For those traveling in Peru, the allure of the country’s most famous trekking trail, the Inca Trail trek, is undeniable. Spending four to five days ascending some of the Sacred Valley’s most breath-taking scenery, along the same route taken by Incan pilgrims so many centuries before is an unforgettable experience during one of our luxury Machu Picchu tours. As one of the best luxury travel companies in Peru, Aracari has been curating Inca Trail itineraries for over 25 years. Throughout that time, demand for completing the illustrious Inca Trail has soared. Where once we’d seen only the most adventurous amongst our guests headed to the starting point, we now welcome those seeking a more luxurious and comfortable Andean adventure during their Peru vacation. This surge has transformed Peru’s Inca Trail. Whilst numbers are carefully monitored by authorities in order to preserve and protect the Inca Trail, Peru – what was once only read about in books, is now one of the world’s most sought-after bucket list adventures. For that reason, Aracari has worked with many guests looking for an Inca Trail alternative. Trekking routes in Peru that offer all the majestic beauty of Peru’s most popular trail, whilst remaining largely undiscovered to tourists. Peru is marbled with some of the world’s most awe-inspiring treks. As leading Peru travel advisors, Aracari’s unrivalled knowledge of Peru means that our team have mapped the country’s incredible trekking routes from North to South, East to West. Our adventure guru, Mark Green [link] has worked alongside Marisol for years, to curate walks for guests of all abilities and ages. Through forest, desert or mountains – if it’s an alternative to the Inca Trail you seek – the path less trodden – then Aracari, a top Peru travel company, is your starting point. Multiday camping
For those traveling in Peru, the allure of the country’s most famous trekking trail, the Inca Trail trek, is undeniable. Spending four to five days ascending some of the Sacred Valley’s most breath-taking scenery, along the same route taken by Incan pilgrims so many centuries before is an unforgettable experience…
Last month, we shared with you an exclusive preview of our brand-new wellness itinerary. The details of this unique wellness experience have been crafted by Marisol and her team, alongside the natural healing experts at Willka T’ika and the owner of Willka T’ika wellness retreat – Terry Cumes. Since then, we have been thrilled at just how many people within the Aracari community and beyond have been in touch to express their joy at discovering the option for luxury wellness travel in Peru. It was our belief that natural healing would become much sought after as international travel resumes, so we are delighted to have anticipated the trend so accurately. Our wellness itinerary is now open, welcoming travelers keen to rejuvenate and reset. But of course – with Aracari, the power of travel is truly transcendental. So, as well as extraordinary travel experiences in Peru, we also endeavour to bring Peru to you. Our experts – including Aracari Travel Designer Joanna Bossowska, who visited Willka T’ika in April – have collaborated Willka T’ika’s team of 19 Quechua farmers in order to share an exclusive glimpse into some for the herbal remedies used by generations of indigenous communities. For everything from stomach cramps to sprained ankles, this is ancient knowledge comes straight from the Sacred Valley direct to you: Mate de muña and other natural remedies for mountain sickness or soroche Travelers who arrive in the Sacred Valley immediately feel the effects of the extreme elevation. This can cause what is known by the locals as soroche, or mountain sickness. Many travelers are welcomed with a cup of mate de coca, an excellent remedy for soroche. However, being so connected to local experts – Aracari’s team know of another herb that doesn’t have the same stimulant properties as the coca leaf. Mate de
Last month, we shared with you an exclusive preview of our brand-new wellness itinerary. The details of this unique wellness experience have been crafted by Marisol and her team, alongside the natural healing experts at Willka T’ika and the owner of Willka T’ika wellness retreat – Terry Cumes. Since then,…
For almost 25 years, Aracari has coordinated tailormade itineraries to the Galapagos Islands. This quarter century worth of experience makes Marisol and her team some of the leading experts when it comes to traveling the world-famous archipelago. Trips built from experience Situated 1,000km off the coast of Ecuador, these far-flung Islands are a travel destination that requires careful planning. Thankfully, our founder Marisol Mosquera is no stranger to her own adventures in the Galapagos. Having first visited the Islands around the same time she founded Aracari in 1996, Marisol has since gone on to have two subsequent ventures to the Galapagos, both of these times with her son – when he was aged six and 10 years later, aged sixteen. Marisol is well versed on the different decisions needed to make the Galapagos Islands an age-appropriate vacation destination, and it’s this knowledge she has imparted with her team. Aracari is now one of the most trusted luxury travel operators to the Galapagos. Planning post-pandemic adventures As the world re-emerges from COVID-19 travel restrictions, we believe the remote location and unrivalled wildlife of the archipelago will put the Galapagos firmly at the top of bucket list adventures. So that you can begin planning for your tailormade journey with us ahead of then, we are sharing some of Marisol’s insider knowledge, knowledge very few people know about. Choosing to cruise the Galapagos Islands Each of Marisol’s three visits to the Galapagos Islands has been via cruise, and thus this is her most recommended option for Aracari travelers. By opting to travel by cruise, guests are able to visit more of the archipelago since the boats travel through the night to the next secluded cove or lesser-frequented shoreline. In Marisol’s experience – a cruise that lasts at least six to eight days is
For almost 25 years, Aracari has coordinated tailormade itineraries to the Galapagos Islands. This quarter century worth of experience makes Marisol and her team some of the leading experts when it comes to traveling the world-famous archipelago. Trips built from experience Situated 1,000km off the coast of Ecuador, these far-flung…
