FIESTA DE LA VIRGEN DEL CARMEN

The village of Paucartambo, the folkloric capital of the Cusco region, attracts thousands of worshippers from July 15. The Virgin del Carmen or Mamacha Carmen is a very popular and colourful festival, but beware: it is better to book your accommodation a long time in advance or to camp out like the majority. From 5am on July 16th, the main day of the festival, a "dawn mass" is celebrated. It is also the occasion to watch the sun rise at the place called Tres Cruces.