Paucartambo

Cusco Peru

	110 kms. from the city of Cusco lies Paucartambo, "the top of the world"; a community which leads to one of the few remaining unexplored regions still to be found in the world: the biosphere of the Manu National Park, visited by people from all corners of the planet. Paucartambo is known as the folklore province of Cusco and of Peru.
Once again, between July 15 and July 18, the celebrations in honor of the Virgen del Carmen will begin; a religious festivity having its roots in the days of the Colony and where the exuberance of colorful dances and pageants gives an extraordinary touch to one the greatest manifestations of faith seen in Peru.

	The origins of the consecration of the festivity of the Virgen del Carmen go back to the verbal tradition of colonial and republican days. The cult to the Virgen del Carmen started during the 17th century when people from the "Qollas" in the high plateau arrived driving their packs of llamas, passing through Paucartambo and Kcosñipata, with the purpose of trading their products.
During one of these visits, to the astonishment of migrants and natives, the face of the virgin was miraculously revealed embossed on a clay vase. This discovery was adopted to eternalize her full image, which was sculpted by craftsmen from Paucartambo, a temple also being built where they venerated her with prayers and canticles.