14th Periplo International Travel Literature Festival Concludes in Puerto de la Cruz

The 14th Periplo International Travel and Adventure Literature Festival has wrapped up in Puerto de la Cruz, once again proving itself as a vital space where travel and intellectual exploration meet. Organizers marked the end of the event by presenting annual awards to three individuals and institutions that represent the best of modern travel storytelling.

The jury honored Lola Escudero for her significant contributions to geographical research and history. Her work with the Spanish Geographical Society and in publishing has been instrumental in connecting exploration with cultural understanding. The festival also recognized Barcelona’s Altaïr Bookstore, a European leader in travel literature. With over 40 years of history and a collection of more than 50,000 titles, the shop has become a true hub for critical thinking. Finally, the festival paid tribute to Matilde Perera, a municipal librarian in Puerto de la Cruz. Her leadership at the Tomás de Iriarte Library has been essential to the town’s cultural life, and the award coincided with her retirement after a long career dedicated to promoting reading.

Beyond the awards, the festival’s final day focused on pressing social issues. The program included a presentation by Binta Claire Sy on youth migration in the Canary Islands, as well as a discussion on the role of journalism in conflict zones featuring experts like Rosa María Calaf and Nicolás Castellano.

Organized by the Puerto de la Cruz City Council and the Comando Periplo collective, the festival is supported by the Tenerife Island Council, the Ministry of Culture, and the Government of the Canary Islands. This year’s event highlighted the importance of the humanities in understanding migration and the need for high-quality journalism to shine a light on communities often overlooked by the mainstream media.