Entrada Virgen del Socavon

Entrada Virgen del Socavón

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Religious & SpiritualOruro
DatesDates TBA · Usually FebruaryCheck locally before booking
Duration4 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCeremony, pilgrimageThe scale of devotion here is extraordinary
Language["es"]Currency: BOB
CategoryReligious & SpiritualFestival type
The story

Entrada Virgen del Socavon in Oruro

The Entrada Virgen del Socavon is the Carnival Saturday pilgrimage and parade honoring the Virgen del Socavon, patroness of Oruro's miners and legally declared Patroness of National Folklore in 1994. More than 40,000 dancers travel over five kilometers to her sanctuary on Cerro Santa Barbara, where a 45-meter monument to the Virgin, completed in 2013, stands over the route's end point.

Each Carnival Saturday, Oruro stages one of the largest acts of collective devotion in Bolivia's festival calendar, as more than 40,000 dancers set out on the Entrada Virgen del Socavon, a pilgrimage and parade covering roughly five kilometers to the sanctuary built in her honor.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The scale of devotion here is extraordinary even by Carnaval de Oruro's standards: more than 40,000 dancers make the five-kilometer journey to the sanctuary, turning the entrada into one of the largest single acts of collective religious dance anywhere in South America

02

The mystery stays covered

The Virgen del Socavon's status is formally recognized rather than only locally understood, having been declared Patroness of National Folklore by law in 1994, and her sanctuary on Cerro Santa Barbara is marked by a 45-meter monument completed in 2013, giving dancers a visible destination that towers over the final stretch of the route

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The entrada centers on devotion to the Virgen del Socavon

Water and renewal

Living ritual

legally recognized as Patroness of National Folklore in 1994

The sacred route

Living ritual

with more than 40

The local code

Living ritual

000 dancers making the five-kilometer pilgrimage to her sanctuary on Cerro Santa Barbara beneath the 45-meter monument built in 2013

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually February

Getting around

Move patiently around ceremony routes and leave space for worshippers and participants.

What to wear

Sturdy footwear and layered clothing suit the physical demands of the five-kilometer route and Oruro's shifting daytime and evening temperatures at altitude.

Safety

Watch local behavior before photographing, filming, or entering sacred spaces.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Public ritual moments are often free, but donations, transport, or temple access may vary.

Language/currency

["es"] · BOB

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map17.97 S, 67.12 WOpen in Google Maps

Oruro, Oruro, Bolivia

Nearest airportORU — Juan Mendoza
TransportMove patiently around ceremony routes and leave space for worshippers and participants.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Oruro via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Oruro, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for February.Compare faresFestival gearSturdy footwear and layered clothing suit the physical demands of the five-kilometer route and Oruro's shifting daytime and evening temperatures at altitude.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Bolivia and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Entrada Virgen del Socavon?

Entrada Virgen del Socavon is listed for Past edition: 14–17 February 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Entrada Virgen del Socavon take place?

The festival is listed in Oruro, Bolivia. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

4 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Needs editorial review. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Oruro, Oruro, Bolivia

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually February
Source statusNeeds editorial review
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