The Paucartambo festival takes place annually from July 15th to the 19th, honoring the Virgin of Carmen, also known as "Mamacha del Carmen," the mother of all the people of Paucartambo. The townspeople celebrate this festival with great fervor, setting aside their daily work and dressing in beautiful, brightly colored costumes and masks that cover their faces to dance to the rhythm of their ancestors' dances.
The festival of the Virgin of Carmen of Paucartambo was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by the National Institute of Culture on April 11, 2006. The sacred image of the Virgin, also known as the "Patron Saint of the Mestizos," is located in the district of Paucartambo at 3,017 meters above sea level. To reach the town, one must travel four hours by bus from the city of Cusco.
Paucartambo is considered the folkloric capital of this region, thanks to its rich history and cultural fusion. Its countless dances, recognized nationally, accompany the procession of the Virgin of Carmen. Among them are the Saqra, Chuncho, Contradanza, Tarpuy, Qollacha, Qapac Negro, Panaderos, Auqa Chileno, and Los Huaca Huaca, among others. Furthermore, the dancers perform for three consecutive days as a tribute to the Virgin, seeking blessings and protection.
It is believed that the origins of the Virgin of Carmen date back to the 17th century, when inhabitants of the highlands arrived in the province of Paucartambo with their llama herds to trade with the local population. It was on one of their many journeys that the migrants and natives of this district saw the face of a virgin on one of the clay pots. From that apparition, the people sculpted an image and built a temple to venerate her.
The sculpture of the Virgin is very important to the people of Paucartambo. According to tradition, the colors of her cheeks are believed to have different meanings. If they are pink, it is a good omen for the townspeople, but if they are pale, it foretells bad times for the town.
The Virgin of Carmen of Paucartambo was recognized as the "Patron Saint of Folk Dances" in 1972 and was decorated by Pope John Paul II in 1985.
Learn more about the festival that honors her below.
Festival Program
July 15
The festival begins with a fireworks display and the ringing of church bells. A procession then enters, and the night becomes the setting for a bonfire. Afterward, a group of townspeople reenacts purgatory through acrobatic jumps, races, and various pranks. At 11:00 p.m. The band plays a serenade for the Virgin until the following day.
July 16
This is the main day of this majestic festival. It begins at 5:00 a.m. with a Dawn Mass, followed at 10:00 a.m. by the main Mass, where songs of the Qollas and the Qhapac Negros (ancient cultures of Paucartambo) are performed. To conclude this sacred day, the streets are filled with parades, dances, and songs.
July 17
The day of the grand procession of the Virgin of Carmen begins at 3:00 p.m. The most wonderful and unique aspect of this festival is the performance of the dancers dressed in bright colors and masks. They climb onto rooftops and balconies, performing movements that follow the musical rhythm of the band. There are also the saqras, who are responsible for awaiting the arrival of the "Patron Saint of the Mestizos." This day is considered the day of the blessing, and the procession heads towards the cemetery to show gratitude to the deceased dancers.
July 18
On this day, the Virgin is taken to the church, and the children wait to be blessed by the priest, performing the traditional "ocarikuy." At 4:00 p.m., the celebration concludes with the priest's blessing of the entire community.
July 19
This is the final day of rejoicing. Starting at 11:00 a.m., the image is placed on its altar, and the changing of the sacred sculpture's vestments begins—a very special ceremony for the townspeople. They bid farewell with prayers and accompany the Virgin of Carmen until the very last moment.
Learn more about this majestic celebration steeped in the ancestral culture of Cusco. Experience the devotion to the Virgin of Carmen of Paucartambo!
