CLAY AND LIVING CULTURE IN THE NORTH

Learn about the secrets of artisanal pottery and get your hands dirty with the red-colored clay of this enchanting northern town.

Placed in the north-west and almost in the middle of Jujuy province, we find the colorful town of Purmamarca, embraced by the well-known Hill of the Seven Colors. In one of its many mud houses lives Maby, a local artisan that invites us to learn her pottery techniques.

Maby has been a clay artisan for many years and knows a lot about modeling and decoration with local pigments and materials. She is happy to share not only her craft knowledge but also her culture; believing that there is nothing more moving and rewarding than creating something with our own hands.

She warmly welcomes us to her home and workshop to teach us the whole artisanal pottery process, which -according to her- requires enthusiasm and patience.

First, we learn every step to prepare the material that we need to model with, from mud to clay. Then, Maby shows and helps us with the modeling technique to create a small original pottery piece by ourselves, such as bowls, plates, cups or decoration items. Once we’re done, she will take care of the final touches to dry and bake the piece for us.

You can take a piece of art that has been made by someone else and that is already finished. Yours will stay in Purmamarca until the whole process is complete and will be taken by another person that visits Maby some other time after you.

It is not a simple workshop, but the experience of sharing stories, knowledge and techniques of an art that has been alive from our cultural roots. In Maby’s own words: “you will take an indelible memory of my Purma; a space of living culture!”  

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Difficulty: intermediate. No previous experience required.
  • Duration: 2 hours.
  • Min. 2 pax required.
  • Indoor activity. No smoking allowed.
  • Includes materials, apron to protect your clothes, a piece made by someone else as a souvenir of this experience and a snack.
  • Recommendations: bring hands cream, comfortable clothes and shoes.

 

BUENOS AIRES ARTISTIC INTIMACY

We bring you a close encounter experience to enter into the porteña artistic life and discover the intimacy of a couple of trendy ateliers in Buenos Aires.

If you are a collector of experiences interested in art and curious about how the artistic mind works, this is the perfect one for you.

Argentina has always been an important beaux arts country with world famous artists like Marta Minujín, Xul Solar and Antonio Berni. In the recent years, art has gained even more relevance -specially in Buenos Aires- thanks to special events such as ArteBA and the Art Week every April, the refurbishment of classic museums and the development of new ones, and the growing interest of young people in street and urban art.

Specifically, the neighborhoods of Palermo, Villa Crespo and Chacarita, have become the center of Argentine contemporary art, pushed by the setup of several art galleries.

Walking through these lovely quarters with cobbled stoned passages, small low houses and green vegetation, we appreciate bright murals and vibrant street art made by fashionably controversial local street artists.

Around these blocks, we visit a two or three workshops of artists with different styles, to meet the people behind the talent. With a coffee cup or glass of wine in between, we get to chat and know these artists in their creative temples and learn all about their sources of inspiration, tools and techniques. We are able to see their work up close, feel its textures, and listen to the creators explain their point of views and concepts.

An enjoyable informal meeting with these art passionates gives us a chance to know them personally, have an idea of their creative processes and what they think and expect of the cultural and artistic scene in Argentina.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Duration: 3 hs
  • Regular excursion operates Wednesdays and Fridays at 2 pm.
  • Meeting point to be confirmed closer to the operation date.
  • Includes exclusive access to 2 or 3 artists’ ateliers plus a relaxed walk around the neighborhood, beverage and a snack.
  • Minimum age to participate 12 years. Toddlers up to 2 years old are invited along with their parents.
  • Private departures are available on request.

Buenos Aires Tango Festival 2018

Two weeks of concerts, shows, lessons and milongas at the most passionate dance festival in Buenos Aires. Feel the tango spirit of Argentina!

The growth, reach and significance of tango goes beyond our country’s limits and has conquered such a magnitude that in December 2009 the genre was declared as one of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Photo courtesy of Festivales BA

From august 9th to 22nd, as every year, Tango BA comprises a passion that captivates followers all around the world. Year after year, the festival has managed to establish as a celebration of this rioplatense genre that reaffirms the city’s compromise with the historic and cultural heritage.

