A highlight of southern Peru, the Colca Canyon creates a spectacularly dramatic landscape with bountiful adventure activities as well as opportunities for relaxation in nature. In the midst of colonial villages, the second deepest canyon in the world, and thousands of Inca terraces, are some beautiful luxury hotels to make your stay in this region comfortable and memorable. Below, Aracari has hand selected our top picks for the best luxury hotels Colca that can be arranged as a part of a private, tailormade trip to Peru. The Best Luxury Hotels Colca: Aracari's Top Picks Colca Lodge Right on the banks of the Colca River is Colca Lodge, a hotel with spectacular canyon views and natural hot springs. One of the best luxury hotels in Colca, Colca Lodge's setting is intimately natural and is the ideal base for exploring the wonders and landscapes of the region. The property draws on rustic, traditional-style architecture and natural materials, using stone, adobe, thatch and wood panels. The 45 rooms are cozy, and feel well integrated into the natural environment that surrounds them and Aracari can make sure you stay in the hotel's recently built rooms for a more comfortable experience. The highlight of the grounds are the four private, thermal baths of varying temperatures that are the perfect place to end a day of exploring the mountainous surroundings. Belmond Las Casitas The most luxurious option in the Colca region, Belmond Las Casitas is a lush haven of 20 private, separate bungalows, or 'casitas' spread across a 59 acre property. The property is decorated with traditional touches, and equipped with every modern luxury including Wi-Fi and iPod docks in every room. The casitas are strategically built within the property to maintain privacy, and maximize the garden or valley views (which in our opinion aren't dramatically different). They have heated floors, a spacious sitting area, comfortable double or twin beds, and
A highlight of southern Peru, the Colca Canyon creates a spectacularly dramatic landscape with bountiful adventure activities as well as opportunities for relaxation in nature. In the midst of colonial villages, the second deepest canyon in the world, and thousands of Inca terraces, are some beautiful luxury hotels to make your…
Surrounded by five volcanoes, ‘The White City’ of Arequipa is famous for being Peru's second largest city and for its construction using chalk-white volcanic stone known as sillar. This stone is characteristic of not only the charming colonial architecture, and interesting sites that have awarded Arequipa the title of UNESCO World Heritage city, but also in the structures of the best luxury hotels Arequipa. A stay at any of our hand selected luxury hotels in Arequipa will be a memorable way to spend a few days on a private, tailormade trip to Peru with Aracari. Best Luxury Hotels Arequipa: Aracari's Top Picks Libertador Arequipa Hotel Fully equipped with a large swimming pool, an al fresco dining area, and a beautiful lobby made from sillar, Libertador Arequipa Hotel is one of the finest accommodations that the city has to offer. The hotel is housed in a colonial style mansion built in the 1940’s, and maintains its charm with 88 spacious rooms and suites decorated with touches from the era. Located about 5 minutes by taxi from the main square, or a 10-15 minute walk, and surrounded by lush green parks, Libertador gives guests privacy and quiet tranquility while still being in close proximity to the key city sites. Casa Andina Premium Arequipa One of the city's most traditional buildings and a national historic monument built in 1794, the Casa Andina Premium Arequipa is a stately hotel housed in the former Mint (Casa de la Moneda). Its location is ideal, only three blocks from the main square and just behind the famous Santa Catalina Convent. The front half of the hotel is gorgeous, completely built from sillar, and features high ceilings and elegant decor: there are a total of five suites in this part of the property, our favorite rooms at Casa Andina Premium Arequipa. The 5
Surrounded by five volcanoes, ‘The White City’ of Arequipa is famous for being Peru’s second largest city and for its construction using chalk-white volcanic stone known as sillar. This stone is characteristic of not only the charming colonial architecture, and interesting sites that have awarded Arequipa the title of UNESCO World Heritage city,…
It was during a walking tour of the neighborhood of Los Olivos in Lima that I encountered my first huaca. I stood behind a row of houses on a patch of dusty land that had a few hills and a sign that said "No Trespassing", which failed to deter any of the many trespassers who were crossing the open expanse to reach their homes on the other side. Huaca Pucllana is one of the highlights of a visit to the capital, Lima. Huaca Pucllana Lima A huaca, as I later found out after some investigation, comes from the Quechua word wak’a, which means “sacredness” or “holiness”. The term was used to describe objects with a spiritual significance like a sacred ritual or offering or to refer to the afterlife in pre-Inca cultures. Worship and Sacrifice Huaca is also used to refer to the ceremonial and administrative centers built with stone or adobe, which were used for community gatherings for sacred worship, sacrifices and rituals as well as social, administrative and political meetings. The remains of huacas, such as the one I encountered in Los Olivos, are scattered throughout Peru, many neglected, forgotten or built over by modern development. However, efforts to restore and protect these archeological sites have increased in recent years, and municipalities have built fences around huacas to protect them from vandalism and damage. Huacas in the heart of Peru's capital Lima, a fertile coastal region, was the home of many ancient cultures in Peru and is thus replete with the remains of huacas—more than three hundred are scattered throughout the region. Two well-preserved huacas in Lima are the Huaca Pachacamac in the south and the Huaca Pucllana, located right in Miraflores. The construction of Huaca Pucllana I recently visited the Huaca Pucllana or Huaca Juliana, as it is also called, which was a
