Introducing Bolivia Packed with extreme landscapes and diverse cultural heritage, Bolivia is becoming an increasingly popular destination for more adventurous travelers. With altitudes ranging from slightly above sea level to over 20,000 feet, the landlocked country has a variety of climates that make for an amazing trip where one can combine visits to rain forests, deserts, mountains, plains, lakes and more. To meet the growing demand for trips to Bolivia, we are excited to launch a brand new sample itinerary--just in time for the New Year--that demonstrates the best of the country's highlands: Bolivia: Salt flats and silver. Over 12 days and 11 nights, our suggested itinerary includes guided excursions to the key destinations in the Bolivian Andes, incorporating the most comfortable and authentic accommodations along the way. Bolivian Highlands The itinerary starts off in La Paz with tours of the city, to check out different neighborhoods and see wonderful art and markets. Next, it includes a visit to an urban farm and cheese maker in the outskirts followed by a recommended dinner at Claus Meyer’s restaurant, Gustu. From La Paz, a brief stop in Tiwanaku, a Pre-Columbian archaeological and UNESCO World Heritage site can be enjoyed en route to Lake Titicaca and the Isla del Sol (Sun Island). Known as the legendary birthplace of the Inca Empire, the scenic island has magnificent views over Lake Titicaca and the Andes mountains and is ideal for day trekking. After touring the island and staying overnight in a rustic and comfortable eco-lodge, travelers head back to La Paz to spend the night prior to flying south to visit the largest and highest altitude salt flats in the world, the Salar de Uyuni. The expansive salt flats, spanning 200km, are a sight to behold, especially at night when the stars come out. We
Introducing Bolivia Packed with extreme landscapes and diverse cultural heritage, Bolivia is becoming an increasingly popular destination for more adventurous travelers. With altitudes ranging from slightly above sea level to over 20,000 feet, the landlocked country has a variety of climates that make for an amazing trip where one can…
Luxury hotels in Peru Blog post update in 2016: Hotel de Autor has been renamed Autor I, with the addition of sister property Autor II, also located in Miraflores. As the new year approaches, we’re excited to add another great accommodation to our list, Hotel de Autor, a luxurious bed and breakfast located in the heart of the Miraflores neighborhood in Lima, Peru. Asked to describe the style of Hotel de Autor in a few words, co-owner Humberto said, “inspiration and exploration” are what he wants guests to feel when they stay at the property. It certainly isn’t hard to evoke those feelings--as soon as you walk in the front door original pieces of Andean art and large antique-looking books catch your eye in the spacious and cozy lobby. The lobby, along with the breakfast room and the rooftop terrace, serves as a common area for travelers to share their adventures. Most all of the aesthetically pleasing pieces of art, books, baskets and other decorative elements are from Humberto’s own collection. The natural colors of the furniture and art blend well together and contrast nicely with the bright white walls. Head up the stairs while pausing to admire the enlarged George E. Squier prints of cities and maps of Peru from “Travel and Exploration in the Land of the Incas”. The maps--found throughout the property--are an important part of the charm. It’s exciting to start a journey in Lima and see many of the same cities you will be visiting decorating the hallways. The result of collaboration between Humberto and his business partner Alejandro, after having worked together in hospitality, Hotel de Autor has the spirit of a hostel and the comfort of the more luxurious accommodation that it is. There are four bedrooms, one on the first floor and
Luxury hotels in Peru Blog post update in 2016: Hotel de Autor has been renamed Autor I, with the addition of sister property Autor II, also located in Miraflores. As the new year approaches, we’re excited to add another great accommodation to our list, Hotel de Autor, a luxurious bed…
Now that the holiday season is upon us, it is time to visit Las Pallas’ Christmas collection of ornaments, nativity scenes and more. Las Pallas handicraft shop in Barranco has been running for over 25 years. One of the best places to buy souvenirs and authentic artisan crafts in Lima, it’s worth visiting year-round - but perhaps so during Christmas time. Las Pallas Lima Craft Shop in Lima The owner, Mari Solari, moved to Peru in the 60’s and has been involved in the art world for the last 35 years, 29 of which she has run the Las Pallas shop out of her home. The shop is comprised of a small entrance room and two larger rooms with shelves and baskets filled with hand-crafted art, in addition to decorated mirrors and artwork hanging on the walls. It’s hard to focus on just one thing because there are so many beautiful original pieces of art to catch your eye from floor to ceiling. Starting in late November, the Christmas-themed room, known during the rest of the year as Mari Solari’s living room, displays an enormous cactus covered with Christmas ornaments from all over Peru that are all for sale in the shop. Below the cactus are ‘mountains’ with various nativity scenes from around the country on display. Mari explained the different materials the figurines were made from and where in Peru they were made. For example, stone nativity figures from Cajamarca, alabaster from Cusco and Ayacucho, clay from Ayacucho and maguey, the stem of cactus, from the central highlands of Peru. If you’re looking for a more portable gift, there are also retablos, boxes with intricate depictions of everyday life or religious festivities, and nativity scenes crafted with textiles, known as arpilleras. The Christmas collection all but disappears after January
Now that the holiday season is upon us, it is time to visit Las Pallas’ Christmas collection of ornaments, nativity scenes and more. Las Pallas handicraft shop in Barranco has been running for over 25 years. One of the best places to buy souvenirs and authentic artisan crafts in Lima,…
