At Kuoda Travel, we often tout Peru`s northern beaches, especially cities like Trujillo to clients for its scenic coastline, excellent surf, and stunning archaeological wonders, but there’s another local claim to fame worth mentioning, the Marinera, Peru’s National Dance. This is a major element that contributes to Trujillo`s famed status as Peru`s cultural capital.

The Marinera is a romantic, graceful, and sensuous dance that enacts the courtship display of a young couple. It is one of Peru’s most popular dances and its epicenter is the northern coastal city of Trujillo. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at this perennial tradition. By its end, you’ll be reaching for your custom Peru travel itinerary wondering how you can squeeze in a trip to see the marvelous dance during your private Peru vacation.

Tip: The best times to view the Marinera in Trujillo are in January and October. Every January a huge national Marinera Concurso, or contest, is held and on October 7th, Marinera Day is celebrated with dances and parades throughout the city.

The History of the Marinera Dance

The Marinera is said to have originated from the Zamacueca, which was a popular dance among African slaves brought to Peru in the 16^th century. Through the centuries it has evolved with a blend of Spanish, Moorish, Andean, and Gypsy influences. Up until 1879 when Peru went to war with Chile, the Marinera was known as the “Chilean.” After, it was renamed the Marinera in honor of Peru’s navy.

How to do the Marinera Dance

The dance itself is performed by a couple dressed in elegant clothing, the woman in a long skirt and the man in a straw hat and elegant jacket. Both carry white handkerchiefs as props, floating them tantalizingly just out of reach of one another. The steps of the dance often start slowly then build up to a mesmerizing and highly intricate speed. The couples never actually touch, creating an atmosphere of coquettishness, yearning, and sensuality until finally leading up to the romantic conquest.

The Instruments Used to Perform the Marinera

The dancers are traditionally accompanied by a musical group composed of four guitarists and a cajón player (the cajón is a Peruvian boxlike drum). Bugles are a more recent addition to the ensemble. Finally, handclapping is added by both the accompanying singers and the spectators in the audience to complement the dance steps.

The Marinera Norteña

There are three main varieties of Marinera: the Marinera Norteña, from Trujillo, the Marinera Limeña, from Lima, and the Marinera Serrana, from the mountains. The two former variations are known for being light-hearted, playful and flirtatious, while the Serrana is considered more romantic and stately. The Marinera Norteña of Trujillo is sometimes performed with the man riding a Peruvian Paso horse, a breed trained for its fancy and elegant stepping. The man rides and directs the steps of the horse throughout his performance.

Visit Trujillo: The City of the Marinera Norteña and Eternal Spring

Known as the City of Eternal Spring for its beautiful weather year-round, Trujillo is truly a great city to include on your tailor-made tour to Peru. Besides the lively Marinera scene (especially during the months of January and October), there are beautiful beach destinations like Huanchaco and archaeological sites like Chan Chan nearby. Talk to your Kuoda Travel Designer today about including this spectacular Peru travel destination in your custom itinerary to Peru.

Ecuador has a lot more going for it than the Galapagos Islands, teeming with wildlife though they may be. The famous islands 1,000 kilometers from Ecuador’s Pacific coastline are just one of Ecuador’s four geographical zones to visit on your Ecuador trip. The other three – the volcano-dotted sierra, wildlife-dense Oriente, and surf-worthy coast – are just as deserving of your attention while exploring Ecuador. Here’s why.

The Sierra

The Sierra, Ecuador

Cities to Visit: Quito, Cuenca, Otavalo

With terms attached to it like “Avenue of the Volcanoes” and “world’s highest capital city,” there’s a lot to reel you in to Ecuador’s Sierra region.  Stretching from north to south, right down to the center of the country, and spanning two mountain ranges that together create a scenic and far-reaching valley, this region is laced with nine peaks over 5,000 meters above sea level and patches of the Inca’s Qhapaq Ñan. Spanish Colonial visages remain in many of the cities while indigenous culture is as present as the ever-visible mountains that meet your gaze east and west. Adventure travelers, culture enthusiasts, and architecture aficionados will all find plenty to keep them busy when visiting Ecuador’s Sierra region.

