Peruvian cuisine has been in the spotlight for sometime now, winning awards, inspiring new restaurants in Peru and abroad, and building a reputation that it earnestly deserves. This is in part thanks to the sheer diversity of spectacular ingredients the country boasts - and one of the finest is chocolate, with cocoa beans grown in Peru's tropical regions. There's no better way to sample this food than with a hands-on chocolate workshop Peru at the Choco Museo. Choco Museo's Chocolate Workshop Peru Earlier this week, we went to visit the Chocolate Museum in Lima - or La Casa del Chocolate as its sign announces - to learn more about the treats and workshops that it has to offer. With a branch already in Cusco, as well as Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua, Choco Museo offers more than just your standard museum tour. A Guided Chocolate Tour The master chocolatiers here take you on a journey through time, giving you insight into the ancient history of cocoa in Peru and delivering you to the current understanding of this incredible plant in all of its varieties. Learn about the complex biology necessary to grow and maintain the plant, along with the production process of their organic fair-trade cocoa products sourced from Cusco’s nearby jungle region. Bean to Bar Workshop You can also join the chocolatiers for one of several hands-on experiences, including truffle-making, chocolate sculptures, and "Bean-to-Bar" workshops. Each workshop, perfect for groups of all sizes, comes with personalized instruction and an opportunity to create your own delicious Peruvian chocolates and treats using a plethora of add-ins of your choice. Even better, you can take them home with you (if you can resist eating them right there on the spot, that is). The bean to bar chocolate making workshop is an
Peruvian cuisine has been in the spotlight for sometime now, winning awards, inspiring new restaurants in Peru and abroad, and building a reputation that it earnestly deserves. This is in part thanks to the sheer diversity of spectacular ingredients the country boasts – and one of the finest is chocolate,…
Setting travel resolutions and dreaming about where you'll explore in 2018? As the year draws close, we've put together a rundown of one-of-a-kind inspiring experiences in Peru, Bolivia, and the Galapagos we think should make your 2018 travel bucket list. 2018 Travel Bucket List Inspiration 1. Travel on South America’s First Luxury Sleeper Train Hop aboard the Belmond Andean Explorer, South America's first luxury sleeper train. Of their four routes, we particularly recommend the 3 day / 2 night trip from Cusco, the capital of the Inca empire, to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, and onwards to 'The White City' of Arequipa. Launched mid-2017, our team tested out the first class service and came back raving that it was one of the most attentive and accommodating services available in Peru. If you're interested in train travel, check out this Luxury Peru by Rail itinerary. 2. Discover a New Specie in the Amazon Jungle Venture into the heart of one of the richest and most bio-diverse regions on the planet, the Tambopata National Reserve. Here you can stay at the most remote Amazon Lodge in Peru, Tambopata Research Center, and participate in the incredible conservation initiative Wired Amazon. This citizen's science project allows you to tiptoe through the Amazon Jungle with professional scientists, collecting insects and identifying new species. The project discovers about one new species per month, and the traveler who discovers it, gets to name it too! 3. Stargaze on the Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Located at altitude and almost no light pollution thanks to a sparse population, the Salar de Uyuni salt flat in Bolivia is one of the best places to stargaze in South America. Head out onto the Salar come nightfall with an expert astronomer who will point out planets and the likes of constellations of the southern hemisphere and distant galaxies, seen both with the
Setting travel resolutions and dreaming about where you’ll explore in 2018? As the year draws close, we’ve put together a rundown of one-of-a-kind inspiring experiences in Peru, Bolivia, and the Galapagos we think should make your 2018 travel bucket list. 2018 Travel Bucket List Inspiration 1. Travel on South America’s First…
Once overlooked by tourists as just a stepping stone between Cusco and Machu Picchu, nowadays the Sacred Valley Peru is truly a destination in its own right. Chock-full of activities for all types of travelers, you can hike to little-visited Incan ruins, make friends with the locals in traditional weaving villages, and photograph sweeping, imposing landscapes - all before kicking back in style at the best luxury hotels. The Sacred Valley is only a one and a half hour drive from Cusco and at a lower altitude than Cusco, making it the ideal base to explore the best of the region. The Highlights of the Sacred Valley The Sacred Valley Peru is scattered with Inca ruins and historic sites. Their impressive natural backdrops means they'll easily appeal to avid explorers and history buffs alike. Not-to-miss highlights include Ollantaytambo, one of the most well-preserved Incan towns in Peru built into the hillside affording privileged views, and the Incan agricultural terraces of Moray, which are extraordinary rings of stone terraces built into natural depressions of the earth. The other most-visited Incan sites of the Sacred Valley are Pisac and Chinchero. The Salt Pans of Maras Another highlight of the Sacred Valley are the salt pans of Maras, often visited in combination with Moray. Maras is a stunning array of watered terraces that collect salt and have been in use since pre-Columbian times. These days it's a local cooperative, with a number of families all producing top-quality salt you'll see featured in Lima's top gourmet restaurants. Avoiding the Crowds One of the perks of traveling with Aracari to the area is that having planned tailormade tours for two decades we can ensure you follow the best crowd avoidance routes. Visit the likes of Pumamarca ruins where, despite being only a short drive from bustling Ollantaytambo by road, you can often have these
Once overlooked by tourists as just a stepping stone between Cusco and Machu Picchu, nowadays the Sacred Valley Peru is truly a destination in its own right. Chock-full of activities for all types of travelers, you can hike to little-visited Incan ruins, make friends with the locals in traditional weaving villages, and photograph…
