They call it a phenomenon of some sort and I was surprised that I did not know about this sooner than I did.  After living in Peru for over a year you get to a point where you feel pretty knowledgeable on what is around, and certainly what is worth seeing.  I did not know about Tres Cruces or the awe-inspiring sunrise that I was in store for.  It was a bit of an adventure in and of itself just to get there.  Located a little over 4 hours outside of Cusco, journeying to this site is an adrenaline rush all on its own.  The road structures are still a bit unsteady with one-way roads that are not completely paved.  I survived by closing my eyes through most of the ride, and kept my focus on the sunrise that I knew was at the end of this treacherous road.

Once you make it to the Andean village of Paucartambo, you are not too far away.  Tres Cruces is another hour up above the village, sitting on the ridge of one of the many mountain cliffs that overlook the Amazon Basin.  It is best to go during the winter months of May and July when the view is supposedly the most spectacular.  Most people start to arrive as early as 4am in order to be there for the full show.  Gazing out at the mountains covered in the black darkness, the anticipation of the day’s first light keeps you warm in the frigid temperatures.  As the light of dawn begins to approach, the optical illusion of seeing the mirror of three suns is quite possible, depending on the time of year that you go.  Regardless of whether you see this multi-hued sun or not, the experience is well worth the trip.