This is a Calendar of events in Bolivia,Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Columbia, Venezuela throughout the coming year 2009 including cultural & gastronomic festivals, conferences and roundtables, spectacular tourism land and water exhibitions, pageants and exhibitions tourism fairs and sporting events …. as well as much much more

JANUARY 2009

01 January 2009 -New Years Party Surifesta

Where: Suriname – Paramaribo

• The Famous end of year Surifesta of Suriname is held every year on New Years eve. The Surifesta Foundation is the organization that is the lobby group for the festivities concerning “Owruyari” (the end of the year parties and New Year’s Eve). Festivities and end of year Calendar are well known to all in Suriname and people wait in eager anticipation for this exciting event
  The Surifesta Foundation organizes some of these big activities regarding the end of the year celebrations as well. Some of these activities that are held yearly are: The Surifesta Kick Off Party; a “Kawina Festival”

16 – 18 January 2009- 9th Annual Napo River Festival

Where: Ecuador – Tena

• Organised by the Ecuadorian River Institute this Event is used to raise awareness of the Napo River watershed and the importance it has in the daily life of Ecuador. “This unique gathering seeks to educate the public about watershed issues, preserve cultural traditions, and promote sustainable forms of development and resource management”
• The Napo river is of vast importance as last major tributary of the the Amazon River in Ecuador that remains free-flowing and has minimal contamination and development in its headwaters
• This is a free event which hosts a variety of contests includint: Flip -rafting, Inner Tube Racing, Kayak Rodeo, A massive downriver Float and much more … of course!
• http://www.kayakecuador.com/default.htm

20 January 2009 – Saint Sebastian Festivity

Where: Brazil – Canutama AM

January , a month when all over Brazil events and festivals are held to pay homage to Saint Sebastian (San Sebastian)  who was the patron saint of Pipa. Festivities take place over 3 days and planning begins 4 months before. On the day of celebration, street stalls, bingo and of course crazy Brazilian bands come out to perform at their best.

• The Story:It all started when the patron saint of athletes, soldiers and the guardian of love, showed compassion on Pipa at the beginning of the last century .

  Mr Antonio Pequeno, one of the respecters of local tradition, tells a story his grandfather, (of the same name) and who had been the church warder since its construction, told him. In 1919 a Spanish ship came by, headed for Para, leaving in its wake the dreaded influenza – the plague! Wherever it went it left a trail of death. Dona Chica, of the velho Castelo family had a small statue of Saint Sebastian and decided to pray for Pipa – to keep the plague away.

  If her prayers were met she promised to inaugurate a church in the saint’s name and make him patron of the village. Once this promise was made not a single inhabitant more caught the dreaded disease. In the 40’s building of the church was started and later, the artist Agnaldo Simoneti, who often visited, made two statues of the saint. One is on the altar of the church and the other was placed on a rock in the sea to show the saint that many people, both on land and sea have faith in his protection

27 January – 1 February 2009 – 8th World Social Forum

- Highlighting the Amazon’s Diversity

Where: Brazil, Belem – PA

An open platform for discussing alternative paths to sustainable development. This is an annual meeting held by members apposed to globalisation. The meeting tends to be in January when its “great capitalist rival” the World Economic Forum is meeting in Switzerland.

FEBRUARY 2009

01- 05  February  2009 -Carnival of Manaus Samba Schools and Carnaboi Parade

Where: Brazil – Manaus AM

03 – 05 February 2009 – Carnailha

Where: Brazil – Parintins AM

04 February 2009 – Aniiversary of the Fort of Sao Jose de Macapa

Where: Brazil – Macapa RR

9 – 15 February 2009 – Scucmbios Challenge 3rd Edition

Where: Ecuador

12 February 2009 -  The Route of the Amazon

Where: Ecuador – Fco. de Orellana

20- 22 February 2009 – Carnival

Where: Suriname

20- 24 February 2009 – Carnival in the Middle of the World

Where: Brazil – Macapa RR

21 February 2009 – Election of the World Ecotourism Queen

Where:Ecuador – Tena

21 – 23 February 2009 – 2nd World Ecotourism Fair

Where: Ecuador – Tena

23 February 2009 – Mashramani

Where: Guyana – Georgetown