cochabamba. On Sept. 13 to 15th they celebrate “Señor de Burgos”, the province’s most important festival also known as “Jatun Fiesta”, which means the great celebration. The nearby indigenous communities of Raqay Pampa as well as the residents of Mizque participate in the celebration.

On the 13 of September the festivities begins with an evening celebration where one can see fireworks, listen to hymns and see the residents of Raqay Pampas with their traditional clothes and musical instruments.

Over the next 3 or 4 days there are bullfights, a traditional activity that is conserved from past centuries. In the town’s main square surrounded by wood trenches, you can see local farmers dressed in sequins and cone shaped hats and brightly colored belts. Some are on horseback and others are on foot and playing drums.

The celebration ends with the “cacharpaya”, where the locals dance in front of the temple with white flags and wipalas, requesting blessings and the miracle of better days.