Christmas is an exhilarating, vibrant and joyful occasion in Peru. The holiday is celebrated with good food and plenty of cheer... but in a distinctly Peruvian manner. Here’s a taste of what to expect at Christmas in Peru, but nothing we write will compare to experiencing the real thing. You’ll just have to visit to find that out for yourself... Celebrating Christmas in Peru See: La Noche Buena December 24th in Peru is La Nochebuena translated as “the Good Night”. This is when the real celebrations happen with friends and families gathering to eat, drink, dance, and share gifts. The events begin with Misa del Gallo (Mass of the Rooster), a special Christmas mass held in churches and cathedrals all over Peru. At midnight vast numbers of fireworks are set off, the sky crackles with colour and the partying begins. The Christmas dinner (more on that below) is served after midnight and is followed by the opening of gifts and music and dancing all night long. Eat: Peruvian Christmas Food Peru at Christmas is heaven for foodies. Actually, Peru is heaven for foodies all year round, but it is especially delicious at Christmas. First, let’s talk Christmas dinner. Like in many other countries, the focus of the dinner is roasted turkey. This is served with apple sauce, tamales (seasoned and often spicy corn cakes stuffed with pork or chicken wrapped in corn husks, a variety of colourful salads, potato dishes and rice. Beans, quinoa, avocado, corn, nuts, yucca (cassava) and lots of herbs and spices are staples of a Peruvian Christmas Dinner. A surprising Peruvian Christmas tradition is panettone; traditionally associated with Italy, this sweet fruit bread is fiercely popular in Peru. In Peru we call it Panetón. Thousands of panetones are sold and eaten every year in Peru
Christmas is an exhilarating, vibrant and joyful occasion in Peru. The holiday is celebrated with good food and plenty of cheer… but in a distinctly Peruvian manner. Here’s a taste of what to expect at Christmas in Peru, but nothing we write will compare to experiencing the real thing. You’ll…
In Conversation with Max Milligan : A Preview Of His Bolivian and Peruvian Photo-Workshops With Aracari We recently had the pleasure of interviewing photographer Max Milligan, who spoke to us about his life in Peru, love of photography, and of course, what to expect from his two highly anticipated photography-expeditions running next year to Bolivia and Peru - in conjunction with Aracari. Aracari: What came first, your love of Peru or photography? Max: I It was the mid-nineteen-eighties, as a young documentary cameraman, when I was first sent to Peru. I knew very little about the country, but the intense culture and diverse landscapes quickly seduced me to an extent that I decided not to leave. I was surrounded by natural wonders that inspired my passion for photography which then luckily turned into my career. During these formative years I opened the first pub in Cuzco. I became acquainted with many of the important local people. Everyone, from diplomats to generals, film crews, and shaman – would stop for a drink. Fast-forward to today, Cusco is my home from home. I’ve lived there for twenty-two out of the last thirty-five years and have so many good friends, including grown-up godchildren and also have a small farm near Ollantaytambo. A: What makes Peru so inspirational to you? Max: Peru has twenty-eight of the thirty-two defined climates in the world, and of the one-hundred-and-four classified habitats, eight-four exist within its borders. From snowcapped peaks to sweltering jungle you can experience unparalleled ecological diversity – particularly in the South East of Peru -around the Sacred Valley region, where the workshop will take place. Cusco is small, colorful city that attracts an eclectic mix of visitors –most are on once in a lifetime trips. Honeymooners, wildlife documentary crews, internationally revered chefs seeking inspiration – the locals are very
In Conversation with Max Milligan : A Preview Of His Bolivian and Peruvian Photo-Workshops With Aracari We recently had the pleasure of interviewing photographer Max Milligan, who spoke to us about his life in Peru, love of photography, and of course, what to expect from his two highly anticipated photography-expeditions…
Social and ecological responsibility is at the heart of everything we do here at Aracari. We have always been proudly passionate about conscious travel and sustainable tourism. Our low impact, tailor-made trips are designed to benefit, protect and preserve the communities we visit whilst also respecting the natural world around us. We are also supportive of Peruvian non-profit organizations, using our close relationship with local communities and suppliers to support a variety of projects. That’s why we are so thrilled to be able to support Peruanos Sin Agua (Peruvians without Water) through our latest collaboration with Fluye water bottles. Conscious travel and sustainable tourism: Our rules. Aracari in collaboration with Fluye Every Aracari traveler receives a welcome pack. This special pack consists of a tote bag made by Peruvian artists from Andean jute fiber and wool pom poms. Inside the tote bag guests will find a stylish, reusable water bottle. This bottle keeps hot drinks hot for 12 hours and cold drinks cool for 24 hours. It’s the perfect sustainable travel accessory and we hope it will help you refuse plastic water bottles whilst on holiday and at home. But these bottles aren’t just eco-friendly. No, this unassuming accessory directly helps to provide people on the outskirts of Lima with fresh water. This is because 7% of the money we give to Fluye for the bottles goes to support Peruanos Sin Agua (Peruvians without Water). Our all new plastic-free water bottles are designed and made by Fluye (which means ‘flow’ in English), a company based in Peru. Fluye was founded in 2017 as a direct response to the vast quantities of plastic bottles used in South America. 50 million plastic bottles are used every year, and only 20% of these are recycled or reused. Fluye’s plastic-free design is a
Social and ecological responsibility is at the heart of everything we do here at Aracari. We have always been proudly passionate about conscious travel and sustainable tourism. Our low impact, tailor-made trips are designed to benefit, protect and preserve the communities we visit whilst also respecting the natural world around…
