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- The paint days — “Blancos” and “Negros”
The whole city literally becomes your canvas: one day people celebrate with white powder and costume, the next people playfully blacken faces and bodies. It’s not just messy fun — it’s a ritual of role-play and social leveling that turns strangers into teammates for a few hours. Bring clothes you don’t love and expect laughter, accidental talc showers, and a sense of collective chaos you won’t find in a staged parade. - Comparsas and dance troupes
Rows of neighborhood groups move through the streets with choreographed steps, drums, flutes and bright, hybrid costumes that fuse indigenous, African and Spanish influences. These are living, breathing performances — not polished stage shows — so you’ll get raw energy, improvisation and moments when the
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.