Colombia
PALENQUE — San Basilio de Palenque, Bolívar
The first free town of the Americas, where food, language, and music keep the spirit of freedom alive.Dance, connect, and experience the rhythm of the Caribbean coast.
Cook, learn, and connect through the flavours of freedom.
Who they are
San Basilio de Palenque is a UNESCO-recognised community known as the first free town of the Americas, a living symbol of resistance and cultural pride.
Bill Simarra and his parents, Ruth and Víctor, lead the town’s culinary movement. Víctor is an award-winning chef celebrated internationally, and Ruth is a keeper of ancestral recipes and oral traditions. Together, they prove that food is far more than sustenance, it is identity, history, and livelihood.
Their dream
To build an open house where visitors can stay, cook, and immerse themselves in Palenquero life. A space for learning, storytelling, and cultural exchange that sustains local families and honours ancestral wisdom.
Our Collaboration
Collaboration That Elevates Everyone
Brand identity and digital storytelling for Sabores de Libertad
Partnerships with culinary schools and cultural institutions
Visual content and short-form documentaries
Digital products and immersive culinary travel experiences linked with Cristo Rey
Palanque Cultural Immersion
Sabores de Libertad
Palenque Culinary Immersion
Step into the kitchens of freedom. Cook alongside local global award winning chefs Victor y Ruth Simarra, learn ancestral recipes, and discover how food becomes a story of resilience and joy.
Duration
1-8 Weeks
Minimum age
18+
Start dates
Every Sunday: All year round.
Wishlist
The gift of Elevation
We don’t ask for donations.
We create innovative ways to generate income, ones that strengthen the community and give you something meaningful in return.
So, what do you buy someone who already has everything?
A Gift of Elevation: a simple purchase that funds local progress and arrives as a beautiful digital voucher from the community itself.
Follow Us
Every view, like, and share helps turn culture into income and keeps the circle growing.
Follow us to see real stories from communities like FUNAMOS.
