The Sacred Valley of the Incas is undoubtedly one of Peru's most breathtaking regions. Famed for its vast landscapes, rich culture, and ancient Inca relics – including the most famous of all, Machu Picchu – the Sacred Valley is an unmissable destination for those seeking cultural travel to Peru. Indeed, it’s so popular that almost all of our luxury Peru itineraries include a stay in the Sacred Valley, whether it’s a vacation centered on wellness and natural healing, or one more dedicated to adventure and the wild outdoors. Yet for its wonder and beauty, the elevation of the Sacred Valley can cause sickness-inducing symptoms. Explorer our Sacred Valley Itineraries At Aracari, we often get asked what the altitude of the Sacred Valley is by those set to travel there as part of a luxury Peru vacation. The Valley itself is measured at 2,800 meters above sea level, whilst the city of Cusco is found at over 3,000 meters. This dramatic elevation is significant and takes some adjusting to – especially if you want to enjoy our most recommended experiences in the region. Thankfully, altitude sickness in the Sacred Valley is no new thing. Long before modern medicine Peruvian people have sought natural remedies for soothing its symptoms, harvesting the unique herbs that grow here. Muna: Avoiding Altitude Sickness in the Sacred Valley with muna Tea One of the most popular Peruvian herbs is muña, a mint-like Peruvian medicinal plant that makes for an excellent herbal tea to help relieve symptoms of altitude sickness in the Sacred Valley. Also referred to as Andean mint, muña is a bright green plant that grows in the Andes highlands near cities like Cusco and Puno. This woody shrub is known for its ability to stay such a vibrant color even during
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is undoubtedly one of Peru’s most breathtaking regions. Famed for its vast landscapes, rich culture, and ancient Inca relics – including the most famous of all, Machu Picchu – the Sacred Valley is an unmissable destination for those seeking cultural travel to Peru. Indeed,…
A whole host of the top names in the culinary world call Peru home, and there are few foodie names you’ll hear more often than Pia León and Virgilio Martínez. Together, this culinary power couple has rejuvenated and transformed the Peruvian food scene. Lima has long been known as one of the top restaurant destinations in the world, and innovators like Martínez and León are what keep the city on the cutting edge. Virgilio Martínez is most well known for his use of unique Peruvian ingredients in his intricate dishes. (You may even recognize him from the popular Netflix series Chef’s Table.) He is the mind behind Central Restaurante in Lima and Mil in the Sacred Valley, which offer a series of courses reflecting Peru’s many altitudes and microclimates. Pia León is the creative force behind Kjolle, a newly opened restaurant that highlights Peru’s natural offerings with a focus on its wide range of flavorful herbs and tubers. In 2018, León was named the Best Female Chef in Latin America by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy. Peruvian Ingredients The Chefs Love León and Martínez met (and later married) when León got a job at Central Restaurante more than a decade ago, and the two have inspired each other’s work ever since. If you’re looking for insight into the Peruvian food scene, this duo is an endless source of wisdom. Below are three Peruvian ingredients León and Martínez have been associated with, and what makes them such a special part of the Peruvian food journey. Peruvian Corn León has mentioned to many a journalist that corn is her favorite ingredient. Peru grows more than 55 varieties of corn - more than any other place in the world - so it’s no surprise that this delicious crop is a staple in
A whole host of the top names in the culinary world call Peru home, and there are few foodie names you’ll hear more often than Pia León and Virgilio Martínez. Together, this culinary power couple has rejuvenated and transformed the Peruvian food scene. Lima has long been known as one…
Peru’s unique crops are more than just delicious. Many are also fantastic for your health. Some of Peru’s most popular crops are superfoods that can provide a beneficial boost to your mind, body, and taste buds. Peruvian Superfoods You’ll Love Goldenberries These lovely orange berries are also called Incaberries or aguaymantos, and are found in the Andes. Goldenberries are nightshade vegetables packed with heaps of nutrients. (Other nightshade vegetables include tomato, eggplant, and peppers.) The berries are a tasty blend of sweet and citrusy, and they’re full of antioxidants, protein, and vitamins A and C. They’re great for your immune system and heart health. Goldenberries are also an excellent source of fiber and have great anti-inflammatory properties, along with plenty of phosphorus and bioflavonoids. Quinoa Quinoa is an especially popular Peruvian superfood, and for good reason: this incredible seed can be a game changer for both individual health and worldwide wellbeing. Often called the “mother grain of the Inca,” quinoa can easily grow in a wide range of conditions, which makes it a favorite of anti-poverty experts looking to help eliminate world hunger. Quinoa is gluten free, low carb, and jam-packed with nutrients. It’s fantastic for anyone looking to supercharge their health - especially people who can’t eat gluten or are looking for an extra protein source in their routine. Quinoa has lots of fiber, amino acids, and potassium. It’s also just plain delicious - quinoa really has it all. In fact, it’s the only plant in the world containing all of the amino acids humans need. Chirimoya Sometimes called a custard apple, this fruit is well-loved in Peru for its sweet, creamy flavor. The delicious fruit is also loaded with vitamins and antioxidants. Chirimoya can aid in digestion, help manage blood pressure, and support heart health. And can also bring
Peru’s unique crops are more than just delicious. Many are also fantastic for your health. Some of Peru’s most popular crops are superfoods that can provide a beneficial boost to your mind, body, and taste buds. Peruvian Superfoods You’ll Love Goldenberries These lovely orange berries are also called Incaberries or…
