South America’s cultural heritage runs deep—from ancient civilizations and colonial artistry to contemporary design and Indigenous traditions that endure today. Whether it’s the weaving communities of the Andes, Amazonian cosmologies, or Lima’s modern art scene, these stories reveal the living identity of a continent.
In our Travel Journal, we uncover the people, places, and perspectives that bring South America’s cultures to life, offering insight into their artistry, symbolism, and timeless influence.
It was a sunny Saturday afternoon in Lima, and I decided that I wanted to see the new exhibit Piruw and Wanu at the art gallery MATE. I wandered down the Avenida San Martin in Barranco, past the Main Square, walking along the trolley line until the street turns into Avenida Pedro de Osma. Just as I rounded […]
Although Cusco receives a lot of attention for its rich history and archaeology, the same could not exactly be said for folk art in the city. The exhibition Cusco: Herencia y Tradicion (Cusco: Heritage and Tradition) sets to redress the balance as I found out at last night’s inauguration at the Instituto Cultural Norteamericano Peruano. […]
Discover Centro Colich Strolling down the streets in my resident district of Barranco one evening, I found myself wandering into Central Colich, a hidden gem, exhibition space, boutique clothing atelier, and café. One of my favorite places in Lima to frequent, Central Colich has a trendy, bohemian atmosphere with an ever-changing array of artwork, artisan […]
Peru festival, Inti Raymi Today marks the colorful celebration of Inti Raymi, or the “festival of the sun,” thought to have been one of the most important rituals in the Inca Empire. On June 24th each year just after the Winter Solstice, a religious ceremony takes place venerating Inti, the most significant God in the […]
It’s African-Peruvian Culture day! June 4th was chosen in 2006 to celebrate this unique aspect of Peruvian culture due to it being the birthday of late African-Peruvian icon Nicomedas Santa Cruz. A popular musician, Santa Cruz helped to raise recognition for the distinct and vibrant aspects of African culture in Peru in the late 1950’s […]
Each year on days leading up to the full moon before Corpus Christi, the remote Sinakara Valley on the north face of Ausungate transforms from a desolate, icy no-mans-land to the final destination of a rigorous pilgrimage and the site of a festival known as Qoyllur Riti. As many as 50,000 people take part in […]