Women in Paucartambo (Photo Mylene D'Auriol/PromPerú)

Paucartambo
This typical colonial town in the Paucartambo valley, southeast of Cusco, is characterized by its narrow cobblestone streets, white mansions and bright blue balconies and is also known for the celebrations held in honour of the Virgen del Carmen (July 16). During these celebrations the habitual tranquillity of this Andean town is all but forgotten in a lively display of colour, music, dancing and colourful processions. Also renowned are the masks and typical costumes worn during the Catholic celebrations held in honour of the Corpus Christi. During the Incan Empire or Tawantinsuyo, Paucartambo was an important military supply centre and later in the Colonial period (XVI-XIX centuries) it became an important mestizo commercial centre in the southern Andes.

Tres Cruces and Kosñipata Valley
From Paucartambo, a narrow rough grade road snakes up towards the Acjanaco mountain pass (3.800 masl) and the scenic overlook of Lookout of Tres Cruces, a natural balcony facing the Amazon region. Here, one can witness an optical effect caused by the sunlight bouncing off the clouds covering the tropical forest below, making for one of the world's most unique sunrises. From Tres Cruces the road continues toward the deep valley of Kosñipata and the Alto Madre de Dios River, that passes through the lush cloud forests of the Manu National Park, one of the world's most diverse paradises.

Tipón
This picturesque set of terraces, long stairways and stone canals is located 20 km south of the city. Evidence suggests that Tipón was part of a royal hacienda belonging to Inca Yahuar Huaca, as well as a place of worship and agricultural research. An outstanding is the sense of harmony in the channelling of water via stone structures including aqueducts (some of which are underground), waterfalls and gullies, indicating the Incas' knowledge of hydraulics.

Pikillacta and Lake Lucre
Built at the peak of the Wari culture (500-900 AD), this large urban and ceremonial center of almost two square kilometers was built as a massive set of stone and mud structures on a hill overlooking the beautiful Lake Lucre or Huacarpay. Pikillacta, or "city of fleas", is perhaps the largest pre-Inca urban center in the area. It gets its name from its numerous enclosures (measuring just 4 meters each) which, it would seem, were part of a garrison constructed to protect the site.

San Pedro de Andahuaylillas
One of the most beautiful colonial towns in the region, has a picturesque main square with leafy pisonay trees hanging overhead, which is surrounded by old estates. Its main attraction is its distinctive church, San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, which was built in the seventeenth century and is considered to be a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its interior, elaborately decorated with paintings, is simply breathtaking. It also houses oil on canvas paintings from the Escuela Cuzqueña and Baroque altars made of carved wood.

Source: PromPerú (Comission for the Promotion of Peru).