Photo Credit: eaganj (Flickr) 10 years ago, Peru had one train running from Cuzco to Machu Picchu, it was very likely that one had to travel next to a chicken and suffer constant interruptions along the way. Then Peru Rail happened, they came in and totally revamped the system. Yesterday they celebrated their anniversary amongst the most important people in the travel industry including Aracari. The event began with dancing shadows emulating the different aspects of the 3 different trains, Backpackers, Vistadome and Hiram Bingham. The more executive people gave speeches about what had been accomplished in 2008 and improvements coming in the current year. There was also a presentation about the new logos being used by the company giving it a very chic edge. Aracari is a strong partner of the Peru Rail system as most of our guests travel on these trains when in the Cuzco area. For more info about our trains, contact us!
Photo Credit: eaganj (Flickr) 10 years ago, Peru had one train running from Cuzco to Machu Picchu, it was very likely that one had to travel next to a chicken and suffer constant interruptions along the way. Then Peru Rail happened, they came in and totally revamped the system. Yesterday they…
Kuelap sits leering over the dreamlike clouds of the Peruvian high jungle. When you are there you feel as though you've been let in on a secret and you have it all to yourself. What most people don't know is that the Chachapoyas culture has had it's fair share of mentions, yet still manages to keep most of the tourist flock away, much of this has to do with it's inaccessibility and that isn't a bad thing. The Warriors of the Clouds lived in what is today the Amazonas region, 10 hours to the nearest airport. The clip is from Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). In this scene Indiana captures the precious golden idol belonging to the Hovito indians, inspired by you guess it, the Chachapoyas. We might not be able to provide you with this type of heart stopping danger but that does not mean we can't provide something just as thrilling! Here's our suggested itinerary for your own Indiana Jones adventure (without the hassles): Chachapoya's Best Kept Secret
Kuelap sits leering over the dreamlike clouds of the Peruvian high jungle. When you are there you feel as though you’ve been let in on a secret and you have it all to yourself. What most people don’t know is that the Chachapoyas culture has had it’s fair share of mentions, yet still…
As have continuously touted the merits of Peru's culinary treasures and are thrilled to see the Financial Times echo are sentiments! Aracari's very own Marisol Mosquera is quoted in below article. **** After Machu Picchu, try Lima's tacu tacu By Naomi Mapstone Published: November 7 2008 19:50 | Last updated: November 7 2008 19:50 It's lunchtime at El Rincón que no Conoces, one of Lima's best criollo restaurants, and the restaurant floor is packed. Diners, eyes glinting with anticipation, sip on chicha morada, a juice made from purple corn, quince, cinnamon and cloves, and watch great steaming plates pass by. There is tacu tacu (refried beans and rice), carapulco con cerdo (dried potato stew with pork) and pickled pigs feet. The buzz of conversation stills for a moment as an elderly woman dressed in a long purple robe steps into the room from the kitchen. The robe marks Teresa Izquierdo out as a devout Christian (who, like many others in Lima) wears purple for a month each year to venerate the Lord of Miracles, a mural painted by a slave on to the only wall of a church to survive a devastating earthquake in the 17th century. Izquierdo opened this restaurant 31 years ago, calling it 'the corner that nobody knows' because it was her first venture as a cook beyond the homes of Peru's elite families. Now in her 70s, Izquierdo has been cooking since she was eight, and she is renowned for her faithful and painstaking approach to cooking the criollo cuisine developed by African slaves brought to Peru by the Spanish conquistadores from the 16th century until the abolition of slavery in 1856. "My mother wanted me to be a midwife," Izquierdo says, laughing. "She said there would always be work." Seeing a child born put an
As have continuously touted the merits of Peru’s culinary treasures and are thrilled to see the Financial Times echo are sentiments! Aracari’s very own Marisol Mosquera is quoted in below article. **** After Machu Picchu, try Lima’s tacu tacu By Naomi Mapstone Published: November 7 2008 19:50 | Last updated:…
I had only been to Buenos Aires ("BA") on business years ago. I liked it but I clearly had not seen much of what it truly has to offer. This time around I thoroughly enjoyed a lot of what makes it the fashionable capital of South America. Its understated, old-world elegance has experienced a clear resurgence. I was impressed by BA's varied lodging and shopping options and abundance of cultural activities. I visited many hotels: In the category of 5 star properties my favourites were the famous Alvear Palace Hotel, the Sofitel Arroyo where I stayed, the eclectic Faena, (a one of a kind experience!), and most of all my very favourite was the Park Hyatt Palacio Duhau! This elegant hotel located in the Recoleta neighbourhood is built within the premises of a 19th palace of the Duhau family. The interiors are superb, minimalist but traditional at the time. Very elegant. I went shopping in BA and found excellent value in clothes. Fabulous shopping galleries abound. What captivated me were the neighbourhoods of Palermo Hollywood and Palermo Soho. These areas are filled with an abundance of designer outlets with trendy and inexpensive shopping opportunities as well as wonderfully charming boutique hotels, such as Legado Mitico and Costa Petit which I visited. Those would definitely be my choice when visiting Buenos Aires. If you are interested in experiencing BA yourself, or the rest of Argentina, please contact us so we can design a delightful itinerary. We work with a wonderful Argentine partner who has planned many one of a kind adventures for Aracari clients who have come to know and trust our travel judgement.