As Peru’s more rustic cousin, Bolivia is a country that until the last decade, remained largely unexplored by International travelers. But as one of Aracari’s flagship destinations, Bolivia has been very much a feature of our tailormade itineraries for almost 25’ years. Witnessing Bolivia’s evaluation from a destination only suited to the more adventurous traveler, to a country now catering different styles, means Marisol and her team are very much in the know when it comes to what to do and see within Bolivia’s landlocked borders. From soaring mountain peaks and untouched rainforest, to expansive, otherworldly salt flats and sweeping savannahs – Bolivia is a country that will stay with you long after you return home. However, knowing Bolivia’s secrets is the key to planning a trip of a lifetime. These secrets can’t be found on Google, but only from those who know her best – so, in an Aracari exclusive, here are our favorite must-see highlights of breathtaking Bolivia. Uyuni Salt Flats Bolivia’s majestic salt flats (Salar de Uyuni) stretch as far as the eye can see in every direction. At over 10,000 square kilometers in area, this vast expansive is one of South America’s great natural wonders. Marisol and her team of Bolivia experts have crafted each detail of our Salar de Uyuni experiences to take in rarely visited colorful lagoons, rock gardens, geyser fields and cactus forests that other travelers simply won’t know about. Guests may choose to visit the salt flats by private excursion led by Aracari’s expert guides, a one-in-a-lifetime experience that includes taking in the sunset with a glass of Bolivian red wine and local delicacies. Or instead, to include the Salar de Uyuni as part of one of our exhilarating road trip itineraries that cross borders from Peru to Bolivia to Chile,
As Peru’s more rustic cousin, Bolivia is a country that until the last decade, remained largely unexplored by International travelers. But as one of Aracari’s flagship destinations, Bolivia has been very much a feature of our tailormade itineraries for almost 25’ years. Witnessing Bolivia’s evaluation from a destination only suited…
As more people across the globe look to shrubs, herbs and other vegetation for their natural wellbeing benefits, Aracari is anticipating a boom in traveling for wellness. After decades of working closely with local communities, we know that in Peru, making a return to Mother Earth’s own linctus cabinet is nothing new here. Peruvians have long cultivated crops for their medicinal and healing properties, and in fact - many of our guides are themselves encyclopaedias of knowledge on the properties of locally grown flora and fauna. In the coming months, we predict many travelers will look to countries like Peru, choosing to journey in search of wellness travel retreats and wholesome experiences, which offer a sanctuary from their modern busy lives, especially after the stress and seclusion caused by numerous lockdowns. For Aracari’s longstanding hotel partner and owner of the premium wellness retreat Willka T’ika - Terry Cumes, this is welcome news. A premium wellness retreat in the Sacred Valley Aracari has had a strong relationship with Carol and Terry Cumes for a number of years. Founded in 1995 by Carol Cumes, Willka T’ika has become a pioneer of natural wellness in Peru. Marisol and her team have visited the wellness center more than once, while curating experiences in the Sacred Valley. Each visit has been a source of great inspiration, discovering more of the natural benefits of plants, flowers and native shrubs growing in their Seven Chakra Gardens. The grounds of which are tended to by no fewer than 19 Quechua farmers – who have continued the ancient practices of their forefathers, using medicinal plants to treat all manner of ailments. In fact, it is this Seven Chakra Gardens, which has become the focus of a brand new Aracari wellness itinerary developed in partnership with our friends at
As more people across the globe look to shrubs, herbs and other vegetation for their natural wellbeing benefits, Aracari is anticipating a boom in traveling for wellness. After decades of working closely with local communities, we know that in Peru, making a return to Mother Earth’s own linctus cabinet is…
Aracari is well versed in understanding Peru’s yearly calendar scattered with celebrations, and the Easter period is no exception. In fact, the days of Easter celebrations in Peru – the Holy Week of the Catholic faith – are marked by some of the nation’s most notable festivals and events. Catholicism arrived with the Spanish in the XVI century and was adopted by the indigenous communities alongside existing practices and beliefs. Today, this hybridity makes for an interesting blend in the religious identity of the country, one that is uniquely Peruvian. The duality emerges in rituals that blend the native enamour for Mother Earth with the ceremonies of the Catholic church, in a way that Marisol and her team know to be immensely captivating for both participant and spectator. So, as we approach the weekend of Easter celebrations in Peru, Aracari offer you a glimpse into the real Peru at Easter. Not the attractions performed for visitors, but those celebrations revelled in by locals each year, from the Central Andes to Northern tip of the Huascarán National Park. This insider guide to Peru at Easter time has been crafted from 25 years’ experience in showcasing the heritage and history of the country. From the sombreness of Good Friday, to the jubilation of Easter Sunday – the following celebrations are those which to Aracari, encapsulate the spirit of Peru at Easter time. ***Due to the pandemic, celebrations in 2021 are set to be a little different. But as pioneers of exceptional travel experiences, Aracari wanted to look forward to a time when crowds can be shoulder-to-shoulder once more, revelling in some of Peru's most spectacular Easter celebrations. 1. Our Lord of the Earthquakes Procession Cusco is of course one of the most popular destinations for Aracari guests, and during Holy Week this
Aracari is well versed in understanding Peru’s yearly calendar scattered with celebrations, and the Easter period is no exception. In fact, the days of Easter celebrations in Peru – the Holy Week of the Catholic faith – are marked by some of the nation’s most notable festivals and events. Catholicism…