The Ausangate Trek is the highest trek in Peru. It takes you through some of the country’s wildest scenery, and is the perfect opportunity for travelers to get off the beaten track. Here is Mark’s account of his time on the trail. Complete guide to the Highest Trek in Peru Trail of the Apu A lodge-to-lodge trek around Mount Ausangate has been on my bucket list for some time, so I was thrilled to experience it recently. I had very high expectations, and I’m delighted to report that it exceeded them. The Ausangate Trek takes place in the Cordillera Vilcanota, a breathtakingly beautiful mountain range approximately four-hours south of the city of Cusco. This region receives comparatively few visitors than the more well-known treks closer to Machu Picchu, but hikers are rewarded with privileged - and often private - panoramas. We witnessed towering snow-capped peaks, turquoise glacial lakes, and the other-worldly landscapes of Vinicunca and Red Valley. Getting Acclimatized Altitude and acclimatization is a very important factor in this region. The entire 26 mile (42 kilometer) trails sits at elevations of between 4,290 meters (14,000 feet) and 5,150 meters (16,900 feet). With these altitudes in mind, the recommendation is to allow for a minimum of 2 nights in the Cusco region before embarking on the trek. Many hikers opt to complete the hike after completing alternative treks near Cusco at lower altitudes. Our trek began at our hotel in Cusco. After meeting with our guide we were driven several hours south along the Vilcanota River towards the hamlet of Japura. Following a tranquil river-side picnic lunch, the first day of hiking consisted of a short and steady stroll to our first lodge at Chillca Tambo. This was a gentle and enjoyable warm-up ahead of the more challenging full-day hikes to
The Ausangate Trek is the highest trek in Peru. It takes you through some of the country’s wildest scenery, and is the perfect opportunity for travelers to get off the beaten track. Here is Mark’s account of his time on the trail. Complete guide to the Highest Trek in Peru…
Sometimes everything comes together on a trip – the people, the landscapes, the timing – to make you fall in love with travel again. This year, that feeling came to me in Northern Peru. It had been a long time in the planning. Northern Peru is remote, logistically difficult and very much off the beaten tourist trail. It is hard to get around, with no internal flights and long, arduous road journeys, and there are few good places to stay. In love with Northern Peru Make the effort for a trip to northern Peru though, and the rewards are extraordinary: stunning mountain landscapes, vast deserts, misty cloud forests and three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. First though, came the real challenge: persuading anyone to come with me. I had been before, so knew what was in store. I had marvelled at the empty pre-Columbian archaeological sites, gazed at the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca, the highest tropical mountain range in the world, and delighted at the hummingbirds and vast waterfalls at Chachapoyas. But, until recently, I’d never recommended the area to upscale international travellers. Real luxury is yet to reach this part of Peru, but what it lacks in top-end hotels it more than makes up for in barely any tourists. While Southern Peru is suffering from overtourism, the north is blissfully empty. And recent improvements in accommodation, coupled with our local connections, meant it was time to give it a shot. After some gentle persuasion, a few loyal friends and Aracari clients agreed to join me. Our group was very small, just eight very different people, all close to Aracari and all second or third time visitors to Peru. But I was a little worried as they didn’t know each other and had to trust me, parting with their money
Sometimes everything comes together on a trip – the people, the landscapes, the timing – to make you fall in love with travel again. This year, that feeling came to me in Northern Peru. It had been a long time in the planning. Northern Peru is remote, logistically difficult and very…
Aracari travel planner, Bronwen Griffith has recently returned from a bespoke travel experience in Bolivia. Here she shares stories, tips and ‘best bits’ from her tour. “Our journey began in Sucre, a city in the southern highlands of Bolivia. Colonial architecture, prettily whitewashed houses and looming towers with a Moorish influence greet you on arrival in this beautiful city". Sucre Sucre shares capital city status with La Paz and boasts a wealth of history and culture. We couldn’t wait to dive into it. Our first stop was Hotel Parador Santa Maria Real. It’s well located and extremely comfortable. The owner, Mr. Luis Rodriguez is often on hand to give you a tour or impart some of his extensive knowledge of Sucre. He also loves to proudly show Aracari guests his small museum collection. One of the highlights of Sucre is La Recoleta, a colonial-era church and convent seated high on a hill. It offers spectacular panoramic views over the city. You can tour the church to learn more about its long history and discover what life is like for the people who still live and work there. Another must-visit for Sucre is the Casa de Libertad (Freedom House). This is where the Bolivian declaration of independence was signed in 1825. You can view the Independence Act document and a handful of other important relics inside.” Potosi From Sucre, Bronwen and her friends moved on to Potosi; one of the highest cities in the world. Potosi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic mining town, lying at the foot of the Cerro De Potosi Mountain. Potosi is home to the former Royal Mint, now an important museum, and the Cerro Rico mine. “Our time in Potosi was short but we managed to pack a lot in. We started with a visit
Aracari travel planner, Bronwen Griffith has recently returned from a bespoke travel experience in Bolivia. Here she shares stories, tips and ‘best bits’ from her tour. “Our journey began in Sucre, a city in the southern highlands of Bolivia. Colonial architecture, prettily whitewashed houses and looming towers with a Moorish influence…
