Peru is famous for its festival season; months of traditional dances, firework displays, awe-inspiring festivities, typical dishes and music with symbolic demonstrations all over cities and little villages throughout the Country. However, you haven’t truly experienced a Peruvian celebration until you’ve been to Paucatambo during the Virgen Del Carmen Festival – known as the great-granddaddy of them all!
The Fiesta del Virgen del Carmen takes place over 5 days in July each year in the quaint little town of Paucatambo, just 4-hours east of Cusco. This spectacular event draws thousands of party goers to the festivities each year from all over Peru and the globe. The main day is usually the 16th of July, with the central focus on an incredible procession around the center of town with an image of the Virgen del Carmen, known locally as Mamacha Carmen, the patron saint of the mestizo population (those of both Spanish and indigenous descent).
This astonishing gathering is most certainly topped off with a cherry on top with its breath-taking dance performances, complete with traditional costumes and indigenous choreographies to portray events in Peruvian history. To conclude the festival, on the final day a symbolic war is waged on the demons with the faithful emerging triumphant, before closing the event off at the town cemetery to pay homage to the souls of the dead.
For a wild celebration not to be missed, beyond any other you could experience in Peru, get in early to lock down your 2018 Virgen Del Carmen Festival experience with one (or both!) of our wonderful tour options below.
FIXED DEPARTURES 2018
The Explorandes Team are excited to announce two party-packed tours sure to knock your socks off!
TOUR OPTION 1 | WALK OF THE DAWNS | 4 Days 3 Nights – 12 to 15 July
Join in the festivities early and begin honoring this momentous celebration with hundreds of locals on the most incredible trek; on top of the Manu Conservation area, the beautiful snow-capped La Veronica, Ausangate and Sawasiray Andean mountains on one side with the remarkable Peruvian jungle on the other. With each day building upon the last you will experience a spectacular celebration of dance, music, choirs, and acrobatics along the way, however the true highlights are the views, sunrises and absolutely breathtaking scenery all around. The final destination is the ¨Tres Cruces¨ where you will find one of the most unique sunrises in the world against a spectacular cliff-edge view of the Amazon Basin, at the last location the Incas hid from the Spanish during the times of the conquer. Truly remarkable!
The tour includes transportation, food, camping equipment, sleeping bags and water, plus an experienced guide to lead the group along the way.
TOUR OPTION 2 | PAUCATAMBO CAMP | 2 Days 1 Night – 15 to 16 July
For those wanting to dive straight into the fiesta and party hard this is the option for you! Enjoy the two main days at the festival dancing, drinking and celebrating to your hearts content with a night at a local campsite in-between. We will look after the transport, food, camping equipment, sleeping bags and water and let you handle the rest!
TOTAL PARTY PACKAGE | COMBINE TOUR 1 & 2 FOR THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE
For the ride of your life and a journey like no other, get the best of both worlds by combining the two tour options and living the full Paucatambo Virgen Del Carmen Festival experience!
For those who have the opportunity to travel to our incredible land next July, the Paucatambo Virgen Del Carmen Festival 2018 should be high up on your list of must-do while in Peru! We also have some incredible packages and tours to experience while in the region of Paucatambo. A particular highlight is to visit the Tres Cruces and for those who cannot experience it whilst on the Walk of the Dawns trek, we have many other options to ensure you don’t miss out! The region of Paucatambo has the most ideal weather during the months of June and July, and the Tres Cruces in particular has the perfect climatic conditions to create the most stunning optical illusion with the sun appearing to dance between three different positions on the horizon. We also have an action-packed 8-night Cultural Tour, beginning in Cusco with lots of highlights and experiences along the way before ending in time for the Virgen Del Carmen Festival’s final days. So many wonderful destinations to enjoy and experiences to be had next Festival Season in Peru!
For more information about The Paucatambo Virgen Del Carmen Festival and any of our tour options, contact one of our Explorandes Travel Specialists today, and let us help you plan the party adventure of the year!
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