I had only been to Buenos Aires (“BA”) on business years ago. I liked it but I clearly had not seen much of what it truly has to offer. This time around I thoroughly enjoyed a lot of what makes it the fashionable capital of South America. Its understated, old-world…
Aracari's Founder and CEO, Marisol Mosquera, shares her thoughts on her recent visit to Suasi Island Lodge, an eco-island getaway and one of the best places to stay on Lake Titicaca. Suasi Island: A retreat in Lake Titicaca During my recent visit to Suasi Island (February 2008), I experienced what had captivated me about this place ever since my first visit in 1997, when it was still under construction. Of course my personal and Aracari's close connection to Martha Giraldo the island owner has a lot to do with it. I still remember when it was all a dream and Martha came to my apartment in Lima to show me the blueprints of the lodge in late 1996. It was a daunting task, and I am impressed she single handedly managed to pull it off! Fast forward 11 years and the place is a dream come true. It is now operated by Casa Andina, and it is the jewel of their private collection. I have to admit they are doing a fabulous job. It isn't easy to operate a lodge at nearly 4000 metres, and on an island, 4 hours away from the nearest city! Casa Andina's efficient management coupled with Martha's constant and ongoing presence and input make the place work extremely well. She ensures that the gardens are how they should be; they are now mature and populated by endemic and exotic species. And she has removed 70% of the damaging eucalyptus from the island and planted native species such as Quenuas, Mashwa, K'antu trees... there are vicuñas, vischachas, and loads of hummingbirds. A stay in Suasi is truly rewarding and allows the visitor to assimilate what they have learned during a Peru visit. It is a haven of peace, where kayaking, hiking, photographing, and reading are the activities.
Aracari’s Founder and CEO, Marisol Mosquera, shares her thoughts on her recent visit to Suasi Island Lodge, an eco-island getaway and one of the best places to stay on Lake Titicaca. Suasi Island: A retreat in Lake Titicaca During my recent visit to Suasi Island (February 2008), I experienced what had…
Some say she's more popular than the President, and she's certainly made a splash on the world stage, but world surfing champion Sofia Mulanovich is happiest spending her days on the beach in her home country of Peru. Back in 2004, when this then 21 year old became the first South American to win the world title, surfing in Chicama and Peru was only known to locals and a select group of pro surfers. Surfing in Chicama - Surf champion Sofia Mulanovich Four short years later and the "Sofia" effect has alerted the world to the natural, varied splendours of the Peruvian surf. As the lady herself says, "Peru is the best preparation for a pro-surfer because there are so many different varieties of breaks and conditions." These include the longest left wave in the world found in Chicama on the Northern Peru beaches - a perfect three to six foot wave stretching for over four kilometres and listed at number two in semi-charted surfing spots by the British newspaper The Guardian this month. Chicama Surf Resort Like the group of friends who founded the ocean front Chicama Surf Resort after searching the world to find a perfect spot for a surfing vacation, we decided to focus on Chicama because it offers much more than just the perfect wave. Singled out by National Geographic, the Chicama Valley is uniquely rich in ancient archaeology and there are many sites to visit on the "Ruta Moche". At least five different civilisations inhabited this land, leaving numerous settlements, including the ancient and enigmatic Moche sites (c 500AD) of Sipan, El Brujo and the magnificent Huaca del Sol y de la Luna. In addition, there is the largest adobe city in the world at Chan Chan (Chimu culture c. 1200 AD) and the state of
Some say she’s more popular than the President, and she’s certainly made a splash on the world stage, but world surfing champion Sofia Mulanovich is happiest spending her days on the beach in her home country of Peru. Back in 2004, when this then 21 year old became the first…
