If you’ve been doing your research on Peru, it’s likely that you’ve heard of the huge sun festival called Inti Raymi that occurs every June. But did you know there’s another huge festival down the road from Cusco in July?
There is a town on the eastern slope of the Andes called Paucartambo (pronounced: pow-car-tom-bo) that comes alive with its own folklore. Just about 3 hours north of Cusco, this town has celebrated a festival as big as the Inti Raymi for centuries, and it remains one of the most excellent opportunities for travelers to experience the authentic, Peruvian culture in person.
Origin –
The origin of this festival lies in the 17th century when K’apaq Q’ollas (llama traders), from the highlands would frequently travel to Cusco through Paucartambo offering gifts and merchandise. On one of these trips, the face of the virgin appeared in a clay pot. The people of Paucartambo were inspired by this apparition and created a larger image of the virgin. Since that time, locals from the area have held this festival every year to honor and pay tribute to the sacred image.
Today –
While Cusco is obviously well-known for its history and is considered to be the folklore capital of Peru, Mamacha Carmen is an experience beyond a typical festival with just dancing and parades. Each custom dress, mask, dance, food, and drink tells a story the Peruvian people are happy to share to those passing through.
This festival takes place every year from July 15th to July 16th beginning with a parade in the main plaza and fireworks in the evening that light up the sky. On July 16th, the main day of the festival, there is a morning mass followed by a full day of performances of original, regional dances. Finally, you get to witness the highlight – the grand parade of the virgin Carmen followed by dancers and worshippers behind her.
If you want to experience the Peruvian living culture for yourself, sign up here. This can be combined with any of our other tours or treks to create the perfect itinerary for you.
