One of the most beautiful districts located in Cusco is Paucartambo, a name that comes from the Quechua phrase Pawqar Tampu, which means “colorful dairy”. It is a cultural center with immensity of flora, fauna and ancestral customs. It is located approximately 2,900 meters above sea level, next to the Mappacho River and has several tourist attractions, one of the most recognized being the famous Mirador de las Tres Cruces.
The Tres Cruces de Oro viewpoint offers one of the best sunrises in the world. It is located a few hours from the town of Paucartambo, 105 kilometers by road from the city of Cusco. But this natural spectacle does not happen every day of the year. It only occurs at the winter solstices, that is, June 20, 21 or 22. If you're lucky and it doesn't dawn with clouds that prevent you from seeing the landscape, you will enjoy one of the best natural spectacles in Peru.
The beautiful Mirador de Tres Cruces is located 2 hours and 30 minutes from the province of Paucartambo and 4 hours from the city of Cusco, exactly at the entrance of the Manú National Park.
The beautiful Mirador de Tres Cruces de Paucartambo, is one of the only two places in the world that allows you to fly in your imagination, after seeing the sun rise on the horizon. This natural phenomenon called "White Lightning" occurs when light passes through the humid atmosphere and is distorted as if it were passing through a prism.
The effect that emerges is that of three suns, one of which jumps from one side to the other. This occurs during the sunrises of the winter solstice between the months of June and July. Therefore, it is recommended to reach this place during the dry season.
Sunrise is the perfect scene for photography lovers, here you can use the long exposure technique, and the wait time, believe me, it will be worth it!
In Tres Cruces de Oro the so-called 'White Lightning' happens. This natural phenomenon occurs when the sun appears on the horizon and light passes through the humid atmosphere. The result is a kind of mirage, where the sun is distorted in a very special way.
The effect is that of three suns, one of which jumps from one side to the other. It is known that this strange phenomenon only occurs in two places in the world: Japan and Cusco.
The white ray can be seen best at the winter solstice (June 20, 21 or 22). However, you are not always lucky. If the sky is very cloudy, you will only see the sky. What is the white lightning phenomenon?
In Tres Cruces de Oro the so-called 'White Lightning' happens. This natural phenomenon occurs when the sun appears on the horizon and light passes through the humid atmosphere. The result is a kind of mirage, where the sun is distorted in a very special way.
The effect is that of three suns, one of which jumps from one side to the other. It is known that this strange phenomenon only occurs in two places in the world: Japan and Cusco.
The white ray can be seen best at the winter solstice (June 20, 21 or 22). However, you are not always lucky. If the sky is very cloudy, you will only see the sky.
Being located in one of the provinces of Cusco, it has two well-defined seasons, the rainy season, between the months of November to March, and the dry season, between the months of April to October.
The "Beautiful Mirador de Tres Cruces de Paucartambo in Cusco", is located at 4,000 m.a.s.l. / 3.28 ft
The average temperature in the beautiful Mirador de Tres Cruces de Paucartambo in Cusco, in the dry season is 4º C, rises to 13ºC and can drop to -1ºC.
The best season to witness the sunrise is between the months of May to July, at the dawn of the winter solstice or full moon nights. Many people come to this place on the festivity of the Virgen del Carmen.
The most recommended season to visit this place is between the months of May, June and July, recommending above all the full moon nights and on dates close to the festivities of the Virgen del Carmen that are celebrated from July 15 to 18. Peru dawns at Tres Cruces, Paucartambo
One of the most beautiful districts located in Cusco is Paucartambo, a name that comes from the Quechua phrase Pawqar Tampu, which means “colorful dairy”. It is a cultural center with immensity of flora, fauna and ancestral customs. It is located approximately 2,900 meters above sea level, next to the Mappacho River and has several tourist attractions, one of the most recognized being the famous Mirador de las Tres Cruces.
The Tres Cruces de Oro viewpoint offers one of the best sunrises in the world. It is located a few hours from the town of Paucartambo, 105 kilometers by road from the city of Cusco. But this natural spectacle does not happen every day of the year. It only occurs at the winter solstices, that is, June 20, 21 or 22. If you're lucky and it doesn't dawn with clouds that prevent you from seeing the landscape, you will enjoy one of the best natural spectacles in Peru.
It all starts in the province of Paucartambo in the Cusco region, along the road that leads to the Manú National Park. From here, you climb to 4,000 meters above sea level to witness the sunrise, known as "Balcón del Oriente". It should be remembered that it is one of only two places in the world where this phenomenon can be witnessed.
To get to the viewpoint, Inkayni Peru Tours recommends two options:
If you decided to travel on your own, the first thing you should do is take a bus at the Control stop in the dis
San Jerónimo street or Av. Diagonal Angamos in the center of the city of Cusco. Tickets vary between 20 to 25 soles per person. Yes, you travel during the festival of the Virgen del Carmen, it is recommended to leave very early on July 15, to avoid crowds and to settle in with peace of mind. The approximate distance is 109 km and 04 hours of travel.
Once you have arrived in Paucartambo, you must take another car or collective car to the Abra de Acjanaco, which is 45 km away, where you can enjoy the sunrise.
This second option is definitely the one that best suits you, since the tour operator you hire will take care of all the planning of your activities to reach the "Beautiful Mirador de Tres Cruces de Paucartambo in Cusco", many of the operators in their packages include transportation , food and a professional guide.
The landscape is unique. Lovers of nature, photography and those landscape shows that leave an irreplaceable memory find here a sunrise worthy of a movie. The period to appreciate it is from 4:30 to 5:30 in the morning. Sunlight forms a path in the sky for several minutes just like an art painting.
Most tourist agencies in the city of Cusco contemplate a two-day tour to Paucartambo. The tour begins early in the navel of the world, departing with a private vehicle to Paucartambo, but not before visiting the archaeological complexes and the pre-Inca chullpas in Ninamarca. Already in the district, you can see the temple of the Virgen del Carmen or the museum of typical dances. The journey to the Mirador de las Tres Cruces is done at night, with a short trekking route to this place.
The objective is to spend the night there in a camp (in the authorized areas that the guide will indicate) to be prepared for the arrival of the next day. Exactly between 4 and 4:30 you have to get ready to see the natural spectacle: a majestic sunrise.
During this phenomenon there are two sunrises or, as it is known, a "double sunrise". The first is based on a false start, where the sun's glare can be seen rising through the vegetation-filled horizon for about 20 minutes. The second shows the Sun in all its splendor, illuminating the dense jungle of Manu for approximately 15 minutes.
Paucartambo is the starting point to go to the Manu National Park, one of the largest and most biodiverse reserves on the planet.
There is the viewpoint, on the edge of this protected area. Upon arrival you will enjoy an impressive view of the Peruvian Amazon, where one of the most beautiful sunrises in the world can be seen.
In addition to the Tres Cruces de Oro viewpoint, Peru has other places with beautiful sunrises:
Many are the routes that take you to Machu Picchu, but none is like the Inca Trail Tours, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views.
