Sarhua's Stories in Wood

This meaningful, community-based experience in Lima immerses you in living Andean culture alongside your local guide, Alfredo. A short drive from your hotel brings you to the workshop of an Indigenous artisan family originally from Sarhua. With Alfredo providing cultural context and interpretation, your artist host will share the symbolism and storytelling behind the traditional Tablas de Sarhua, an art form exclusive to this town in the department of Ayacucho, Peru. Besides learning about the Sarhua Tablets, you will create your own piece to take home — a unique artwork deeply rooted in heritage and identity. After the creative session, you'll share a homemade lunch with the artisans and their family as conversation flows naturally, offering authentic cultural exchange and insight into daily life and ancestral traditions. Thoughtfully designed for responsible travelers, this experience supports local families while offering a genuine, off-the-beaten-path connection in Lima.

This experience introduces you to a rare art form exclusive to Sarhua in southern Peru. It is fully participatory and grounded in real cultural exchange; rather than observing from a distance, you sit side by side with Sarhua artisans and learn their techniques while painting your own Tabla de Sarhua in their workshop. Alfredo helps create a dynamic and engaging atmosphere, facilitating conversation, sharing cultural context, and ensuring that every interaction feels natural and meaningful. Nothing is staged. You are welcomed into a working space and later to the family dining table, where stories, traditions, and daily life are shared openly. In a context where Indigenous art is often undervalued, imitated, or sold without fair recognition, your participation directly supports ethical trade and dignified livelihoods. This experience creates connection, mutual respect, and tangible impact — and ends with a truly unique memento to take home.

Born in Lima and raised in the Andes, Alfredo has always carried Peru in his heart while exploring the world. He has lived in India, the Philippines, Thailand, and China, where he worked as an advertiser, journalist, and even a chef specializing in Sichuanese cuisine. These experiences deepened his appreciation for cultural diversity and ultimately inspired him to return home. In 2015, he co-founded an initiative bringing solar power and quality education to remote Andean communities through sustainable tourism. Alfredo is also the proud owner of a Lima-based company offering authentic, responsible tours that create real impact. For Alfredo, travel is more than discovery; it is a way to uplift communities, honor traditions, and give dignity back to the most vulnerable. In the case that Alfredo is not available to guide this tour, he will send a guide who shares his morals and guiding style.

Sunscreen and hat. Comfortable shoes. Bottled water. Sweater and/or light coat (May - October). Peruvian Soles in case you wish to purchase any additional craft items (not mandatory, but it is an opportunity to support local makers).