Cusco, November 20, 2025

Cusco, November 20, 2025. As part of their commitment to the communities in their area of influence and the promotion of indigenous activities, Perú Belmond Hotels and PeruRail organized a new edition of the Artisan Encounter, an initiative that highlights the ancestral Away backstrap loom weaving and stick weaving, techniques inherited from Andean culture.

Since its creation in 2017 to date, this encounter has included the participation of more than 400 artisan beneficiaries of the Warmi Away and Sumaq Pushkay programs, from the high Andean communities of Cusco and Arequipa.

“At Belmond, we believe that true luxury lies in connecting with the cultural roots of each destination. This encounter is a living example of how ancestral art can empower communities and strengthen their identity,” said Michael Leitao, General Manager of Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel.

During November 18, 19, and 20, 50 master artisans from the areas of influence of our hotels and trains gathered at Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, Cusco, to share knowledge, strengthen skills, and celebrate the cultural richness of Andean weaving.

The program included two days of training in soft and commercial skills, offered by Wichay, innovation hub of Continental University, the Center for Productive Innovation and Textile Technology Transfer (CITET), and the Foreign Trade, Tourism and Artisan Management (GERCETUR) of the Regional Government of Cusco. The event culminated with a morning weaving competition in two modalities: ancestral Away backstrap loom weaving and stick weaving, where the artisans demonstrated their skill and creativity.

This encounter reaffirms the commitment of Perú Belmond Hotels and PeruRail to the preservation of Andean traditions, the empowerment of artisan women, and the sustainable development of high Andean communities.