Things to Do in Ecuador’s Sierra:

1. Straddle the Equator in Quito
2. Shop for local crafts at the Otavalo Market
3. Trek the Quilatoa Loop

The Oriente (East)

East, Ecuador

Top Cities to Visit: El Coca, Puyo, Tena, Baños

Beginning at the edges of the Sierra’s eastern slopes rests the Oriente, Ecuador’s Amazon region. As dense with wildlife and vegetation as any jungle you’ll find in Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, or Colombia, Ecuador’s slice of Amazon is home to the most diverse biosphere on earth – Yasuni National Park and Biosphere Reserve. Jaguars, pumas, tapirs, and more than 600 bird species call it home, as do a plethora of jungle tribes who have left their doors wide open to curious travelers like yourselves. For a few thrills, there are rafting adventures, canopy walks, and jungle treks to explore. The Oriente is a must-do on any trip to Ecuador.

Things to Do in Ecuador’s Oriente:

1. Experience the adventure capital of Ecuador in Baños
2. Visit an indigenous Amazon community
3. Explore jungle trails alongside an expert indigenous guide

The Coast

The Coast, Ecuador

Top Cities to Visit: Guayaquil, Montanita, Salinas, Puerto Lopez

Riddled with resort towns and small fishing villages, lush mangroves and fluffy, white sand beaches, Ecuador’s Pacific coast is worth exploring all 2,237 km of. Not to mention it’s home to plenty of tasty seafood cuisine, including Ecuador’s version of ceviche. From late July through early October, your beachfront view even comes with humpback whale sightings, as they make their migration north to warmer waters. This is a stretch of Ecuador that should not be overlooked when planning your personalized Ecuador travel itinerary.  Trust us.

Things to Do on Ecuador’s Coast:

1. Learn to surf in Montanita
2. Go whale watching in Puerto Lopez
3. Stroll Guayaquil’s malecon

Nestled deep within the Andes, just a few hours’ drive southwest of Cusco, sits a seemingly painted mountain often referred to as Rainbow Mountain. Its true name is Vinicunca, but Rainbow Mountain suits it far better.  Shades of terra cotta, lavender, turquoise and rust stripe the mountain straight across its ridgeline. It’s an absolute feat of nature and a fascinating day trip to try and squeeze into your personalized Cusco travel itinerary. But to answer the question that’s on everyone’s minds, we’re using this blog post to explain how Rainbow Mountain got its color.

The Quick and Dirty Answer

Rainbow Mountain, Vinicunca

The short answer would sound a lot like: Rainbow Mountain’s colors come from the exposure and erosion of the sedimentary mineral layers caked inside the mountain from centuries of tectonic shifts and volcanic activity. And you truly could stop reading right here, but then, who would you impress on your Peru tour?

The In-depth Answer

Mother Nature, Pachamama

We all have the subduction of the Nazca plate under the South American plate to thank for initiating what is today Rainbow Mountain (and the Andes Mountains for that matter). Perhaps you may want to make a mental note now to give a toast to tectonics once you make it to Rainbow Mountain’s candy-striped peak? The shifting of these two plates quite literally tilted sheets of the earth vertical, exposing the earth’s stratigraphic layers in the process, introducing rare and varied minerals to the mix, and setting off more than a few of the area’s volcanoes.

The job of creating Rainbow Mountain’s peculiar coloration was then passed off to Mother Nature, or Pachamama as locals refer to her. Millennia of battering rains, unrelenting snowfall, extreme winds, and even more extreme temperatures led to weathering of the mountain’s exposed mineral layers. The result: layers containing iron oxide gradually took on a lovely shade of red, while the layers composed of goethite or oxidized limonite turned more of a brownish hue. The chlorite layers transformed into green and the iron sulfide layers added a bright stripe of yellow to the scene. The combination is striking to say the least. This Andean ridge of multi-colors is well worth braving the elements and altitude to see on your Peru vacation.

