An Amazonian House in Lima

This half-day experience with women from the Shipibo-Konibo community of the Peruvian Amazon takes place minutes from the historic center of Lima, in the district of Rímac. After a short drive, you step into a living Amazonian culture in an urban setting, spending time chatting with artisan women over a basket of jungle fruits and taking part in an art workshop. Over the past 25 years, people from the Shipibo-Konibo ethnic group have migrated from the jungle in search of economic opportunities while preserving their traditions, art, and language. Your experience begins with a warm welcome from a local artisan in her home, who introduces you to the meanings behind her intricate designs. These sacred patterns, known as “kené,” are inspired by nature and the life of the Shipibo-Konibo people in the Amazon. You then take part in a hands-on art workshop, learning to paint using natural pigments traditionally made from tree bark and plants.

You might not know that it is possible to encounter the Indigenous cultures of Amazonian Peru in the capital. Migration from Ucayali and other Amazon regions has been ongoing for decades. This experience offers a rare opportunity to meet members of the Shipibo-Konibo community in the intimate setting of a practicing artisan’s home. Rather than observing from a distance, you are welcomed as a guest and invited to learn directly from the artist whose hands continue a tradition passed down through generations. The distinctive “kené” designs she practices go beyond household decoration — they are expressions of cosmology, healing knowledge, and the spiritual relationship between people and the rainforest. The community reflects the broader story of migration, resilience, and cultural continuity in modern Peru. Participation in the workshop supports the preservation of Indigenous knowledge and the livelihoods of families keeping these traditions alive while adapting to life in the city.

Milagro Campos Llontop, Mila, is a Lima-based cultural guide, artist, and educator with over ten years of experience in heritage interpretation and socially responsible tourism. She studied Drawing and Painting at the National School of Fine Arts of Lima and holds a specialization in Sustainable Tourism. She has worked at several museums and archaeological sites across Lima as a local guide and educational program designer and is one of the few official tour guides in the city specializing in Indigenous Folk Art. In 2022, Mila founded an art experience project in collaboration with master women artisans from the Shipibo-Konibo Amazonian community based in Lima. Working directly with the president of the community, the project supports cultural revitalization and generates direct economic income for more than 200 master women artisans.

Bring your curiosity. *Handicrafts are available for purchase; payment by credit/debit card and Peruvian Soles is accepted. All purchases further support the Shipibo-Konibo women and their families, and there is no obligation to purchase anything.