THE SPECTACULAR SUNRISE AT THE 3 CRUCES VIEWPOINT

  

This spectacular viewpoint called TRES CRUCES DE ORO offers one of the most incredible sunrises in Peru. It is located in the PAUCARTAMBO district, 105 kilometers from Cusco and 1,108 kilometers south of Lima. The viewpoint is located 3,850 meters above sea level.

 

 

 This place is famous because every year during the winter solstice (late June and early July) a natural phenomenon called WHITE RAY occurs, which causes an indescribable optical illusion... as if three suns suddenly appeared on the horizon at the same time at dawn. The local people called this unique place AKHANACU, from here you can see the immensity of the Amazon rainforest below.

 

 

 

In general, you can admire a spectacular sunrise from this viewpoint throughout the year, but the phenomenon called TRES CRUCES DE ORO is most clearly seen between June and July. The viewpoint is located a short distance from the town of Paucartambo, famous for its ancestral traditions and typical dances. 

 

 

   

 

 Geographically, this impressive site is located on the border between the soaring and immense Andes Mountains and the vast and inhospitable Amazon rainforest, at an altitude of 3,850 meters (12,631 feet). If you wish to visit on your own, you must take public transportation to the town of Puacartambo. The cost is 20 soles. Once in Puacartambo, you must take another vehicle that will take you about 45 kilometers to the viewpoint. Remember to arrive very early before dawn.

 

 

 

  

But perhaps the easiest way to experience this beautiful tourist attraction is to hire the services of a travel agency in Cusco. They will take you directly to the viewpoint the night beforehand, where you will camp with other tourists until the magical moment when the sun rises over the horizon.