The allure of Galapagos Island travel has for generations, appealed to the intrepid explorer within all of us. Scattered 1000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador, these 35 volcanic islands and the unique wildlife that lives here, are a source of deep fascination, making a vacation to the Galapagos Islands a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Yet as well as being part of their appeal, the remote location of the Galapagos means its destination that requires careful planning. For over a quarter-century, Aracari has been at the forefront of luxury Galapagos Island travel. Our experience means that from the best time to visit the Galapagos Islands, to the most recommended hotels, we have the knowledge and contacts to connect you to the perfect Galapagos Island trip. A new era of Galapagos Island travel It’s because of our world-renowned expertise, that when one of our long-standing partners in the region launches a new way to experience the Archipelago, we are one of the first to know. And this latest announcement from Aqua Expeditions, is one that has us head-over-heels for where luxury Galapagos Island travel is headed in 2022. The Galapagos Islands’ first superyacht experience In a ground-breaking new venture, Aqua Expeditions will become the first tour operator to charter a superyacht to cruise the Galapagos Islands. The Aqua Mare will take an iconic trip to the Galapagos Islands to new heights. And quite literally too, its soaring scale and space is 50 metres of the finest Italian craftsmanship. On board, seven large suites, a sun deck, beach club and outdoor dining area, all feature custom interiors designed exclusively by celebrated yacht designer François Zuretti. Finished with immaculate attention to detail, the Aqua Mare makes for the ultimate luxury retreat from which to explore the dramatic volcanic landscape of the Galapagos. Carefully
The allure of Galapagos Island travel has for generations, appealed to the intrepid explorer within all of us. Scattered 1000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador, these 35 volcanic islands and the unique wildlife that lives here, are a source of deep fascination, making a vacation to the Galapagos Islands…
How do you materialise what it is to visit Peru or Bolivia? Can one distil the essence of a place or a people into something tangible? To showcase cultures, communities, and customs without physically crossing borders? So that a global audience can travel to the heart of a destination, without going anywhere at all. At Aracari, these are the questions we have spent the last 18 months probing deeply, let us tell you why. Our connections to leading artists, artisans and designers spans distance and decades. As a top travel company in Peru, we have spent decades fine tuning unique travel experiences in Peru and Bolivia. To our delight, it has meant that when our guests leave us, they do so with a deep and meaningful connection to the countries they have visited. Those memories last a lifetime – but many of our clients anchor their treasured experiences to something tangible too – a token to be displayed at home, shared with friends and family. It might be a painting, woven textiles, a carving or, perhaps pottery, authentic art and design that gives a true vision of Perú and Bolivia, away from the usual folkloric trinkets and souvenirs. From North to South, East to West, we intertwine our tailormade travel itineraries across Peru and Bolivia with experiences that hinge on our longstanding relationships with some of the Latin America’s leading creative visionaries. Our privileged access allows Aracari guests to get closer to the essence of Perú and Bolivia, and to return home with a real talisman of indigenous craft and culture. A new era of tangible travel: Andean luxury handpicked by Aracari. Yet we believe that in this new age, physical journeys shouldn’t be the only way to experience purposeful travel in our region. Instead, more people should
How do you materialise what it is to visit Peru or Bolivia? Can one distil the essence of a place or a people into something tangible? To showcase cultures, communities, and customs without physically crossing borders? So that a global audience can travel to the heart of a destination, without…
Longevity. In today’s competitive climate, longevity is a hard commodity to come by for a business, particularly a travel company – when with each passing year a new travel trend emerges. To have staying power in this industry, one needs both the confidence to adopt new consumer demands and commitment to staying true to founding principles. It’s a tricky tightrope to walk, but one we think we’ve managed. And why? Because this September, Aracari is celebrating 25 years – a quarter-century – in business. In 1996, Marisol Mosquera founded Aracari as the first travel company to offer sustainable, luxury travel experiences in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and The Galapagos. ‘It is fun to think that I had no idea what I was doing when I started Aracari’ says Marisol, ‘I just loved exploring and I wanted to work in an industry where the line between work and play faded, to have a sense of purpose and dance to the beat of my own drum.’ Fast forward 25 years and we are still proud to call ourselves pioneers, an ethos that runs through everything we do. Marisol has gone on to be recognized as one of the world’s top travel experts by both Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure, and as a brand, we continue to lead the way for purposeful, personalized, and extraordinary travel in our region. ‘I think there is something special about building something where the aim is to promote our culture and communities and sharing that vision with the world’, comments Marisol. ‘Finding hidden attractions and unveiling them to our guests, encountering savants and master craftspeople, and being able to create a market for them to share indigenous knowledge with grateful and appreciative travelers has been deeply fulfilling.’ Reflecting on the last 25 years, Marisol says, ‘it’s
Longevity. In today’s competitive climate, longevity is a hard commodity to come by for a business, particularly a travel company – when with each passing year a new travel trend emerges. To have staying power in this industry, one needs both the confidence to adopt new consumer demands and commitment…