Know Before You Go

Rainbow Mountain firsthand

Seeing Rainbow Mountain firsthand during your Peru holiday means that you’ll have ascended to an altitude of 5,200 m.a.s.l, which is only 180 meters less than Mount Everest south base camp. Be sure that you’re well hydrated and acclimated to the altitude in advance before embarking on this unforgettable Cusco day trip and trek. Maybe enjoy a couple of days visiting Cusco and the Sacred Valley before you tackle Rainbow Mountain’s heights. You’ll also want to be prepared for all sorts of weather, from rain to sleet to snow and even wind-stricken sunshine. Bring layers and perhaps a change of clothes for after the trek, depending on what weather Pachamama decides to throw your way on this Peru adventure.

To answer this question about Peruvian textiles, we consulted our friends from the Umasbamba weaving community, a small collective of female weavers who have maintained this centuries-old artisanal tradition. They’re a regular stop on our Peru travel itineraries. You may have visited or will visit them during your Peru tour. In this post, we explore the meaning and mastery behind this precious Peruvian tradition as explained to us by the Umasbamba weavers themselves. Enjoy!

The Role of Weaving in Peruvian Culture

Umasbamba Lady, Cusco

It’s important first to understand the role of weaving in Peruvian and Quechua culture. In the Peruvian Andes, it’s the very core of life and identity for many women. Every textile is a demonstration of traditional knowledge passed down through the generations. The patterns and symbols woven into each Peruvian textile are like a form of communication and expression, recording the thoughts and the experiences of the women spinning and weaving the textile to life. That information alone ought to put new meaning to your Peruvian textile shopping!

The Various Symbols in Peruvian Textiles

Every Peruvian textile is composed of a series of designs and symbols. We share five of them below:

1. Diamonds

Diamonds are actually unique to Umasbamba textiles. Every community or region of weavers tends to have a symbol that represents or attributes the textile to that community. It’s like a signature of sorts. In Umasbamba, you’ll find the diamond shape incorporated into the designs of the textiles being woven and sold.

2. Red and White Circles

Red and white circles on a textile represent the bulls that are used to plow the land in many Andean villages, more specifically their footprints. As you travel to Peru’s countryside, it’s likely that you’ll spot a pair of bulls leading a wooden plow, an old technique that farmers in some of the smaller villages still employ regularly today.

3. Smaller White and Yellow Circles

If you find a textile with small white and yellow circles throughout the pattern, they likely symbolize the eyes of the llama, an incredibly important animal in Peruvian village life. Since the time of the Incas, llamas have been used for their wool, their meat, and their ability to transport people and goods across the difficult mountainous landscapes of Peru.

4. A Yellow ‘S’ or an Incomplete Infiniti Sign

This shape is actually symbolic of the chira, an agricultural tool that dates back to the time of the Incas. It was essentially a foot plough made from a long stick with a curved tip. The tool allowed farmers to break up soil, aerate, and sow their crops with the simple pressure of their foot on the tool. Some farmers in the Andes still rely on ancient Inca tools like the one this textile symbol represents.

5. Black Figures

Black figures in a textile represent the birds that farmers rely on to sound the alarm when foxes are in the area. Oftentimes, farmers let their cattle graze in the mountains without any supervision. The song of these birds is what lets them know that it’s time to return to their cattle and quickly, before one of their precious sheep or llama become lunch for a hungry fox.

This is just a sampling of the many designs you’ll find while shopping for textiles in Peru. For a truly special Peru vacation souvenir, purchase your Peruvian textile directly from the weaver herself and discover what designs she chose to weave into the piece you’re taking home.

