The Cordillera Blanca is one of the most impressive mountain ranges in Peru and arguably South America with 20 peaks that reach over 6,000m in altitude, including Huascaran at 6,786m (22,263ft), which is the highest mountain in Peru and one of the highest in the Americas. This region is a haven for hikers and has a wide variety of day treks and multi-day treks for all skill levels, from those who want to try trekking for the first time and those who are more experienced and want to scale some of South America’s most beautiful mountains. The Cordillera Blanca's Santa Cruz Trek is a relatively easy multi-day hike, camping in spectacular mountain scenery. Hiking the Santa Cruz Trek in the Cordillera Blanca Of the treks, the classic Cordillera Blanca Santa Cruz trek route is one of the most popular in the Cordillera Blanca. The three or four-day trek in the protected Huascaran Reserve is a great introduction to the region of Huaraz and gives travelers a glimpse of the stunning beauty of the Cordillera Blanca with its snowcapped mountains, lagoons and forests. The trek can begin or end in one of two towns, Vaquería and Cashapampa. Traditionally it begins in Cashapampa and ends in Vaquería, but for those doing the trek in three days, beginning in Cashapampa is more strenuous as more of the route is uphill. Acclimatizing for Santa Cruz trekking A friend and I recently traveled to Huaraz to get a much-needed dose of nature and change of scenery from Lima’s cityscapes. We spent three days in the city to acclimatize with a few day treks before doing the Santa Cruz Trek in three days, beginning in Vaquería. The Santa Cruz trek day-by-day review Day 1 - LLanganuco Lakes We were collected from our hotel at 6am and
The Cordillera Blanca is one of the most impressive mountain ranges in Peru and arguably South America with 20 peaks that reach over 6,000m in altitude, including Huascaran at 6,786m (22,263ft), which is the highest mountain in Peru and one of the highest in the Americas. This region is a…
The Museum of Mario Testino (MATE) in Barranco introduced its first exhibition of the series “Masters of Photography” in its temporary exhibits salon, which will showcase the works of photographers who have influenced the field and whose talents resulted in iconic images. The inaugural exhibit, titled “Legends in Light”, features images of Hollywood stars taken by North American photographer George Hurrell. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1904, George Hurrell was a master in studio portraits during Hollywood’s golden years. He found his way into photography and Hollywood by chance and became one of the most sought-after photographers in the field. He opened a studio in Los Angeles in 1927 and by 1937 had become a household name thanks to publications in Esquire magazine. His photos captured the glamor and elegance of some of the biggest stars of the cinema that continue to define the era and influence photographers today. Portraits of actors like Katherine Hepburn, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable and Douglas Fairbanks—just to name a few, have immortalized them as icons of the time. The use of light and shadow in Hurrell’s images has a dramatic effect and set the standard for Hollywood glamor shots that influenced the works of photographers during the century and beyond. The George Hurrell exhibit will be on display until December 6th 2014. After seeing the collection of Mario Testino, the exhibits of “Masters of Photography” are a bonus to any visit to MATE. Once you’ve finished your visit, you might enjoy a delicious piece of carrot cake and a cappuccino at the MATE Café or have a light lunch on the lovely patio.
The Museum of Mario Testino (MATE) in Barranco introduced its first exhibition of the series “Masters of Photography” in its temporary exhibits salon, which will showcase the works of photographers who have influenced the field and whose talents resulted in iconic images. The inaugural exhibit, titled “Legends in Light”, features…
Last Thursday evening the Centro Colich in Barranco, Lima was abuzz with people milling through the gallery to see the works of artist Puchi Noriega, a friend of Aracari. It was Puchi’s debut in the Lima art scene after having moved back to her home country two years ago. The exposition, called Vi-Gente, attracted a lot of attention and stimulated many conversations in the evening as gallery visitors sipped wine and chatted about the pieces. After a successful inauguration, I sat down the following afternoon with the artist to talk about the exposition, her art and her experience returning to Peru after twenty-nine years abroad. Puchi Noriega Puchi, a self-taught artist, was born and raised in Peru, where her family had a ceramics studio. Her favorite subject is the human form, and she has exhibited her works in over 50 group and individual expositions. She explained that she has always had a studio and doesn't know what life without a kiln would be like, having grown up immersed in the world of clay sculpture and ceramics. At age 14 Puchi and her family moved to Canada, where she maintained strong ties to her Peruvian identity, practicing Spanish daily with a friend and cooking Peruvian recipes like tamales to ensure that she would not lose it. In her late teens she moved back to Peru for a few years, teaching sculpture in Lima and after lived in Miami for twenty years before her latest return to Lima. Six months ago the Centro Colich gallery commissioned her for this exposition, and she has worked hard—up until three days before the inauguration—to get her pieces finished. She explained to me that the week before the inauguration she was firing pieces every day. Working with clay is a complicated and slow process. Sometimes people ask
Last Thursday evening the Centro Colich in Barranco, Lima was abuzz with people milling through the gallery to see the works of artist Puchi Noriega, a friend of Aracari. It was Puchi’s debut in the Lima art scene after having moved back to her home country two years ago. The…
