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…
Joaquin Randall’s is a sustainable tourism entrepreneur based in Ollantaytambo, near Machu Picchu, Peru. Peruvian born of American parents, Joaquin is one of the owners and manager of the most legendary hotel establishment in the Cusco Area: El Albergue Ollantaytambo , which was founded by his parents, Robert Randall and Wendy Weeks, in the nineteen seventies. This month we had the pleasure of hosting an online conversation with Joaquin, where we discussed his approach to making tourism more sustainable. Here are some of our reflections on what we discussed... The role of economic development "One of my sustainability objectives is economic development," states Joaquin. The Albergue de Wendy Weeks only has 15 rooms, but during the high season, it employs between 100 and 120 people, making it the second-largest employer in Ollantaytambo. Joaquin tells us that by employing local people, he wants to give them incomes, training, and skills so that "they can one day start their businesses". Spoken by a hotelier, these words might seem paradoxical, but on reflection, it is a reminder that people are also part of the natural world. Sustainable development cannot be untied from our economy. The importance of a diverse economy. "Many destinations in Peru are overdependent on tourism," Joaquin tells us. He highlights to us how his colleagues at El Albergue would have had no work during the pandemic, were he not been able to involve them in the companies secondary ventures. Almost entirely in Ollantaytambo, El Albergue has developed an organic farm, craft distillery, coffee roastery, two coffee shops, and a restaurant - that do not rely entirely on tourism for trade. The takeaway from his remarks is that money from tourism in Peru needs to be re-invested in other sectors of the economy to secure and sustain local communities. Promoting local production and
Joaquin Randall’s is a sustainable tourism entrepreneur based in Ollantaytambo, near Machu Picchu, Peru. Peruvian born of American parents, Joaquin is one of the owners and manager of the most legendary hotel establishment in the Cusco Area: El Albergue Ollantaytambo , which was founded by his parents, Robert Randall and Wendy…
In conversation with Eduardo Nycander Deep in the heart of the Tambopata rainforest reserve, in Southeastern Peru, is a collection of luxury accommodation lodges founded by architect and wildlife photographer Eduardo Nycander. Over the last 27 years, he has created a winning formula that combines science, conservation, and hospitality to set a benchmark for ecotourism across the region. This month, in conversation with Aracari, Eduardo shared with us his story and details of his project to save the Macaws of Tambopata. How it all started "Macaw's are beautiful birds to photograph. Each one of them has different markings on their face, which identify them" says Eduardo. His long affinity for the colorful birds is evident and he even admits wanting a pet Macaw as a child. As an adult, Eduardo's first engagements with these birds came when he was funding his way through university as a wildlife photographer. Using the camera, he helped conservationists track Macaws visiting the various clay licks of the Amazonian jungle. Clay licks are exposed muddy cliffsides, which Macaws visit in large numbers to extract minerals from the clay that aid their digestion. The gatherings that occur at a Clay Licks are also stunning social spectacles for both human observers and the Macaws alike. This wildlife captivated the young Eduardo. After university, despite gaining a degree in architecture, and instead of pursuing a Masters degree in the USA, he told his father he wanted to stay in Tambopata. He aspired to establish an eco-lodge for the university researchers he met, which would allow them to continue their research for much longer durations at a time. Why are Macaws becoming extinct? Sadly, many brightly colored species of Macaw have recently become extinct in central and South America. As Eduardo discovered, the primary culprit of their extinction has
In conversation with Eduardo Nycander Deep in the heart of the Tambopata rainforest reserve, in Southeastern Peru, is a collection of luxury accommodation lodges founded by architect and wildlife photographer Eduardo Nycander. Over the last 27 years, he has created a winning formula that combines science, conservation, and hospitality to…
A trip to the Galapagos Islands is a once in a lifetime experience, which makes planning a little more stressful than it would be for an ordinary vacation. To help reduce some of that stress, today’s blog post covers everything you need to know to plan your perfect Galapagos adventure. If you’d rather leave the planning to the experts, Aracari’s knowledgeable travel planners can help craft your dream itinerary. To find out how we can save you the time, energy and pressure of planning your next trip, get in touch today. Set a Budget Budgeting is really important when you’re planning big bucket list vacations. First, decide your overall budget; this is what you’re happy to spend in total. Then, break this total down into sections, assigning individual budgets for things like activities, food, souvenirs, accommodation and so on. For the Galapagos it is important to remember that, to the cost of your accommodation you need to add flights to and from the islands to the mainland to Guayaquil or Quito. And, because flights from the mainland to the Galapagos depart quite early in the morning, and on the return may not allow you to connect with your international flight, you need to add an overnight either end of your Galapagos experience, which will add to the overall cost. In addition, you will need to pay $100 per person park fee when you arrive. Having a clear budget will make planning easier, because it will help you decide the following... Cruise, Hotel or Both? The first decision you need to make after setting your budget is how you’ll explore the region. Will you spend 6-8 days minimum on a cruise, travelling by night and exploring beautiful islands by day? Or will you stay in a hotel and take day trips
A trip to the Galapagos Islands is a once in a lifetime experience, which makes planning a little more stressful than it would be for an ordinary vacation. To help reduce some of that stress, today’s blog post covers everything you need to know to plan your perfect Galapagos adventure….