It was during a walking tour of the neighborhood of Los Olivos in Lima that I encountered my first huaca. I stood behind a row of houses on a patch of dusty land that had a few hills and a sign that said “No Trespassing”, which failed to deter any of…
As one of the lucky countries with the Andes decorating its landscapes, Peru is rich in hiking and climbing opportunities for adventure travelers. But the best part about the varied terrain is that there is trekking for every skill set and fitness level. A great hike for soft adventurers, who love to be outside but aren't looking for a huge challenge, is the Canocota Canyon Colca Peru hike which can be included as a part of a luxury, tailormade trip to Peru with travel specialists, Aracari. Canocota Canyon Colca Peru Hike My colleague Caroline and I recently made a trip south to try out some of the great experiences Aracari offers in the Colca Valley and Canyon. Lucky for us this included two hikes, a difficult hike to Madrigal Chimpa Fortress and an easier half day hike through the Canocota Canyon, the smaller and lesser-known sister of the Colca Canyon. Located in the north-eastern area of the Colca Valley, the Canocota Canyon is home to dramatic landscapes and incredible views. This Colca Peru hike is a point to point trek, that starts in the small town of Canocota, which sits at 3,500m (11,482ft), and ends at La Calera, one of the many natural public thermal bathes in the Colca Valley. An easy-moderate option for travelers, the hike is about 8.2km (5.1mi) and on average takes 3 hours to walk. My Experience on the Canocota Canyon Colca Peru Hike We decided to bring a box lunch, and start our hike around 1pm. This turned out to be a great idea, as there was not a single other traveler on the path. Most of the tour companies hike this route from 2:30-5:30 in the afternoon, so we had the scenery and Andean landscapes all to ourselves. After admiring the colonial church while passing through the Canocota town square, Caroline, myself, and
As one of the lucky countries with the Andes decorating its landscapes, Peru is rich in hiking and climbing opportunities for adventure travelers. But the best part about the varied terrain is that there is trekking for every skill set and fitness level. A great hike for soft adventurers, who…
The Two Day Lares trek in Peru The two day Lares trek from Patakancha to Lares is a spectacular hike through the Peruvian Andes. One of the most popular alternative hikes to the Inca trail, the Lares trek can be done as a three day / two night trek, or quicker over two days and one night, camping en route. One of the best things about this two day lares trek is that you can avoid the tourist crowds and gain an insight into local culture: while other Peru treks focus exclusively on landscapes, with the two day Lares trek you get to hike through the country's Quechua highlands and pass rural communities along this spectacular hike. Aracari arranges the two day Lares trek on a private basis only, not as a group tour. The village of Patakancha I recently had the chance to take this two day trail through breathtaking landscapes, where life remains much unchanged since the time of the Incas. Our journey began with a drive through the Sacred Valley where upon reaching Olllantaytambo, we climbed our way up a partially-paved road for 45 minutes until reaching the small community of Patakancha. This small village is charming, with thatched roof buildings of stone or adobe bricks and cheery locals making their livings as they have for centuries from weaving textiles and farming and raising animals. Meeting the Porters It was here that we met up with our team of porters and muleteers. Once our mules were loaded and sunscreen had been applied to shield us from the strong Andean sun, we began our walk out from Patakancha. Heading gently upwards through the agricultural terraces and passing flocks of grazing llamas, there was already a feeling that we had escaped the main tourist trail and were experiencing Andean
The Two Day Lares trek in Peru The two day Lares trek from Patakancha to Lares is a spectacular hike through the Peruvian Andes. One of the most popular alternative hikes to the Inca trail, the Lares trek can be done as a three day / two night trek, or…
The natural wonders of Colca Canyon and Valley, are ideal to explore on foot or horseback. There is no better way to immerse yourself in the mountains and abundant flora and fauna of the region than deserting your vehicle for a day of fresh air. I was lucky enough to do just that, and spend a full day in the saddle on an unforgettable horseback ride in Colca to Achoma viewpoint. Aracari also offers a shorter, three hour horseriding experience in Colca that's also suitable for beginners. Achoma Horseback Ride in Colca on Paso Horses At around 9:30 our guide Thomas met us at our hotel, Belmond Las Casitas, with 5 horses in tow. We would be accompanied by his expert Chalans, equestrian guides, who seemed like horse whisperers as they seamlessly dressed the serene horses in gorgeous leather details. The horseriding guides can meet you also at Colca Lodge, if you're staying there, to start your trip. The Peruvian Paso Horse As they saddled up the Peruvian Paso horses, they explained how this world-renowned breed, declared Cultural Patrimony by the National Institute of Culture, has a distinguished, four-beat lateral gait called the paso llano and provides a stable and smooth ride perfect for new riders and experienced horsemen alike. I was pleased to hear this, having only ridden horses a few times on previous vacations, and listened attentively as they explained techniques and tips for handling the horse with the reins. We then hopped on, and began trotting into the valley towards the agricultural town of Achoma. I was impressed to feel the truth in their words about the Peruvian Paso horse's gait, and felt very secure in my saddle. While we traversed rocky paths, streams, and terraced feilds, my horse kept me gracefully upright leaving me to simply enjoy the ride and the sweeping
The natural wonders of Colca Canyon and Valley, are ideal to explore on foot or horseback. There is no better way to immerse yourself in the mountains and abundant flora and fauna of the region than deserting your vehicle for a day of fresh air. I was lucky enough to do just…