Peru named the World's Leading Culinary Destination 2017 There has been much talk about Peru being the “gastronomic capital of South America” and an emerging destination for foodies and chefs alike. People from all over the world visit Peru to taste for themselves and see how the country’s culinary offerings stand up against those of other cities. World Travel Awards, a company that serves to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry, recently did just that. Up against countries like Thailand, Spain, and Japan, Peru was victorious and named the 2017 World's Leading Culinary Destination. Wealth of ingredients and climates This distinction is just further proof of one thing: the food in Peru is pretty darn good! The country is blessed with a myriad of natural resources perfect for cooking, ranging from the excellent seafood on the coast to the vegetables and potatoes of the highlands to the exquisite and unique ingredients found throughout the Amazon. In addition to the variety of ingredients, the fusion of cultures and styles of cooking throughout the country makes for a very interesting culinary landscape. Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and many other cultures have infused different flavors, ingredients, and styles into Peruvian cuisine resulting in wonderful mesh of flavors and dishes. Fusion cuisine The result of Peru’s combination of excellent ingredients and fusion of styles and flavors is a modern culinary scene that is gaining more and more recognition across the globe. This award and distinction just further exemplifies that. However, the only way to really experience this is with a visit to Peru. Read Aracari's Peru with Flavor Culinary trip Culinary Tour Peru Interested in a culinary travel to Peru? Aracari specializes in designing private, tailormade culinary tour Peru experiences. From visiting colorful markets with a top chef, to
Peru named the World’s Leading Culinary Destination 2017 There has been much talk about Peru being the “gastronomic capital of South America” and an emerging destination for foodies and chefs alike. People from all over the world visit Peru to taste for themselves and see how the country’s culinary offerings…
Cusco is one of Peru's must-visit destinations, a stunning city with cobbled-streets, crisp air and striking architecture. As the gateway to reach Machu Picchu, Cusco is home to some of the best luxury hotels in Peru. Here we give our cherry-picked selection of some of the best hotels in Cusco. We've inspected every hotel on a room-by-room level, so share Aracari's insider info for when planning Machu Picchu luxury trips using our first-hand destination knowledge. The Best Hotels in Cusco Recommended by Aracari Belmond Palacio Nazarenas An all-suite hotel, entry-level rooms at Belmond Palacio Nazarenas include butler service as standard. Though located literally next door to its sister property Belmond Monasterio, this five star luxury hotel is newer and more modern in style. Yet, it still harks back to a more regal past: it was formerly a Palace and convent and houses a cloistered courtyard with a fountain and its heart. One of the best hotels in Cusco, it is one of few with an outdoor swimming pool. It is also home to a relaxing spa with a wide menu of treatments. Why stay here? Sumptuous five-star service - the ultimate classic luxury hotel in Cusco. Contact us now for best rates and a tailormade itinerary staying at Belmond Palacio Nazarenas. Inkaterra La Casona If you like small properties teeming with history, then Inkaterra La Casona certainly doesn't fall short. This colonial manor house was perhaps the first Spanish construction in Cusco built over an Inca complex and later occupied by the conquistadores of Peru and their descendants. There are just eleven suites around the central courtyard. The fact it gets booked up easily is testament to the fact it is one of the best hotels in Cusco. The style is very much luxury-meets-authenticity. Inkaterra La Casona is located across from the Belmond Hotel Monasterio in the Plaza de las Nazarenas next door to the Museum
Cusco is one of Peru’s must-visit destinations, a stunning city with cobbled-streets, crisp air and striking architecture. As the gateway to reach Machu Picchu, Cusco is home to some of the best luxury hotels in Peru. Here we give our cherry-picked selection of some of the best hotels in Cusco. We’ve inspected…
Practiced originally on the shores of Hawaii, stand up paddle boarding (SUP) has become increasingly popular in recent years. Having heard a lot about it, I decided to try out the soft adventure sport on a stunning high altitude lake near Cusco. This adventure activity takes half a day and is best in the morning when the winds are calmer. Combine SUP with an afternoon visit to Incan ruins or other top adventure activities in the Sacred Valley. Stand Up Paddle Cusco at Laguna Huacarpay My experience stand up paddle boarding took place on scenic Laguna Huacarpay, just 40 minutes outside the city of Cusco. While not quite as tropical as Waikiki, the lakes around Cusco offer a beautiful and tranquil setting, ideal for first-timers like me to learn the ropes. After an initial safety briefing and time to put on a wetsuit, I was pushing off from shore and took to my feet, carefully gaining my balance and gently paddling forward. ‘This is easy,’ I thought, tempting fate to shove me into the glistening waters below me. Luckily I didn’t fall in, although, dangling my foot into the lake, I was pleasantly surprised to find the water at a manageable temperature. A Great Activity for Families The popularity of stand up paddle boarding is undoubtedly in part due to how super easy it is to learn. Anyone, of any age, can give it a go, making it an ideal activity for families looking for a little soft adventure. Joining me on the lake was a friend and his two daughters, ages 5 and 7, both of whom were very excited to be getting involved and, as it turned out, both expert paddlers themselves. Acclimatizing to the Altitude Unlike many activities in the Cusco area, Stand Up Paddle Boarding is not
Practiced originally on the shores of Hawaii, stand up paddle boarding (SUP) has become increasingly popular in recent years. Having heard a lot about it, I decided to try out the soft adventure sport on a stunning high altitude lake near Cusco. This adventure activity takes half a day and…
