The Hot-Spots for New Year’s Eve in Latin America
If you will be in Latin America this holiday season, or more specifically New Years, we have combined a list of our favorite places to ring in the New Years in Latin America.
At midnight join thousands of people gathered at the Plaza de Armas Major square to witness the famous Maria Angola bell on the Cuzco Cathedral ringing to celebrate and welcome the New Year. This tradition is done to bring new exciting adventures for travelers in the future. The celebration includes beautiful fireworks as you ring in the New Years with people from around the world. Don’t forget to wear something yellow for the occasion; Peruvians relate the yellow color to the sun and they believe that wearing something bright yellow right at midnight will secure prosperity and fortune for the year to come.
Enjoy the combination of colonial architecture, cosmopolitan life style and the vigorous nightlife of this city. On New Year’s Eve night, everybody will bring tables and chairs out in the streets as the entire city is transformed into an amazing all-night dinner party, accompanied with fireworks and great live music. At dawn, you are welcome to try “sancochado” which is a traditional Colombia soup made with plantain, potato, corn, yucca, and your choice of meat. This hearty, comforting and delicious dish is served to boost your energy, so you can keep the party going all night long. Please remember that this is the busiest time of the year for this city and reservations are subject to availability.
You will have the opportunity to experience an astonishing New Year’s Eve party and tropical weather in one of the most famous and fabulous beaches in the world, Copacabana beach. For your entertainment, four different stages with live music are set up by the beach where you can dance until the early hours of the morning under the mesmerizing fireworks. The tradition is to wear white clothes because white represents “pure” energy, white is also the color of Lemanja, the Goddess of the Sea. Keep in consideration that this party is best for adults only.
Lake Atitlan and Chichicastenango, Guatemala
If you are looking to relax, stay away from big crowds, and celebrate New Year’s Eve in a very intimate way, then this site is perfect for you. Lake Atitlan is a beautiful volcanic lake that offers stunning views, verdant forests, meditations centers, and delicious organic meals. Live music accompanied with fire dancers is the main attraction of this night, along with traditional fireworks.
If you are planning to arrive a few days prior New Year’s Eve and be part of the festivities that are held in Guatemala, you must check out the town of Chichicastenango, only an hour away from Lake Atitlan. Every December 27th, residents celebrate the Feast of St. Thomas, with the main attractions being the “palo volador” or “flying pole” dance. This traditional dance is performed from a pole ninety feet tall as the dancers are slowly lowered while spiraling outward, attached only by a rope to their ankles or hands. It is an exciting combination of fearless acrobats and bungee jumping.
La Plata, Argentina
Only forty-five minutes from Buenos Aires you will be able to experience a unique traditional celebration of New Year’s Eve with the “quema de muñecos” or “burning dolls”. The tradition began in La Plata in 1951 when the president of an Argentinean soccer club built the first doll in honor of the player who helped the team win the championship. Since then, the residents of La Plata get together to burn and watch how these extravagant giant paper machée creatures, filled with fireworks, goes up in flames. For a short period of time, La Plata turns into a fun combination of color, noise, and smoke, as the crowd welcomes the New Year with renovated energy.
Viña del Mar and Valparaiso, Chile
New Year’s Eve by the beach” is a celebration you don’t want to only hear about; you want to see it with your own eyes. This is an unforgettable experience that offers a spectacular show along the seaside with massive fireworks, in a thirteen miles range that go all the way from Viña del Mar to Concon, and goes for approximately thirty minutes. You could also take a cruise that includes an amazing party and the best view of a colorful and illuminated coast line.
Punta del Este is known for its beautiful beaches, its upscale resort tradition, sophisticated nightlife, and great art galleries; sports including golf, polo, sailing, jet-skiing and surfing are some of the main attractions. Punta del Este is an ideal travel destination for the entire family as it is known as one of Latin America’s safest locations. With its many beaches, parks, museums and historic sites Punta Del Este offers something for everyone. If you are spending New Year’s Eve with your little ones, there is the Parque El Jaguel, a children’s playground complete with wooden play equipment and animal figures. There is also the Municipal Zoo (Parque Municipal Zoologico) which includes many interactive exhibits. Punta del Este offers outstanding international cuisine that includes Arab, Chinese, French, Italian and Spanish restaurants. You can also enjoy traditional dishes as chivitos (a typical Uruguayan sandwich), and “parrilladas” or “barbecues”. On New Year’s Eve, seat back and relax by the beach watching magic fireworks.
Have a happy and safe holiday season!
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