Pandemic Tales from Peru: Penélope Alzamora Whilst international travel remains largely restricted, Aracari is still bringing you inspiring tales of people and culture from Peru, Bolivia, and the Galapagos. This month Aracari spoke with Peruvian Chef, Penélope Alzamora, our close friend and associate who for many years has looked after Aracari’s VIP guests on culinary experiences and cooking classes in Lima. In recent months she has witnessed first-hand how Lima's world-famous food scene has been affected by the global pandemic, whilst simultaneously observing the values that triumph in adversity. Peru's Food Culture "To understand food is to understand culture", declares Penélope. Undoubtedly, Peruvian food reflects the melting pot of cultures that the country is. Before we delve into the effects of the pandemic, it’s important to understand how the gastronomy of Peru came to be; "First there was the Incas, who harvested quinoa, amaranth, cacao ... then the Spanish, who brought with them ingredients like tomato, onion, peppers ... the African population, who cooked with chilies, pulses, offal ... and the Japanese, who fished the ocean and even introduced our modern way of preparing Ceviche." New Andean Cuisine Contemporary Peruvian cuisine, the dishes served up in some of Lima's best restaurants, is a (re)discovery of the native ingredients and exotic flavors found across Peru - an area that features 28 of the UN's 32 recognized climates in the world. This diversity of environments is reflected in the array of cooking ingredients and produce to be found in markets across Peru. It was whilst touring the food markets in Peru for the TV series, Aventura Culinaria, that Penélope’s former business partner, Chef Gastón Acurio (Astrid y Gastón), saw the opportunity to put Peru on the gastronomic map of the world. Penélope says "No person has been more influential in creating this
Pandemic Tales from Peru: Penélope Alzamora Whilst international travel remains largely restricted, Aracari is still bringing you inspiring tales of people and culture from Peru, Bolivia, and the Galapagos. This month Aracari spoke with Peruvian Chef, Penélope Alzamora, our close friend and associate who for many years has looked after…
This month, Aracari’s special gastronomic advisor Maria Julia Raffo has kindly shared with us the details of five dishes Peruvians love to make in summertime. “Why not use what remains of the summer to bring some Peruvian inspiration into your kitchen” says Maria, whose insight into Peruvian gastronomy and connections to the restaurant scene have created some of the most memorable culinary experiences for Aracari travelers over the last twenty years. Perfect for a light supper, picnic, or BBQ, we’re delighted that Maria will be demonstrating how to prepare each of these dishes in a live stream on Aracari’s Instagram channel over the coming months. You can join Maria’s first culinary demonstration on Sunday 13th September over at @aracaritravel – we’ll keep you updated with the full method and list of ingredients you’ll need to take part on our blog and newsletter. 1. Solterito The dish from Arequipa, whose name translates as 'unmarried' or 'single', because it was once only eaten by bachelors. Chef Martin Morales suggests a salad like this is light but filling and has traditionally helped "loveless bachelors to stay svelte while each one searched for a wife." So, how do you make Solterito? Quite simply the salad is a mix of broad beans, tomato, corn, salad onions, cottage cheese, and botija olives dressed in a mildly spicy vinaigrette made from Causa de Alcachofa de Jerusalén (Rocoto peppers). Bursting with flavour, and very colorful to look at, Solterito is the perfect recipe for the hottest of summer days, and when the sun is shining. 2. Papa a la Huancaina (Huancayo style potatoes) High in the Andes is the magnificent city of Huancayo, where the dish known as Papa a la Huancaina (Huancayo style potatoes) originates. This dish simply requires you to boil potatoes and dress them with
This month, Aracari’s special gastronomic advisor Maria Julia Raffo has kindly shared with us the details of five dishes Peruvians love to make in summertime. “Why not use what remains of the summer to bring some Peruvian inspiration into your kitchen” says Maria, whose insight into Peruvian gastronomy and connections…
From Route 66 to California's Pacific Coast Highway many of us will be familiar with the great North American road trips. But, what about the best road trips in South America? The current COVID restrictions may have made such road-trips impractical for now, but as you gather your travel inspiration for a post-pandemic world, we wouldn't want you to forget the experiences the roads of Peru can offer. In this story, we look back on what must surely be considered the ultimate Peruvian road trip, as taken last summer by Aracari founder, Marisol Mosquera, a group of friends and long-term customers. But, before we spoil the surprise and tell you which itinerary stops to add to your great Peruvian Road-Trip, first let’s ask ourselves what makes a great road trip … "The nature of any great road trip is an off-the-beaten-track adventure, away from the tourist trails, into remote beautiful landscapes with plenty of unique cultural attractions along the way. It has to make the hours of driving worthwhile," says Marisol. Indeed, it’s true, there's little incentive to get out on the road if your planned route is lacking in incredible scenery, culture, and adventure. The alternative to a road-trip is simply to fly between destinations, yet a truly great road trip doesn't give you the option of flying, and nor would you want to. Where Should You Plan A Road-Trip In Peru While Southern Peru is incredibly popular with tourists, the north is blissfully empty. Furthermore, this region offers the most diverse array of beautiful, untouched landscapes. From the desert coast and its ancient sites (Caral, Chan Chan and Huaca de la Luna), to the snow-capped peaks of the highest tropical mountain range in the world, the Cordillera Blanca, and Peru’s highest mountain, Huascarán at 6,768m. The north of Peru is the obvious candidate
From Route 66 to California’s Pacific Coast Highway many of us will be familiar with the great North American road trips. But, what about the best road trips in South America? The current COVID restrictions may have made such road-trips impractical for now, but as you gather your travel inspiration for…