Martin Chambi Photography in Cusco Martin Chambi was one of the first prominent indigenous Latin American photographers known for his dramatic black and white portraits and landscapes of the Peruvian Andes and its peoples. Chambi was not only able to gain access to the lives of those he documented but depicted and forever immortalized their daily lives, triumphs, struggles, passions and fears through photography. You can visit Martin Chambi's permanent archives in Cusco with Aracari, and on a recent visit to Cusco I had the opportunity to see a one-off exhibition of his work. Cusco Photography Exhibition Now through October 19th oversized prints of Chambi’s images are on display across Cusco’s historic district, juxtaposed against the modern hustle and bustle of the emerging Andean city. The striking black and white images are presented in front of or alongside the actual streets and buildings they depict, allowing passersby to appreciate just how much Cusco has evolved in the last century. The exposition, an initiative of the Martin Chambi Photographic Archives in conjunction with Dartmouth College, showcases thirty two of Chambi’s prints in total and has already generated a resounding response from locals and foreigners alike. As I am currently on a trip for Aracari in Cusco, I had the chance to walk around and see this public Martin Chambi exhibit. The images are evocative, and what I especially love is that it brings art to the people. Just today I came across about 10 of the prints and always found at least a few people studying the images, and in some cases, small crowds were discussing which part of the street the image depicted. It is a unique way to bring the work of Martin Chambi, one of Cusco’s most famous residents, to the people of Cusco and to visitors who may
Martin Chambi Photography in Cusco Martin Chambi was one of the first prominent indigenous Latin American photographers known for his dramatic black and white portraits and landscapes of the Peruvian Andes and its peoples. Chambi was not only able to gain access to the lives of those he documented but…
The Amazon Villa, a private bungalow in the Tambopata region of the Amazon, opened in August 2014. This luxury amazon villa, located 15 minutes from the Refugio Amazonas, allows guests to experience the wonders of the rainforest with exclusive services and activities to explore the flora and fauna in privacy. See the rainforest in Style with your private Amazon Villa A stay at the Amazon Villa offers a completely customizable experience based on a choice of fifteen activities and excursions each day and a private dining room, where delicious Peruvian meals are served upon request. From the bungalow, guests can relax in one of the most biodiverse regions on earth, spotting wildlife like monkeys and exotic birds from the surrounding gardens. Creature comforts in the jungle The Amazon Villa blends with its jungle surroundings with a natural design that incorporates elements of local architecture and materials. The bungalow has a king size bed, a small desk work-space for a laptop, satellite Internet connection (no Wi-Fi as it is in the depths of the Amazon), a 40 inch flat screen TV and electricity 24/7. There is a spacious bathroom with hot water and a tub for a refreshing bath after a day exploring in the rainforest in addition to a refrigerator and microwave for guest use. The living room has an open wall with views directly to the rainforest, a dining table with six chairs where meals will be served and a cozy sitting area for relaxing. Adventures with expert Amazon Guiding Guests at the Amazon Villa have complete flexibility during their stay and can choose to have an entirely private experience or may decide to spend some time in the main lodge to meet other travelers, have a drink at the bar or enjoy a meal in the restaurant. It is based
The Amazon Villa, a private bungalow in the Tambopata region of the Amazon, opened in August 2014. This luxury amazon villa, located 15 minutes from the Refugio Amazonas, allows guests to experience the wonders of the rainforest with exclusive services and activities to explore the flora and fauna in privacy. See the…
Back in 2013 we published an article on an exhibition of works by Lima sculptor Patricia Olguín at La Galeria in Barranco after Lauren, who previously worked with Aracari, interviewed the artist. Now Patricia is has works featured at the Agora Gallery in New York City, and Lauren accompanied by James (who also worked with us in Lima) attended the inauguration on behalf of Aracari. Lima Sculptor Patricia Olguín The exhibition, called “Realms of Figuration”, showcases pieces by Patricia, who was born in New York but has been living in Lima and has exhibited works in both cities. The exhibition, which explores “real and imagined worlds” through paint, sculpture and mixed media, opened on September 16 and will be on display through October 7, 2014. You can check out Patricia’s pieces on the gallery site. Lauren and James talked with Patricia the night of the inauguration to learn a bit more about her sculptures in the current exhibit and her plans for the future. Patricia explained that these pieces are on a smaller scale because she had a limited amount of time to complete the works after being commissioned compared to the last exhibit for which she had five years to complete the sculptures. There are several pieces, like Hands Park (featured) and Sculpture, that she would like to create on a much larger scale: the size of a building if possible. Recently Patricia has been using different techniques like juxtaposing wood with resin, plating pieces in chrome and using bright pink paint. Additionally, these objects had more resemblance to human facial forms, quite distinct from her last exhibition that incorporated pieced-together shards. One of the aforementioned pieces, Hands Park, exemplifies these new techniques: bronzed female hands mounted on a set of lips hold up tree wings from which swing female
Back in 2013 we published an article on an exhibition of works by Lima sculptor Patricia Olguín at La Galeria in Barranco after Lauren, who previously worked with Aracari, interviewed the artist. Now Patricia is has works featured at the Agora Gallery in New York City, and Lauren accompanied by…