Coinciding with the UN Climate Change Conference (COP20) in Lima, the awareness tactics of the environmental group Greenpeace could have been seen as a stroke of genius. In the early hours before sunrise on Monday, December 8th, a group of activists entered the protected archaeological site where the Nazca Lines Peru are located and placed large yellow banners on the ground displaying the message, “Time for Change! The Future is Renewable. Greenpeace”. Nazca Lines Peru The message is visible from the air and aimed at the world leaders who are in Lima, Peru for the conference. The objective of COP20 is to draft a treaty to be signed during the next conference in Paris, in 2015, with the goal of significantly reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. Greenpeace was hoping to stress the need for bold immediate action regarding the transition from fuel, coal and gas to renewable energy by focusing on one of Peru’s key attractions. Greenpeace members from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Spain, Germany, Italy and Austria participated in the early morning activism. Despite what was ultimately an altruistic gesture, the actions of Greenpeace were quickly condemned by specialist guide Ana Maria Cogorno, the president of the Asociación Maria Reiche, who has been working tirelessly to promote the Nazca Lines and ensure conservation of a site that is in grave danger of being destroyed. Ana Maria saw Greenpeace’s actions as illegal and detrimental to the geoglyphs on the basis that they should not have gone anywhere near the lines, as even the slightest contact can cause damage to the fragile site. Protecting the Nazca Lines Peru Indeed, the Association is pushing for Peru to create stricter laws in order to protect the Nazca Lines by making it explicitly illegal, and punishable by jail time, to trespass in the area as Greenpeace
Coinciding with the UN Climate Change Conference (COP20) in Lima, the awareness tactics of the environmental group Greenpeace could have been seen as a stroke of genius. In the early hours before sunrise on Monday, December 8th, a group of activists entered the protected archaeological site where the Nazca Lines Peru…
One attraction that has always avoided the touristic brush of the popular established circuit of Lake Titicaca is Suasi Island; off the far northern shore, the only privately owned island on the lake is a natural treasure with native trees, wildlife and beautiful views across rugged and unspoiled landscape. While the peace and serenity are not likely to change any time soon, we recently learned that more significant changes will take place at the island’s only property, Suasi Lodge. Speaking to the owner of Suasi Island, Martha Giraldo, and her son Miguel, we were informed that the well-known hotel chain Casa Andina, which had been managing operations of the lodge since 2005, has decided to withdraw from the project, focusing more on its larger corporate hotels. Effective April 2015, the job of running the eco-lodge will return to its owners. This was fantastic news for those of us at Aracari; we are well aware that it has been a direct result of Martha’s extensive preservation efforts of the local flora and fauna that Suasi Island is a dream-come-true for nature enthusiasts today. We have long been advocates of visiting the island. Martha, who lives all year around only 100 meters away from the lodge, was full of plans about how to return the 24-room eco-lodge to the original concept that she started years ago. Originally purchasing the 43 hectare island from her grandmother 26 years ago, she hosted her first guests in the sustainable solar-powered lodge in 1999, one of them being Aracari’s founder, Marisol Mosquera. Talking us through her ideas about the future of Suasi Island, Martha wanted to stress that importance will be placed on the more permanent qualities that guests should expect during a stay on Suasi Island: serenity, beauty, nature, wildlife, sustainability, quality, and communication. You
One attraction that has always avoided the touristic brush of the popular established circuit of Lake Titicaca is Suasi Island; off the far northern shore, the only privately owned island on the lake is a natural treasure with native trees, wildlife and beautiful views across rugged and unspoiled landscape. While…
To all of the faithful Aracari Khipu blog followers, today I publish my last article as Aracari’s Marketing and Product Development Assistant. I have been in Lima working at Aracari for over a year and am now embarking on my next adventure (of course travel is inevitably involved). Fresh out of university, I moved to Peru after being hired by Aracari’s marketing department to work one year at their Lima-based office, learning about and experiencing Peruvian culture. While my family and friends were surprised by my decision to drop everything and move abroad, I was intrigued by the adventures I imagined were awaiting me in Peru, a country I knew little about apart from Machu Picchu and the Incas, the llamas and the iconic chullo hats that were always brought back as souvenirs from travelers. After speaking to many people about Lima, I had a rough idea of what to expect from the City of Kings, whose reputation was less than appealing. Many things I’d been told about Lima were true: its characteristic “panza de burro” (underbelly of the donkey) gray skies, the terrible traffic, the dust-coated buildings and the “neblina” (fog) that floats through the city in the mornings. However, having lived in Lima for over a year, I’ve found that its delights far outweigh its unsavory traits. One delight is the charming neighborhood of Barranco, the former beach escape of wealthy Limeños, which is now a bohemian haven with cultural gems in the form of art galleries and museums, cafés, restaurants, boutiques, hotels and the architecture of its mansions and homes—remnants of a bygone era in Peru. Another delight is wandering along the malecón (esplanade) that runs along the Costa Verde from Miraflores to Barranco overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The extension of the ocean that fades into a
To all of the faithful Aracari Khipu blog followers, today I publish my last article as Aracari’s Marketing and Product Development Assistant. I have been in Lima working at Aracari for over a year and am now embarking on my next adventure (of course travel is inevitably involved). Fresh out…