If you’re going to experience the full range of cuisine Peru has to offer, one thing you must try is chifa, also known as Peruvian-Chinese cuisine. Chifa restaurants in Peru come from a long line of cultural history: thousands of Chinese immigrants moved to Peru in the late 1800s, mostly arriving from China’s Guangdong province. The Chinese community of Peru has made a big impact on the nation’s culture and customs, and has added more depth and richness to Peru’s overall diversity. Today, more than one million people of Chinese descent live in Peru, and a unique blend of Peruvian and Chinese culture has surfaced as a result. Certain Cantonese words have even made their way into Peruvian Spanish. A wonderful culinary result of this cultural diversity is chifa. This style of cuisine combines traditional Cantonese cooking techniques, Peruvian ingredients, and food traditions from Peruvian Creole culture for one very delicious outcome. The result is a food preparation style that is somewhat reminiscent of Cantonese food you’ve tried elsewhere in the world, but with its own very distinctive (and delectable) spin. Chifa Restaurants In Lima Chifa restaurants in Peru have made this hybrid cuisine one of the most popular food styles in the country. Often, restaurants that don’t exclusively focus on chifa will still have a few chifa-inspired dishes on the menu because it is simply that integral to Peruvian eating habits. The word chifa is derived from the Cantonese phrase meaning “to cook food.” Lima is an especially great place to try chifa for the first time. You’ll find fantastic chifa offerings all over the city, from high end to low end to everything in between. If you have the time to truly immerse yourself, you’ll want to pay a visit to Barrio Chino (Chinatown) in Lima. Here, you’ll
If you’re going to experience the full range of cuisine Peru has to offer, one thing you must try is chifa, also known as Peruvian-Chinese cuisine. Chifa restaurants in Peru come from a long line of cultural history: thousands of Chinese immigrants moved to Peru in the late 1800s, mostly…
Every year, Cusco celebrates the movable (in 2019 it is on June 20) Catholic holiday of Corpus Christi, in a grand way. The Feast of Corpus Christi (Latin for "Body of Christ") is a Catholic liturgical solemnity celebrating the real presence of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, in the elements of the Eucharist. This feast is celebrated by Catholics around the world and in other parts of Peru with processions that involve the Monstrance* only, but in Cusco it involves this and much more. It is certainly a step above the rest with images of bejewelled and bedecked Saints and Madonnas from different Cusco parishes coming out in procession. The city pulls out all the stops with a seven-day event full of prayer, color, music and great food. The Corpus Christi Festivity In Cusco The Corpus Christi festivity Cusco celebrates has been a tradition for more than 450 years, and is known as the longest-running religious festivity in the Americas. The festivity is famous for its processions of 15 statues of saints and madonnas across the city to Cusco’s cathedral. Each statue represents a different parish church, and cusquenos follow the procession through the city with flowers and offerings. You’ll notice that each image has been thoughtfully decorated, with close attention to detail and adornment. Each statue is carried on a throne. Those who carry them, known as cofradias, spend a whole year leading up to the event preparing for the procession. Cusco's Corpus Christi festivity has roots in the Andean Baroque era of the 17th and 18th centuries. Religious art and architecture from this period is characterized by its dramatic, intricate design - and that definitely shows in the beauty of each statue and the amount of care given to each step of the festivity. The
Every year, Cusco celebrates the movable (in 2019 it is on June 20) Catholic holiday of Corpus Christi, in a grand way. The Feast of Corpus Christi (Latin for “Body of Christ”) is a Catholic liturgical solemnity celebrating the real presence of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, in…
June through September marks festival season in Peru, an especially vibrant time in which you’ll find large-scale festivities and celebrations in cities across the country. Here are some of the most notable festivities of the season, and how to experience them to the fullest. Festival Season Kicks off in Peru Festivity of the Señor de Choquekillka, Ollantaytambo Each June, the city of Ollantaytambo celebrates the Festivity of the Señor de Choquekillka. The festivity is meant to honor the city’s patron saint and the Pentecost, a holiday marking the descent of the Holy Spirit and the end of the Easter season. This historic city in the Urubamba Valley is scenic all on its own, so when you add in the bright colors and enthusiasm of a festivity, it’s truly a sight to behold. During the four-day festivity, worshippers will carry a cross with the image of Señor de Choquekillka from Ollantaytambo’s main plaza to the Temple of Santiago the Apostle. The procession is accompanied by music, and you’ll find dancing, masses, fireworks, and even bull fights throughout the festivity’s four days. The festivity highlights the syncretism between Catholic and indigenous traditions that characterizes many Peruvian faith systems. You’ll find food, observational rituals, and music that combine traits of both faiths, including more than 16 special dances that honor important aspects of Peruvian and Ollantaytambo history. Dancers are treated to meals and drinks by local sponsors, and as day turns to night, locals let their hair down and celebrate into the evening. If you want to see the special dances up close, be sure to arrive to the plaza early to get a good viewing spot! Corpus Christi, Cusco (movable feast: June 20, 2019) Corpus Christi is Cusco’s most notable religious celebration, and a treasured highlight of festivity season in Peru. The
June through September marks festival season in Peru, an especially vibrant time in which you’ll find large-scale festivities and celebrations in cities across the country. Here are some of the most notable festivities of the season, and how to experience them to the fullest. Festival Season Kicks off in Peru…
