'El Carnaval del País' in Gualeguaychu, Argentina

by Caitlin M. Kelly | 2009

The largest carnival in Argentina takes place in Gualeguaychu each February.

An estimated crowd of 38,000 people flooded into the town for the second to last carnival, known as 'El Carnaval del País.' Gualeguaychu is located in the province of Entre Ríos about 230 kilometers from Buenos Aires and regularly attracts a crowd from the capital.

In this year's carnival three comparsas or samba clubs compete for the carnival title. The groups this year are: Kamarr with its Hindu themed story about Shangri-La, Marí Marí with a dedication to the native populations of South America, and Papelitos with a satirical look at the inequality between social and political classes. Each comparsa has up to five stages that move slowly down the passage between bleachers. Hundreds of dancers flank the stages with more dancers, bands and finishing off with a drum core.

The carnival season runs over nine Saturdays, from January through the first week in March. Typically it begins about 11:30pm and lasts until near 4am with revelers still dancing in the streets until hours past dawn.

According to the Gualeguaychu tourism website the local businesses earn a majority of their yearly income during carnival.

See more photos and read the original blog post >>

Send all comments & inquiries to notes@borderhopping.net.