Home to many of Lima’s artists, writers, actors, and musical talents, the Barranco District has long served as the city’s source for culture and creativity. As a mecca for galleries, shows, exhibitions, and public displays, Barranco simply never ceases to stand out or fail to go against the grain.

Street life at the Plaza Chabuca Granda in the historic Barranco District of Lima, Peru
Street life at the Paseo Chabuca Granda in the historic Barranco District of Lima, Peru.

Like a real-world canvas, Barranco’s colorful street art has become a dominant scene here in the city. Melodically mixed with the district’s timeless colonial architecture, Barranco’s thriving and ever-growing street art scene has transformed the district into something altogether unique. While the street art scene is highly visible on its surface, it takes an insider to know the history of the scene, its artists, and their stories. One of these insiders is Brenda Ortiz Clarke of Tailored Tours Peru. As an Artist Manager and leading member of the art community in Lima, Brenda gave Lima City of Kings a true insider’s look into the Barranco street art experience.

Street artwork near the Paseo Chabuca Granda in Barranco
Street artwork near the Paseo Chabuca Granda in Barranco.

Tailored Tours Peru

Founder of Tailored Tours Peru, Brenda Ortiz Clarke is one of the leading voices and promoters of not only Barranco’s street art scene, but all art from Lima as a whole. Three years ago Brenda also started BLOC Art, a cultural management collective that represents more than 25 different Peruvian artists and seeks to elevate and promote Peruvian art to connoisseurs and collectors alike. There are simply few other people in Lima who can provide such well-rounded and knowledgeable tours that are full of surprise and extraordinary access like Brenda can. But Tailored Tours Peru offers much more than just street art tours, they also offer art workshops, studio tours, private art collections visits, gallery tours, shopping tours, and gourmet tours.

Typical street scene in the historic Barranco District of Lima, Peru
Typical street scene in the historic Barranco District of Lima, Peru.

Barranco Street Art Tour

Led by Brenda herself, Tailored Tours’ Barranco Street Art Tour is an hour an a half walking tour offered in English, Spanish, or French. Great for all ages and interest levels, the tour offers the perfect opportunity to walk Barranco’s most historic and charming streets filled with inspiring street art. We recommend that you wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and bring your cellphone/camera fully charged and with space for photos. No need to bring water or anything along as there are bodegas and cafes along the walk route. There are also countless great restaurants and cafes in Barranco that are perfect for a post-tour snack or meal, such as Isolina Taberna Peruana or Tostaduria Bisetti.

Colorful street artwork at Puente San Martin in Barranco
Colorful street artwork at Puente San Martin in Barranco.

While we can tell you everything that we saw and experienced on our tour with Brenda, Tailored Tours’ Barranco street art tour is never the same. Each street art tour is truly unique from the next. The nature of the street art scene in Barranco is that the art comes and goes fairly quickly, so what you see one day will likely change in the months that follow. With Brenda in the know, Tailored Tours’ Barranco street art tour also gets you up-close and personal access with some of Peru’s more famous artists, whether that’s on the street, in the studio, or just out and about in Barranco. You just never know which artist you will see on any given tour.

Tailored Tours’ Barranco Street Art Tour
Tailored Tours’ Barranco Street Art Tour.

On our tour, we were lucky enough to catch the famed Peruvian street artist and muralist Entes, who is internationally known for his acclaimed mural and street artwork. Entes’ work can be seen all around Barranco and Lima in general. His world-class works become readily recognizable after you come to know them, as they are mostly figurative murals that portray the hardships and day-to-day experiences of the local residents who reside in the neighborhoods where each mural calls home.

Mural street artwork created by the famed Peruvian street artist and muralist, Entes
Mural street artwork created by the famed Peruvian street artist and muralist, Entes.

Our favorite mural on the street art tour was a mural that is currently on a wall at the top entrance to Las Escaleras de la Oroya along Malecon Castilla in Barranco. Created by MDH Collective, the mural is of an elderly Peruvian woman from the Andes region who, through her teary eyes, is seeing the ocean for the first time in her entire life.

Beautiful mural street artwork created by MDH Collective
Beautiful mural street artwork created by MDH Collective.

There’s a lot more we can say about Tailored Tours’ Barranco street art tour, but we’ll leave it to you to experience for yourself!

Tailored Tours Peru & Barranco Street Art Tour Info

Tailored Tours Peru
Brenda Ortiz Clarke
+51 962 373 975
contact@tailoredtoursperu.com
http://www.tailoredtoursperu.com
Tailored Tours Peru Facebook
Tailored Tours Peru Instagram

To check out various pictures of the Barranco Street Art Tour below, just click to enlarge! Or for high-res slideshow viewing, see our Barranco Street Art Tour photo album on the official Lima City of Kings Facebook page!

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