The Alternative Rainbow Mountain Outside of Cusco lies a truly magical landscape of painted colored mountains and sweeping red valleys in the Andes. Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca, has become something of a ‘must-see’ site on the traditional tourist circuit in Cusco, but is now besieged by hundreds of daily visitors who hike at altitude for a single instagram photo. Few travelers realize that nearby there are in fact multiple rainbow mountains dotting this other-worldly landscape and that Palcoyo, an area of truly breath-taking beauty, can also be visited as a day-trip from Cusco. Known as the 'alternative rainbow mountain', Palcoyo sees far fewer visitors and requires much less up-hill hiking, making it a great way to admire Peru's natural wonders without having to jostle for the best vantage point. Palcoyo Rainbow Mountains Palcoyo is a long car journey from Cusco – three and a half hours driving one-way on mostly bumpy, unpaved roads – but the reward is vistas of the snow-capped peak of Apu Ausangate, pastoral scenes of Quechua-speaking herders tending to their llamas and alpacas grazing on the land, and impressive multi-toned mountains without the crowds. Unlike Rainbow Mountain, where backpackers leave Cusco from as early as 2.30am to beat the crowds, Palcoyo has a much more reasonable recommended start time of around 7am. With just a handful of daily visitors who visit this high-altitude scenery, it is yet to see any sign of over-tourism. And, while tourism is still its infancy, the local community have already organized basic infrastructure to welcome visitors. Colonial heritage in Checacupe Church On my way to Palcoyo I paused in the small village of Checacupe (4,326 / 14,189ft) - just as easily visited on the return journey. Checacupe is known for its spectacular colonial church. Deceivingly simple on the outside, it reveals breathtakingly
The Alternative Rainbow Mountain Outside of Cusco lies a truly magical landscape of painted colored mountains and sweeping red valleys in the Andes. Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca, has become something of a ‘must-see’ site on the traditional tourist circuit in Cusco, but is now besieged by hundreds of…
Virgilio Martinez, the mastermind behind Lima's #1st restaurant in the world Central, opened MIL in the Sacred Valley in February 2018. One of Aracari's specialist guides in Cusco, Lisy Kuon, went to test out this buzzworthy new gourmet opening for Aracari and shares her first-hand review. Review of MIL, the Best Restaurant in the Sacred Valley WRITTEN BY LISY KUON PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIL RESTAURANT Let me start by saying that a visit to MIL is almost a "religious experience." It is completely unique to anything else offered in the area, and one could easily say that it is the best restaurant in the Sacred Valley. Offering an innovative 8-course tasting menu at lunch, I would highly recommend any self-proclaimed foodies take time to dine there during a trip to Peru. My visit began with a 1.5 hour drive from Cusco to the archaeological site of Moray, but Aracari guests who choose to dine at MIL will do so amid their day tour of Moray and the nearby site of Maras. That being said, the remote location should not deter a visit as the lunch fits nicely into a day tour of the region. The Setting As a local of Cusco, upon arrival it was not the archaeological site that stunned me with its beauty (as it does for most travelers) rather the restaurant and the way it seamlessly fits into the landscape. The restaurant has a simple and clean architecture, and is built right above the circular Inca terraces of Moray. It is a spectacular setting, un-disrupted by the adobe building thanks to its natural design. The Food at the Best Restaurant in the Sacred Valley After walking over to take a peek at Moray, I checked in for my reservation and sat down to begin the meal. The dishes
Virgilio Martinez, the mastermind behind Lima’s #1st restaurant in the world Central, opened MIL in the Sacred Valley in February 2018. One of Aracari’s specialist guides in Cusco, Lisy Kuon, went to test out this buzzworthy new gourmet opening for Aracari and shares her first-hand review. Review of MIL, the Best…
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a paradise for all types of travelers - but no matter what you love to do, I highly recommend you take one day during a visit to get off the beaten path and get outdoors. This short Sacred Valley hike is a great way to do just that and can be arranged as a part of any bespoke trip to Peru with Aracari. A Short Sacred Valley Hike Off the Beaten Path What better way to explore a region riddled with history and culture than on foot? But you don't need to trek for hours to get a taste of some of the best that the Sacred Valley has to offer. Aracari's short hike to little-visited ruins is about 1.5 hours round trip including a tour of the ruins, and is followed by a rural village visit, lunch in the community, and weaving or farming demonstrations. The Experience in Detail Your guide and driver will pick you up in the morning from your Sacred Valley luxury hotel, and drive you about one hour to the base of Machucollpa ruins. Hardly ever visited by tourists, you are likely to have the ruins to yourself during your visit! Here at the base of the ruins you will be greeted by a few friendly llamas and their caretakers who will accompany you. You will then ascend an original Inca Trail on foot about 45 minutes to Machucollpa ruins. Though not a long trek, this short Sacred Valley hike is at high altitude, so is considered moderately difficult. You may have trouble breathing on the way up, but the views and solitude are worth the effort. Your llamas will lead you around the ruins as your guide explains their ancient use as food-storage. Enjoy a moment of