A Journey in the Two Worlds of Peru "This notion of travel as moving through space, but also being in one place at a time, is vividly exemplified in the travel books of Ronald Wright," says Alberto Manguel in the introduction to the new Eland edition of Ronald Wright's classic book on Peru - 'Cut Stones & Crossroads - A Journey in the Two Worlds of Peru'. For those who have hiked the Inca Trail; experienced Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Lake Titicaca, you will know precisely what Alberto Manguel is inferring. When visiting these ancient metropolises today, one only imagines how they must have operated in the era of the Incas. The thrill is real, just as Ronald Wright has captured in all his writings on Peru. This month Aracari has been very fortunate to pose a few questions to the acclaimed travel writer, ahead of the re-release of Cut Stones and Crossroads. Here's what we discovered ... AT: Why did you write Cut Stones and Crossroads? RW: Cut Stones and Crossroads was my very first book, written after I spent some years in Peru and other parts of Latin America in the 1970s and 1980s. The book's success launched me as a writer, and it's a great pleasure to see it re-issued in Eland's new edition with a fresh introduction and update. I've now written ten books in various forms -- fiction, history, and works on ecology, anthropology and politics. Some also focus on Peru, like my latest, The Gold Eaters, a novel set during the Spanish invasion of the Inca Empire five centuries ago. But I think all my work, whether about Peru or not, flows from a youthful fascination with the Incas, which began by chance reading in my teens. Peru was one of civilization's six or
A Journey in the Two Worlds of Peru “This notion of travel as moving through space, but also being in one place at a time, is vividly exemplified in the travel books of Ronald Wright,” says Alberto Manguel in the introduction to the new Eland edition of Ronald Wright’s classic…
This month TripAdvisor, the world's largest online travel site, has discreetly rolled out a new travel concierge service called Reco. Reco allows it's users to share their travel preferences with TripAdvisor and be matched to personalized 'Trip Designers', who are high-caliber, local travel experts. Each trip designer can be hired for just $199 to help plan and make all the arrangements for a perfect trip. Aracari Travel is delighted that four of its travel planners, including its founder, Marisol Mosquera, have been invited to partner with TripAdvisor to become some of the inaugural 'Trip Designers' for Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador. "Reco by TripAdvisor represents some of the exciting innovation that is happening in the travel industry currently. I'm delighted to be part of the Reco platform. TripAdvisor's invitation - to myself and my Aracari colleagues to become some of their first Trip Designers for Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador - is a recognition of our expertise and capability to develop first-class trips in this region. We certainly have decades of experience to be able to meet any travelers' requirements." says Aracari Travel founder, Marisol Mosquera. Travelers no longer need to spend hours at the desk, browsing pages of various accommodation options, restaurants, and experiences on TripAdvisor. The new Reco service will allow travelers to more quickly acquire local insight about their chosen destination, achieve better personalize of their itineraries, and make managing all the logistics of a trip so much easier. The service allows Trip Designers like Marisol, Cecile, Yasmin, and Mark to book all the travel arrangements on your behalf from start to finish. Marisol Mosquera says "For many people, this could transform the way they travel. Whether you want to experience the best places to eat, drink and stay in Peru or if you have a particular interest in conservation, adventure, or
This month TripAdvisor, the world’s largest online travel site, has discreetly rolled out a new travel concierge service called Reco. Reco allows it’s users to share their travel preferences with TripAdvisor and be matched to personalized ‘Trip Designers‘, who are high-caliber, local travel experts. Each trip designer can be hired…
The Galapagos Islands frequently top travel bucket lists, and it’s easy to see why. The islands have been shaped by volcanic activity; they are teeming with native wildlife species – many of which cannot be found anywhere else on earth; and the whole region is constantly changing and evolving. It’s a fascinating look at the world as it might have been hundreds of thousands of years ago because it still remains largely free from human interruption. But what’s the best way to see the Galapagos; a cruise or hotel based vacation? In this blog post we’ll discuss the pros and cons of both, so you can make the best decision for your trip. Cruising the Galapagos The most popular way to explore the Galapagos Islands is by cruise. Travelers can choose from a variety of vessels, all with different facilities. You can choose the best one for your budget and travel style. Pros The pros of cruising around the Galapagos are many. Primarily, you’ll have the opportunity to see much more of the archipelago than you would if you stayed in a hotel. Because the boat travels through the night, you’ll be able to visit a new island every day, seeing a greater variety of landscapes and wildlife, including rare species that live only on specific islands. Cruises will often combine island visits with activities such as snorkeling and kayaking. The order of visits is always very structured in the Galapagos, but in multi day cruises you have the advantage of visiting more secluded and less frequented beaches, shores and coves, that day trippers cannot reach. Some of the 6 or 8 day cruise itineraries which are the ones we recommend, allow you to explore the lesser-visited islands such as Fernandina, Santiago and Genovesa. Here you can really immerse yourself
The Galapagos Islands frequently top travel bucket lists, and it’s easy to see why. The islands have been shaped by volcanic activity; they are teeming with native wildlife species – many of which cannot be found anywhere else on earth; and the whole region is constantly changing and evolving. It’s…