Inti Raymi is one of the most impressive cultural remnants of the Inca Empire. Every June 24^th on the winter solstice, the city of Cusco reenacts this ancient Inca Festival of the Sun in an elaborate production requiring more than 700 Quechua-speaking and costume-wearing actors. Hundreds of thousands of people – locals and foreigners alike – travel to Cusco to witness the incredible ancient Inca festival unfold. It’s a celebration on a massive scale and one worth planning your once-in-a-lifetime Peru vacation around. Here’s everything you need to know about Peru’s most historic celebration.

What is Inti Raymi?

The Inca Empire

Inti Raymi celebrates the Inca’s most revered god, the sun god Inti. Pachacutec, the Incan ruler attributed with expanding the Inca Empire to all corners of South America, first initiated the tradition as a way of securing his position as the son of Inti and to solidify his bond with the people of his newly expanded empire. For nearly a hundred years thereafter, Inti Raymi continued to be celebrated on every winter solstice, right up until the Spanish conquistadors arrived in 1535.

How was Inti Raymi celebrated?

Inti Raymi – Plaza de Armas

The original Inti Raymi celebration lasted four days. The first three days were for the massive procession from the Qoricancha (The Temple of the Sun) to the Plaza de Armas and finally to the hilltop fortress of Sacsayhuaman where the Inca would address his people from a golden tower. The fourth day was for animal and human sacrifice. Nearly 200 llamas and alpacas were slaughtered as tribute to Inti, as well two children from each of the four regions of the empire.

How is Inti Raymi celebrated today?

Inti Raymi Today

Thanks to Quechua writer, actor, and director Faustino Espinoza Navarro, Inti Raymi was revived in the year 1944 as a way to preserve the identity of the Quechua people and their Incan roots. The celebration is still carried out entirely in Quechua, the native tongue of the Incas, and the mass procession still takes place from the Qoricancha through the Plaza de Armas to Sacsayhuaman. More than 700 actors, playing roles ranging from the Sapa Inca himself to the workers who sweep the road clean and fill it with flowers as the procession advances, are dressed in costumes typical of the Incas.

What do you need to know to attend Inti Raymi?

Inti Raymi in Cusco

As mentioned, the procession visits three iconic Cusco locations. The first two – the Qoricancha and the Plaza de Armas – do not require any sort of ticket to observe, but you will need to arrive early to find your spot among the thousands of people with the same idea. Sacsayhuaman, however, does require a ticket for entry. Just let your Kuoda Travel Designer know well enough in advance that you’d like to attend and leave the tickets and all logistics to us. As the largest festival in South America after Carnival in Rio, prepare to weave your way through crowds and wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be on your feet for most of the day. That aside, attending Inti Raymi in Cusco is an unparalleled experience that brings an ancient Inca festival to life before your eyes. You’ll definitely want to attend if your holiday in Peru syncs up with this momentous celebration.

If a trip to Peru has been on your mind lately, get in touch with a Kuoda Travel Designer to discuss what a tailor-made Peru itinerary could look like for you.

Lima, the Pacific Coast-hugging capital city of Peru, is the perfect bookend to any Peru vacation. Beyond the innovative cuisine and steady surf-worthy waves, there are ancient and pre-Inca ruins, museums that leave you blushing, and extreme aerial adventures to be had. Though the list of things to do in Lima could literally stretch for pages, we share five activities that should be on every traveler’s Lima trip itinerary.

1. Visit the catacombs at the San Francisco Monastery

San Francisco Monastery

A UNESCO-listed site, the 17^th Century San Francisco Monastery delivers that skin-crawling thrill some traveler’s look for when traveling to a historic city. The subterranean catacombs are a series of bone-lined hallways and circular pits filled with carefully stacked and arranged human bones and skulls belonging to an estimated 75,000 bodies. It’s a Lima travel experience that may be better reserved for the not-so-squeamish.

