★ This is not just a geography book. It not only describes the Andean landscape but also traces the human connections between the mountains, the coast, and the jungle.

★ The book clearly defines the Andean region and weaves together the cultural threads of multiple countries, including Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and others.

★ It doesn’t just talk about the ancient Inca civilization. It also discusses the transmission of Andean culture in the past, and focuses on its present and future.

The Andes mountain range stretches from Venezuela to the southern tip of the American continent. However, it is conventional to refer to as "Andean" only those peoples who were once part of the Tawantinsuyu, or Inca Empire, in the Central Andes, or those influenced by it.

This book about the Andes goes beyond the mountain range itself, exploring the many interconnections between the mountains and the surrounding regions, such as the coasts and jungles.

The Andes is a territory, but "Andean" refers less to a geographic zone than to a way of life — a confluence of cultures that share changes as well as continuities with one another.

In this book, we use "Andean" in reference to the Central Andes. This includes territories belonging to countries such as Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, and Chile, and refers to certain historical and cultural elements that allow us to speak of a shared identity.

The Andean world is not confined to the past — it is present and future. To be Andean is to be many things at once.

Olaya Sanfuentes
A renowned Chilean historian and academic. She holds a PhD in Art History from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and has long focused on Andean culture and the material culture of Latin America. She excels at conveying professional knowledge through accessible narratives, turning rigorous historical contexts into content that is both informative and readable. She is a high‑quality creator in the field of popular humanities.

Luisa Rivera
A Chilean illustrator now based in London. She is skilled at using watercolor and soft lines to present natural and humanistic themes. She has collaborated with author Olaya Sanfuentes on multiple projects (e.g., Patagonia). Her delicate, warm style captures regional character while bringing cultural stories to life, adding visual warmth to popular science books.