Throughout selected places and for two weeks, tango will be exposed in concerts, exhibitions, dancing lessons and milongas, shows and -of course- the most expected and talented dancing duels. Dancers from everywhere compete in the traditional salon category and the stage category for a chance to appear in the finals and be crown as the Tango World Cup Champions of the year. A unique and thrilling show, without a doubt!

Photo courtesy of Festivales BA

Whether you are willing to watch, listen or dance, this is an special occasion to visit Buenos Aires and be a part of an international encounter that celebrates culture, encourages creativity and freedom of expression, and that gathers emerging artists, tango historical referents and a multitude of tango lovers and dancing amateurs.

Tango BA combines the tradition, renewal and diversity of a music genre that identifies a city that is proudly tanguera. To find out more details about this year’s Tango Festival and arrange your visit to Buenos Aires for next August, contact your Kallpa Executive.

Photo courtesy of Festivales BA

Rural tourism in the Calchaquí Valley

In Kallpa we would like to foster rural community tourism; a different, accessible and responsible way to travel, where the traveller finds himself within authentic cultural scenarios that leave a deep trace.

More and more travellers are looking for a different kind of trip, to go beyond only observing and to be able to take part of something, to learn by experimenting on their own. Knowing places, sharing activities, knowledge and lifestyles with rural and native communities is becoming the new way of travelling.

That is why responsible rural tourism has been growing so much in the last years in Argentina, triggered by the cultural exchange and mutual respect between local people and visitors, providing also a local growth and development opportunity.

Since 2011, Salta is the pioneer province in Argentina to embrace the rural community tourism. Twelve local communities from the Calchaquí Valley are involved in a cooperative organization self-managed by low resources families of farmers and artisans, opening their doors to share different activities and experiences with visitors from all around the world.

On their own words, not only they offer regional artisanal products but also community rural tourism services, a real country life experience. “We practice and promote fair trade, a tourism that respects everyone´s culture and that is responsible with our society and friendly with our Mother Earth and the land that we live in”.

The cooperative‘s proposal main goals are the cultural exchange and the enjoyment of the landscape. To join the communities on their everyday lives and activities, to share the farming and artisan professions, to sit and chat generating an enriching interchange. Their infrastructure is their own family and communal habitat. Homes, roads and places that belong to their communities, families and local scenery, which they gladly share with visitors.

Travellers willing to visit any of these communities and to experience rural tourism in the Calchaquí Valley may expect to take part of daily farming activities, visiting artisans, and cultural and outdoor strolls or rides. They may learn to cook regional dishes and using a mud oven, knowing about local traditions, taking care of a flock of goats, learning about grapevine and artisanal wine making, visiting archaeological sites, trekking among the hills, learning craftworks like pottery or using a loom, sharing a religious festivity, among others. Trekking and horseback riding activities are on short and easy circuits guided by local people. These last almost 3 hs.  

Regional gastronomy is an important character of this experience, specially for the half day activity with lunch. Visitors will be able to taste and also elaborate along the local families typical dishes such as empanadas, locro (meat and vegetable stew), tamales or humitas. Also desserts like anchi (a sugary corn and lemon cream), cayote pies and homemade cheese with sugar cane honey. Wine tasting is also available in certain communities.

Communities involved in the cooperative organization open their doors to visitors willing to experience unforgettable moments shared with ancient cultures in natural and beautiful scenarios. A one in a lifetime experience and a knowledge and lifestyles true interchange.

Contact your Kallpa executive for more information about the communities and to book a half day experience, including an activity and lunch with one of these hardworking communities.

NOTE

  • Available options: Half day experience, including an activity and lunch with local family. Full day experience including overnight at a local family home, full board and activities.
  • Communities are assigned to travellers depending on their availability and the activity that the visitors would like to take part in.
  • It is important to book the experience in advance, so that the community families can be prepared for the visit, and also for the visitor to read the Ethical Code of Conduct that will be provided.