2. Catch a show at Lima’s El Circuito Mágico del Agua

Circuito Mágico del Agua

The young and young at heart will enjoy this nightly display of light, lasers, and music at Lima’s Parque de la Reserva. As the world’s largest fountain complex, there’s a lot to see and experience once you’re inside, including a 38-yard tunnel of water you can walk through, a spectacular choreographed fountain show, and the park’s famous Laberinto de Ensueño, an interactive maze of unpredictable spouting fountains that will leave you soaked if you time it wrong. With three shows a night from Tuesday through Sunday, there’s a good chance that a visit to this fountain-filled park will fit into your personalized Peru travel itinerary.

3. Blush over the Larco Museum’s erotic ceramics collection

Erotic ceramics collection

Tucked away in a separate room at Lima’s Larco Museum, there’s an exhibit dedicated to the museum’s rare collection of pre-Columbian ceramics depicting reproductive and sexual acts. The gallery features everything from humans, divine beings, animals, and even skeletons engaged in erotic encounters. Blush-worthy though it may be, the exhibit is a rare and informative glimpse into the pre-Columbian culture’s relationship with nature, the divine, and each other through the medium of sex. Not your thing? Don’t worry. The rest of the museum is much more family-friendly with exhibits spanning the entire timeline of pre-Columbian cultures in Peru.

4. Tour the 2,000-year-old Huaca Pucllana ruins

Huaca Pucllana ruins

Yes, Lima has ancient ruins. To add to the spectacle, they’re nestled within the framework of the city’s modern aesthetic making for a seriously mind-tripping experience of old meets new. Huaca Pucllana is one such set of adobe-brick ruins believed to have been constructed by the Lima culture sometime between 300 and 700 AD. Once an important administrative and ceremonial site, today it’s on every “Top Things to Do in Lima” list. You can follow up your tour with a meal at the on-site restaurant that overlooks the ruins.

5. Paraglide over Lima’s Costa Verde

Costa Verde

Thanks to its cliff-top perch and steady ocean breeze, Lima is the perfect place to insert a little urban paragliding into your custom Peru travel adventure. The best spot to do so is at Parque Raimondi along the malecón in Miraflores. Strap in, catch a thermal, and soar over the Costa Verde to spectacular views of the coast, city, and sea from a perspective only the daring get to see.

Need more tips for things to do in Lima?

Out team of Kuoda Travel Designers know Lima (and the rest of Peru) like the back of their hands. Jump on a call with one of them today and begin to piece together your perfect, tailor-made Peru holiday.

While visions of jaguars and macaws, snaking mud-colored river ways, and dense jungle vegetation may be dancing through your mind’s eye at the mere mention of a trip to the Amazon, there are several more practical aspects of an Amazon vacation to consider. Fail to pack the right clothing, bring the wrong insect repellant, or book a less than stellar lodge or riverboat and you could be in for an Amazon travel experience of your nightmares, not dreams. In this article, we share 5 tips for traveling the Amazon in comfort.

1. Stay at a Luxury Amazon Jungle Lodge

Amazon Jungle Lodge

There are an abundance of Amazon jungle lodges to choose from for your custom Amazon holiday and they range from simple, no frills operations to luxurious lodges. Though the jungle, and all of its creatures, will be at your doorstep either way, a luxury lodge sweetens the experience with gourmet meals between jungle excursions, a beautiful private room to come back to each night, and amenities like an on-site spa, personal jungle guide, and comfortable spaces to recoup and share tales from your day’s adventures over craft cocktails from the bar.

2. Take an Amazon River Cruise

Amazon River Cruise

While a luxurious Amazon lodge provides some cushion to the rustic jungle experience, an Amazon River cruise buffers you from it entirely. Like floating 5-star hotels, the typical luxury Amazon cruise means the bugs are at bay and the air conditioning is always on. It’s the ideal way to tour the Amazon if the possibility of things like frogs and exotic jungle insects in your bedroom leave you a bit squeamish. Your only contact with those and the rest of the jungle’s biodiversity will be on your daily excursions.

