About us
Sachaqa centro de arte eco-village
In the lush foothills of Peru’s northern Amazon, near the small village of San Roque de Cumbaza, Sachaqa Centro de Arte exists as both an ecovillage and a living studio—an in-between space where art and environment are inseparable.
Artists who stay at Sachaqa don’t simply visit; they inhabit a slower, more elemental rhythm of life. The residency is intentionally off-grid and immersed in nature, inviting artists to step away from urban distractions and reconnect with their creative process through direct engagement with the land.
Materials are not bought but gathered—clay from the earth, pigments extracted from plants, fibers woven from what grows nearby. In this way, the jungle becomes both teacher and collaborator. Artistic practice here is less about production and more about relationship: with the environment, with local Indigenous knowledge, and with one’s own deep creative process.
Living conditions are simple but intentional. Artists stay in communal or private ecological houses, sharing meals, conversations, and ideas with others in residence. The experience fosters a sense of community, where collaboration and exchange happen naturally—whether through workshops with local artisans, shared studio time, or informal gatherings that evolve into exhibitions or performances.
Artists leave not only with finished works, but with a transformed perspective, one rooted in sustainability, cultural exchange, and a deeper awareness of place.
In this way, Sachaqa is less a destination and more an experience—one where staying means becoming part of an evolving dialogue between art, community, and the living world.
Culture
Just a short distance from Sachaqa, visitors can journey into nearby Indigenous Kichwa communities within the district of San Roque de Cumbaza—including Chunchiwi, Chiricyacu, Aucaloma, and Aviación. These villages offer a living connection to ancestral traditions, where culture is not preserved behind glass, but practiced daily.
Our approach centers on respectful, sustainable tourism that supports local livelihoods while honoring cultural integrity. Artists are invited to learn traditional arts such as chumbe weaving, ceramics, and basket and mat weaving—skills passed down through generations.
The nearby Lamas Province is one of the most culturally rich areas of the region, home to more than 3,000 Quechua speakers whose language and traditions remain deeply rooted in everyday life. Further afield, about two and a half hours from the center, lies Chazuta—recognized as a cultural patrimony of San Martín for its significant contributions to archaeology and popular art. Renowned especially for its ceramics, Chazuta stands as a powerful symbol of cultural pride and continuity in the region.
Environment
We are regularly visited on the Sachaqa grounds by a variety of rare birds such as Toucans, Owls, Hummingbirds, and Potoos. A small family of Pichico monkeys visits most days, along with colorful Lizards and Butterflies - including the Blue Morpho, which is often seen floating around the Sachaqa grounds. With spectacular views of mountains and forests, you will be guaranteed a colorful palette of inspiration.
Paradise Tanager - Photo Javier Quintana
We offer :
Our residency now offers several integrated programs:
-
Ceramics - Learn directly from artisans of the Chazutino and Lamista cultures.
-
Painting - Found pigments and ecological paper. Hikes to nature spots and indigenous communities, where we will collect natural pigments.
-
Sculptures Trail - ecological viewpoint (El Miradore.) Theme 'ecological land art.'
-
Photography - culture, ecological routes and nature photography classes.
What makes a residency at Sachaqa unique:
-
We provide affordable creative space and accommodation for artists of all mediums.
-
Periodically we conduct cultural art events and exhibitions in partnership with various organizations and local institutions. exhibitions + festivals.
-
Exhibitions and events / IG:Sachaqa_Live
-
Learn and exchange creative ideas and techniques with local indigenous artists and artisans.
-
Foster and support artists to search for environmentally sound creative methods using materials found locally.
-
Excursions - the opportunity to visit pristine relatively undisturbed nature spots, waterfalls, sulfur springs, viewpoints of national parks, protected areas and spend time getting to know indigenous villages through courses with local artisans.