We have wonderful things happening in June. We would like to welcome you to our series of Conversations during the month of June. We have included subjects and people who have interesting stories to tell from our country, Peru. A TASTE OF THE AMAZON Thursday, June 25 2020 Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, award winning chef. In conversation with Maria Julia Raffo, Aracari's gastronomic Advisor. Pedro Miguel finds the inspiration for his cuisine in the vast pantry of the Amazon, whose secrets he will reveal during this talk. Award winning chef and number 48 in Latin America for his restaurant Malabar, Pedro Miguel will tell us about his life and work and the secrets he is constantly unveiling during his Amazon exploration. Sign up here. A LIFE IN THE SACRED VALLEY Thursday, June 18 2020 Joaquin Randall, sustainable tourism entrepreneur. Joaquin Randallis a sustainable tourism entrepreneur based in Ollantaytambo, near Machu Picchu, Peru. Peruvian born of American parents, Joaquin owns and runs the most legendary establishment in the Cusco Area, the "Albergue de Wendy Weeks" founded by his parents when they moved to this area in the seventies. Joaquin will share his fascinating family history and tell us about his sustainable initiatives to protect the environment, the local communities and diversify the tourism offerings in the area. Watch it here. MAKING A MARK IN THE AMAZON Thursday, June 11 2020 Eduardo Nycander, founder Rainforest Expeditions. Eduardo Nycander founded Rainforest Expeditions over 25 years ago, a collection of lodges in Tambopata, a rainforest protected area in southeastern Peru. He and his team implemented a winning formula that combines conservation, hospitality and science, making it a benchmark in ecotourism practices in the region. He will tell us his story and will focus on his many wildlife conservation initiatives. Watch it here. Bolivian Haute Couture
We have wonderful things happening in June. We would like to welcome you to our series of Conversations during the month of June. We have included subjects and people who have interesting stories to tell from our country, Peru. A TASTE OF THE AMAZON Thursday, June 25 2020 Pedro Miguel…
https://vimeo.com/426358187 Ayni is the Andean practice of reciprocity – ‘I help you today, you help me tomorrow, and together we make a new world.’ After three months of curfew, quarantine and containment, Yanantin Media Group, a Cusco based collective of storytellers and filmmakers, is launching the city’s first virtual dinner party and festival of music and art sponsored by Aracari. Limited to just 100 households throughout the world, the event will raise spirits in difficult times and remind us of the beauty and brilliance of caring and compassionate communication. Hosted by one of the city’s most dynamic cultural empresarios, Tito Roa, Ayni for the World includes an exquisite line up of music, five short films produced with Aracari Travel and Jonathan Stack, art, dance, and poetry with toasts and stories in both English and Spanish. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, today’s Cusco is a center of cultural innovation -both deeply rooted in its extraordinary history, and home to a vibrant community of free-thinking artists, dancers, actors, poets and writers ready to re-imagine a better future. One hundred guests from all over the world will gather for this unique Zoom event and share the evening from the comfort of their homes with a chance to both meet new people and share time with old friends. For people based in Cusco, there will be a special menu available from one of the city’s top chefs delivered to their homes along with artisanal beer and spirits. All funds raised during the event will go to support artists here in Cusco. Friday, June 12th @ 19-21h Cusco time (20h East Coast) Get your ticket here
Ayni is the Andean practice of reciprocity – ‘I help you today, you help me tomorrow, and together we make a new world.’ After three months of curfew, quarantine and containment, Yanantin Media Group, a Cusco based collective of storytellers and filmmakers, is launching the city’s first virtual dinner party…