3. Pack the Right Clothing

Jungle Excursions

When you have your jungle lodging sorted out, your next key to a comfortable Amazon travel experience is whatever you’ve packed in your suitcase. You will want to make sure you have plenty of DryFit clothing, a raincoat or poncho, waterproof hiking shoes (though many lodges and cruises will supply you with rainboots for jungle excursions), and a wide-brimmed hat. We also recommend packing long-sleeved, loose-fitting and light-colored clothing, as they will be your best friend against the sun and bloodthirsty mosquitos.

4. Wear Insect Repellant and Waterproof Sunscreen

Wear Insect Repellant

In fact, you should probably go put your DEET bug spray and waterproof sunscreen in your suitcase now. These are the two items you do not want to forget to bring with you when traveling the Amazon. The rainforest’s tropical sun and relentless mosquitos are not to be tested, as they will win every time. We recommend bringing a sweat-proof sunscreen of at least 15 SPF and a bug spray containing as much DEET as you’re comfortable wearing.

5. Plan your Amazon Trip for the Low Water Season

Low Water Season

In truth, the Amazon Rainforest is a year round travel destination, but its two seasons – low water and high water  – do deliver slightly different travel experiences. If your definition of comfort equates to fewer mosquitos, less precipitation, and more accessible jungle trails, then plan your Amazon tour for the period between June and December – the Amazon’s low water season. This also happens to be the best time of year for birdwatching and piranha fishing, if that’s on your must-do list.

Book Your Luxury Amazon Tour with Kuoda

If you’re considering a luxury trip to the Amazon Rainforest, allow Kuoda to plan it for you. We understand that traveling the Amazon may be a once-in-a-lifetime event for you. We’ll make sure that it’s not only a comfortable experience, but one that it checks every box.

Solo travel can either be exciting or terrifying depending on how willing you are to step outside of your comfort zone. This article is for both the tried and true solo travellers and those new to the game, we’re here to share some first-hand information (and reassurance for those a little nervous) about why Peru is an ideal place for solo travellers.

1. There’s so much to see and do.

There’s a lot to see and do in Peru. From the Amazon to the Andes and everything in between, the options can be downright overwhelming. If you don’t have to split the decisions on where to go next or when to do what, the trip becomes entirely what you make it, without any compromise. That’s travel freedom and we’d argue that there’s no better place in the world to have that kind of freedom than in Peru where you have the Amazon, Pacific, Andes, and Atacama at your fingertips. If you’re a bit of a planner, one of our Kuoda Travel Designers can help you craft your perfect Peru itinerary before you set off for the adventure.

2. You’ll only be alone as much as you want to be.

Any solo traveller can attest to this: Traveling on your own leaves you far more likely to make connections with those around you. You’re more approachable than if you were travelling in a group and you’re also more likely to strike up conversation with those around you. If you know some Spanish, try a few phrases with a local and gain some new perspective on Peruvian life. We’ll say it; expect to go home with some new global and local connections when traveling in Peru. It’s pretty much guaranteed and amplified for solo travellers.

3. If all else fails, follow the ‘Gringo Trail.’

In Peru, we fondly call the well-trodden route from Lima to Ica to Arequipa to Puno to Cusco the ‘Gringo Trail.’ For solo travellers hoping to connect and join up with other travellers in Peru, the ‘Gringo Trail’ is a godsend. It’s the most common circuit for travellers after landing in Lima. Get in touch with us for some insider recommendations on what to see and do in each place and how best to travel between destinations. Which brings us to our next reason why Peru is a dream destination for solo travellers…

4. Traveling about Peru is surprisingly stress-free and comfortable.

From bus routes to flight paths, it’s extremely easy to move about Peru. Wherever you need to go, there’s a way to get there and often in comfort that costs far less than you’d pay at home. Some of Peru’s buses are luxurious with options for 180-degree reclining seats, personal televisions, and meals included in your ticket while Avianca, LATAM, and local airlines like Peruvian and Star Peru safely transport you to your next destination. Solo travellers in Peru can rest assured that the logistics of getting around Peru will not take away from your private Peru holiday.