At Aracari, we have spent the last 25 years’ fostering meaningful relationships with local suppliers, responsible hotels, indigenous communities and environmental initiatives. That’s because as a leading, luxury travel agent –regenerative, conscious and sustainable travel in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and the Galapagos has always been inherent to what we offer our guests. Designing unforgettable travel experiences that intertwine a luxurious vacation to Peru with what truly matters: protecting our fragile region and the people who live here. Stories of Sustainability The pandemic gave us time to really take stock of what our partners are doing to wholeheartedly embrace sustainable travel. Marisol and her team wanted to truly unearth all the different projects, initiatives and grassroots organizations that Aracari’s partners are supporting. The purpose of doing so was to ensure that as a luxury travel company, we are always facilitating authentic, sustainable tourism for our guests traveling to Peru and beyond. Once we reached out to our partners, many of whom are long-time friends of Marisol – we discovered stories even more incredible than we could have imagined. So, from ingenious ways of transforming organic waste into fertilizer in the Amazon rainforest, to a Special Needs and Scholarship program for disadvantaged children in the Sacred Valley – we are proud to bring you five of our favorite sustainability stories. Titilaka Titilaka is located on the south-eastern shore of Lake Titicaca in Peru on a tranquil private peninsula shared only with a local indigenous Aymara community. Over the years, the Titilaka team have worked hard to support the locals who live here. They employ over three-quarters of their staff from the local villages and have created social programs to help vulnerable women and the elderly. This deep-rooted care for the community has meant that guests who visit the property have
At Aracari, we have spent the last 25 years’ fostering meaningful relationships with local suppliers, responsible hotels, indigenous communities and environmental initiatives. That’s because as a leading, luxury travel agent –regenerative, conscious and sustainable travel in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and the Galapagos has always been inherent to what we offer…
Iquitos in Peru is a beguiling place. For those traveling in Peru and looking to explore the wild rainforests of the Peruvian Amazon, Iquitos is the gateway to adventure. As a luxury travel agent, the team at Aracari know how to make a Peru vacation to the Amazon one that is both enriching and luxurious. From the best time to go to the Peruvian Amazon, to where to stay in Iquitos – our expert Travel Designers will curate a holiday to Peru that ticks every box. In order to do so, our team need to visit each destination firsthand. So, early last year, Bronwen Griffith – one of Aracari’s most experienced Peru Travel Designers, journeyed to Iquitos and the Amazon rainforest. Her mission? To experience an Aracari travel itinerary in the Peruvian Amazon, just as our guests would, to ensure it is extraordinary in every sense. Here Bronwen reflects on her trip to Iquitos, and tells us why her tour of the Peruvian Amazon was an experience that will remain with her for a very long time… Traveling to Iquitos, Peru “Since I was very young, a trip to the Amazon is something I have always wanted to do. But despite traveling across most of Peru – and managing to get as far as the brow of the jungle – I’d never had the chance to fully immerse myself Peru’s Amazon rainforest. The luxury Peru trip was organized by Aracari in collaboration with the Treehouse Lodge and the Delfin Luxury Cruise II. My flight from Lima to Iquitos was effortless and punctual. At the airport I was greeted by a friendly Treehouse lodge representative. The drive to the port was about 90 kilometers (56 miles). Along the way my knowledgeable Peru guide told me all about the distances we would
Iquitos in Peru is a beguiling place. For those traveling in Peru and looking to explore the wild rainforests of the Peruvian Amazon, Iquitos is the gateway to adventure. As a luxury travel agent, the team at Aracari know how to make a Peru vacation to the Amazon one that…
In the week of May 17th, 2021, Aracari marked an incredibly special occasion. We welcomed our first guest since before the pandemic back for a luxury vacation in Peru. Astrid chose to travel to Peru from Switzerland, in order to experience our Classic Luxury Peru; an itinerary designed to take in the must-see destinations whilst traveling to Peru. As has always been the case, Astrid stayed at some of the best hotels in Peru, in suites that showcase the very best of Peruvian hospitality. She also dined in our most recommended Peruvian restaurants, many of which are owned by long-time friends of Aracari, and enjoyed experiences guided by prominent local artists, historians and chefs. But there was one major difference between travelling now compared with 18 months ago: no crowds, no queues and the chance to travel Peru in private. The time to travel to Peru is now Whilst some restrictions remain in place, Peru is open to international travelers. Slowly, visitors are returning to the destinations that have been persevered by the pandemic. Spectacled bears are returning to the ruins of Machu Picchu, the streets of Cusco’s ancient city are empty but for locals. This is an incredibly rare opportunity for guests to travel in Peru in a way that might never be possible again. Because so few people know of Peru’s open borders, the time to travel is now – before the crowds return. The Inca Trail Reopens from July 15th Just this week, the Inca Trail has been given a date for reopening. From July 15th travelers will be able to travel to Peru and complete the incredible Inca Trail to Machu Picchu during their luxury Peru vacation. This is welcome news for those offering trips to Peru, however with operational capacity of just 50% -
In the week of May 17th, 2021, Aracari marked an incredibly special occasion. We welcomed our first guest since before the pandemic back for a luxury vacation in Peru. Astrid chose to travel to Peru from Switzerland, in order to experience our Classic Luxury Peru; an itinerary designed to take…
