Celebrating Carnival

Carnival is early this year — less than three weeks away!!! — so make plans to enjoy Latin America’s biggest festival. Brazil has the best known and most enthusiastic celebrations, with Rio de Janiero and Salvador each vying for the Carnival crown. Which party is better depends on who you ask, but each offers incredible spectacles. For a traditionally indigenous vibe, head to Oruro in Bolivia or Quebrada de Humahuaca in Argentina. Oruro’s annual event has been named a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, while Quebrada de Humahuaca prominently features devil imagery in its affair. Then there is Barranquilla on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, Veracruz in Eastern Mexico, or the 22-day marathon festival in Encarnación, Paraguay. Whether you make it this year or next, Carnival is something everyone must experience at least once.