Chile comes alive as thousands celebrate Andean culture: Video
Chile’s northern city of Arica was transformed by the Carnival with the Force of the Sun, a three-day festival celebrating Andean traditions, Afro-descendant culture and local community life.
One of the country’s largest cultural events, the carnival draws thousands of residents and visitors each year to the streets of the coastal city.
Footage filmed by Viory on Friday, January 30, shows hundreds of dancers performing in brightly coloured, hand-embroidered costumes, accompanied by folkloric music and traditional choreography. Masks, percussion and elaborate outfits reflect ancestral beliefs and customs passed down through generations across the Andean region.
Local authorities highlight the festival’s role in preserving a shared cultural heritage that predates modern national borders. The traditions on display blend influences from what are now Chile, Bolivia and Peru, underscoring a common Andean worldview rooted in history, spirituality and community life.
First held officially in 2003, the carnival takes its name from the desert sun and the Andean sun god, a symbol of life and renewal. Today, it is recognised not only as a major tourist attraction but also as an important space for intercultural exchange and regional identity in northern Chile.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