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a paradise for all types of travelers – but no matter what you love to do, I highly recommend you take one day during a visit to get off the beaten path and get outdoors. This short Sacred Valley hike is a great…
Nestled into the stunning mountains and highlands of Peru's Sacred Valley is the town of Chinchero - well-known for its historic ruins and iconic weavers. One great way to experience the town and its surrounds is on a Chinchero trek. Read on for details of the incredible full-day experience, which can be included on any private, tailormade trip to Peru with Aracari. Wonders of Chinchero Trek On a recent trip to the Sacred Valley, I had the opportunity to head out on a Chinchero trek that opened my eyes to the natural and cultural wonders of the region. I am delighted to share with you my first-hand account of the experience and hopefully inspire you to embark on a similar adventure on a tailormade trip to Peru. Weaving with the Community It all started with a morning pick-up from my hotel. My expert guide and driver met me for the 1 hour drive from Urubamba to our starting point of Chinchero. Upon arrival, we headed to one of the many weaving centers that the town is known for, all of which work to revive the cultural textile traditions of the indigenous communities. The weavers greeted me with a hot tea, and casually sat me down to start teaching me about the different types of fiber they use to weave (llama, alpaca, sheep, etc). I felt all the different kinds and the women then began skillfully hand pulling and spinning the fibers into yarn. During the demonstration they also taught me, with translation from my guide throughout, about how they naturally dye the yarns and eventually how they finely weave it all into beautiful textiles. As the demonstration came to a close I was shown through their attached shop should I have wanted to purchase any textile souvenirs to bring home with
Nestled into the stunning mountains and highlands of Peru’s Sacred Valley is the town of Chinchero – well-known for its historic ruins and iconic weavers. One great way to experience the town and its surrounds is on a Chinchero trek. Read on for details of the incredible full-day experience, which…
For a truly authentic day in the Sacred Valley, I highly recommend you join Ollantaytambo based NGO, Awamaki, for a weaving experience and village visit. I had the chance to participate on a recent trip to the region with my family, and I am delighted to be able to share details of my visit and why this is such a special Sacred Valley responsible travel opportunity. A day with Awamaki can be arranged by Aracari as a part of any larger, tailormade trip to Peru - check out our Connecting with Peru itinerary for inspiration. Sacred Valley Responsible Travel Awamaki is an NGO based in Peru that aims to empower rural communities through responsible tourism and revitalize their culture through textiles. The responsible tourism experiences they offer range from full-day weaving village visits to four-day textile workshops. To get a taste of village life and textile culture, I recommend you opt for the full-day visit as I did. The longer immersion workshops are better suited for very niche-interest travelers. My Experience with Awamaki The Journey to Patacancha The day started with pick-up from our hotel near Urubamba and we began the one-hour drive to the quaint village of Ollantaytambo. Famous for its ruins, train station, and traditional local life, this is a must-see stop on any trip to the Sacred Valley. From here, we met our Awamaki guide, Juan, and began a 1 hour and 20 minute journey to the community of Patacancha. Awamaki works with many weaving communities in the Patacancha Valley, so the exact location of visits vary. But no matter where you go, you will make stops along the way at little-visited ruins or small churches to take in the rich culture and heritage of the region your are visiting. Meeting the Weavers Upon arrival to the
For a truly authentic day in the Sacred Valley, I highly recommend you join Ollantaytambo based NGO, Awamaki, for a weaving experience and village visit. I had the chance to participate on a recent trip to the region with my family, and I am delighted to be able to share…
Aracari prides itself on offering the most exclusive experiences that we can for our guests. We create one-off, completely tailormade moments that suit your interests to make sure your trip is one you never forget. One example of this is a pop-up Andean tea break in the Sacred Valley, to make a day in the mountains of Peru even more special than you imagined. Andean Tea Break in the Sacred Valley For this experience, a picture is worth a thousand words... Take advantage of the incredible sweeping vistas of the Sacred Valley on a premium tea break. Your guide and driver will take you to a surprise location with spectacular views, and set up a lovely table so you can enjoy a hot beverage. Adventurous travelers are welcome to pick fresh muña, an herbal plant, from the area to boil in water for tea. Or for an indulgent treat, melt scrumptious Peruvian chocolate to make rich hot cocoa. Whatever you pick, you won’t be able to keep your eyes off the views and your taste buds happy during this moment of bliss. Contact us if you would like special experiences like an Andean tea break on a larger, private, tailormade trip to Peru with Aracari.
Aracari prides itself on offering the most exclusive experiences that we can for our guests. We create one-off, completely tailormade moments that suit your interests to make sure your trip is one you never forget. One example of this is a pop-up Andean tea break in the Sacred Valley, to…
