For 362 days of the year nothing really happens in Paucartambo, a quiet colonial backwater set amidst imposing scenery at the confluence of the Mapacho and Qenqo Mayo rivers, some three hours by road from Cusco.
Then, for three days each year, from the 15th to the 17th of July, the town fills to overflowing with the thousands of visitors who come to watch it play host to one of South America’s most fascinating fiestas.
The Spanish introduced the custom of paying homage to the Virgin of Carmen in all their colonies, and festivals were held in her honour throughout the Americas. But in the Andes, where all religious celebrations reflect the centuries-old struggle between Christianity and pre-Columbian pantheism, the Virgin is no longer just the mother of God, she is also Mother Earth, or Pachamama, and the sixteen groups of beautifully costumed dancers who participate in the festivities at Paucartambo interpret a tangle of historical events, folktales and legends, with each group contributing to what is essentially a three-day narrative.
Contact us if you would like to combine your trip to Peru with a traditional festival |