5. No matter where you go, there’s an organized tour to hop on.

Finally, and right in our wheelhouse, Peru is full of day trips and multi-day adventures to ancient Inca ruins, teeming Amazon River channels, and glacier-fed lagoons. Kuoda will gladly pair you up with some of the most unique and tailored-to-you Peru tours or easily sign-up for tours when you arrive at each place on your itinerary. Organized tours are great for solo travellers because they take the guesswork out of everything, help you stay safe, and offer you the chance to mingle and explore with other travellers.

Ready to Set Off on a Solo Travel to Peru Experience?

We hope we’ve either calmed your nerves or stoked your wanderlust for Peru. If you have any questions or would like some help in planning a custom Peru tour, get in touch with one of our Kuoda Travel Designers. They’ll help you sift through Peru’s many attractions and destinations to come up with an itinerary that is completely your own. That’s what solo travel’s all about, right?

As you will experience first-hand on your Peruvian vacation, Peru is a melting pot of cultures from all over the world from Africa to Europe, China, and Japan. As a result, some of the Peru’s most famous figures and achievements are a result of the collision of cultures, including the highly regarded Peruvian-Japanese poet José Watanabe.

José Watanabe’s Early Beginnings

José Watanabe was born in 1946, in Laredo (a small village east of Trujillo) in Northern Peru. His mother was of Andean origin and his father was Japanese. These disparate influences lent him a unique perspective on life that was reflected in his writing.

José’s father, Harumi Watanabe, came from a wealthy family, but fled Japan so as to avoid an arranged marriage. He worked as a manual laborer on a sugar cane plantation, and met and married a native Peruvian woman, Paula Varas Soto, with whom he had eleven children, of which José was the fifth. Although he struggled to feed so many mouths, Harumi instilled his love of the arts in his children, particularly José.

José’s father would recite and translate haiku to young José while the two were engaged in farm chores. In an interview, Mr. Watanabe defined haiku as “those brief Japanese poems, which represent an exercise in humility when standing before nature.” José would later read haiku to his own three daughters.

José Watanabe’s Poetry

Photo Source: elcomercio.pe

Watanabe used imagery found in ordinary life situations to expose his underlying search for truth and beauty. In his poem “Acerca de la Libertad” (About Freedom), the poet speaks as a child who buys a bird at the marketplace, and then wonders at his ability to purchase life as though it were an ordinary object, like a fruit or a bunch of flowers. The boy struggles with the decision to keep this living thing of beauty imprisoned, or to set it free.  In his poem he states, “I am tempted to free this bird/ return to him/ his right to die on top of the wind.” (Estoy tentado a liberar este pájaro/ a devolverle/ su derecho a morir sobre el viento)

In his poem “Oruga” (Caterpillar), he writes “Tomorrow I will look over the hibiscus, or higher/until I spot you/Please let me see you/ I want to know if freeing yourself to fly is painful/ let me know whether it’s better not to ever have lifted your belly from the earth” (mañana miraré sobre las cucardas, o más arriba/ haz que te vea/
quiero saber si es muy doloroso el aligerarse para volar/ hazme saber si acaso es mejor no despejar nunca la barriga de la tierra)

José Watanabe’s Legacy

Mr. Watanabe’s poetry won several awards, including the Premio Poeta Joven del Perú (contest for young poets of Peru) in 1970 and the same award in 1971 with his book “Album de Familia” (Family Album). His book, “El Huso de la Palabra,” was deemed the most important poetry book of the eighties by Peruvian critics. His “La Piedra Alada” was the best-selling poetry book of Spain in 2005, the year it was published. Mr. Watanabe was also a film production designer and art director, and wrote several screenplays. He died in 2007.  Following his death, the Asociación Peruano Japonés renamed its national competition in his honor.

Come to Peru to discover the places and culture that shaped figures like José Watanabe and his poetry. For more information about a private and personalized tour to Peru catered to your interests, speak with a Kuoda Travel Designer today

Main Photo Source: discovernikkei.org