Jerusalem and Petra were always on my bucket list, but somehow I never thought of that trip as travelling to the Holy Land, the name given to the area where Jesus spent his life, which is in essence the land that is now Israel, Palestine, Egypt and Jordan. By contrast, a trip to the Holy Land was at the top of my mother´s bucket list, so when I proposed this as a birthday present, she was delighted. As I started dipping my toes in the arrangements, I realised that there is so much to experience in the area that is not necessarily of a Christian religious nature—so much that it was rather a blessing to have a focus. Otherwise, we would have been truly torn as to what to choose to do with our limited time. So with a clear focus, I started planning well in advance, and I quickly realised that if you want a trip with a Christian religious bias in that area, Israel and Palestine suffice to cover the New Testament. But if you want to cover the Old Testament sites too, you need to go to Jordan and Sinai (Egypt) as well. We stuck to the New Testament and added Jordan, of course, as Petra was key to the trip, too, and set aside the rest due to time constraints. As an independent traveller at heart, I embarked on research, first by talking to friends and contacts, then searching on the internet and requesting advice from fellow travel professionals and specialists. With everyone´s expertise combined, and the invaluable help of Condé Nast Travel Specialist Lorenzo Urra, whose contacts on the ground (especially our guides) did a remarkable job, my mother, my 11-year-old son and I departed for our adventure on December 27th and spent twelve magnificent days
Jerusalem and Petra were always on my bucket list, but somehow I never thought of that trip as travelling to the Holy Land, the name given to the area where Jesus spent his life, which is in essence the land that is now Israel, Palestine, Egypt and Jordan. By contrast,…
For thousands of years people of the Andes and the Amazon have relied on herbal medicines to treat common ailments like headaches, infections and inflammations. Today, along with modern medicine, people continue utilizing the same medicinal plants of Peru with these positive health benefits, and at Aracari we have certainly tried some of them ourselves! Many of these medicinal plants are native to the Amazon Rainforest and the Andes of Peru, and for anyone interested in herbal remedies, we can arrange visits to local communities in either region, where you could do a trek with locals or visit a shaman, a spiritual counselor, to learn more about these plants and their medicinal properties. As locally based destination specialists we offer private, tailormade travel to Peru and can connect you with expert guides to learn more about medicinal plants in Peru if you travel here as part of any bespoke itinerary. As an introduction, we’ve selected eight medicinal plants that are well-known and widely used in Peru. A guide to Medicinal Plants of Peru Uña de Gato Uncaria guianensis Uña de gato translates to Cat’s Claw and is an herb that grows in the Amazon of Peru. Its common name refers to the curved thorns of this woody vine that look like claws. The inner bark and root have been used for centuries in Peru because they contain high levels of alkaloids that activate the immune system, reduce inflammation, protect against tumor growth and carcinogens and prevent gene mutations. It is also used for many gastrointestinal problems and has antiviral properties that can stop the spread of viruses. Uña de gato can be brewed as a drink or is often taken in the form of capsules or an extract in daily doses. Achiote Bixa Orellana Aciote is a small tree that grows
For thousands of years people of the Andes and the Amazon have relied on herbal medicines to treat common ailments like headaches, infections and inflammations. Today, along with modern medicine, people continue utilizing the same medicinal plants of Peru with these positive health benefits, and at Aracari we have certainly…
Ever wondered what it is like to sleep in a glass pod suspended off a mountainside accessed by climbing up a vertical via ferrata to get there? You can now find out in Peru's Sacred Valley, where Skylodge reaches new heights in quirky accommodation. Aracari went to test out the via ferrata and Skylodge and share our review of the adrenaline-inducing experience. Skylodge Adventure Suites in the Sacred Valley Climbing the via ferrata to reach the Skylodge Skylodge Adventure Suites is owned by the same mountain adventure operator that holds claim to Peru’s first via ferrata and also six zip-lines, one measuring 1,640 feet (500 metres) in length. Just to reach the Skylodge requires a one-hour climb up about 984 feet (300 metres) on the via ferrata or alternatively a trek up the mountainside. The lodges are referred to as “vertical hanging modules”, which are set on a cliff in Ollantaytambo at 1,312 feet (400 metres) in the air. Driving past on the main highway connecting Cusco to the Sacred Valley, you can look up and see the modules, appearing like glass cocoons protruding from the mountainside. Hotel That Hangs Off a Cliff The modules are made of aerospacial aluminum and high resistance polycarbonate, and as I stood inside, looking out on the Sacred Valley, the sky above, the river below, the guide I was with urged me to jump up and down—to test the strength. I could hear the wind press against the walls, slipping inside through one of the six small windows for ventilation. It was warm inside under the hot, Andean sun, but I could imagine that in the evenings, the pristine view of the stars and the cool breeze must feel, well, heavenly. There are four beds in each module, a dining tray and a bathroom (with a
Ever wondered what it is like to sleep in a glass pod suspended off a mountainside accessed by climbing up a vertical via ferrata to get there? You can now find out in Peru’s Sacred Valley, where Skylodge reaches new heights in quirky accommodation. Aracari went to test out the…
During a recent trip to Cusco, I saw two lines of children walking along, laughing and chattering with their teachers as I rode into the Sol y Luna Lodge & Spa, where I’d be spending my first night in the Sacred Valley during an Aracari inspection trip. I asked why there were children there and learned that they were going to the Colegio Sol y Luna, located on the same property as the hotel. Colegio Sol y Luna opened in 2010 through the Sol y Luna Association, which was founded by creators, Franz and Petit. Since that first class, the school has grown and now has 140 students, coming from various towns in the Urubamba Valley and the surrounding Andean towns and ranging from age 3 in initial to age 12 in the first year of secondary education. In the next year, Sol y Luna expects at least 20 more students and will continue to develop the secondary education as their students age into each new level. Some students who live in remote parts of the Andes and can only arrive to the school by walking are able to stay at the “Niños de Jesús” boarding home from Monday to Friday. There, they receive care and alimentation while they are at the school for the week away from their homes. There are about twenty teachers at the school, and all have been trained at universities in Lima and are highly qualified for their positions. The curriculum at Sol y Luna, though it complies with the requirements of the Peruvian Ministry of Education, focuses on developing the self-esteem of its students, as well as encouraging them to read for fun. The students take classes in the arts and humanities, sciences and math and also spend ten hours a week learning English. During various
During a recent trip to Cusco, I saw two lines of children walking along, laughing and chattering with their teachers as I rode into the Sol y Luna Lodge & Spa, where I’d be spending my first night in the Sacred Valley during an Aracari inspection trip. I asked why there were…
When you’ve had your fill of Inca sights in and around Cusco, there is no better way to relax and enjoy Peruvian culture than taking Marcelo Batata's interactive Peruvian Cusco Cooking Class. This culinary experience proved to be much more than just a cooking class: it was a real window into Peru's history and society through food. It was a great way to get a hands-on understanding on why Peru is now firmly on the world's culinary map as one of the best food destinations on the planet. Having tried and tested culinary experiences across the country, this Cusco Cooking Class is definitively a must-try for foodies looking to enjoty the best a culinary tour Peru can offer. Interactive Cusco Cooking Class Dining at Lima's top gourmet restaurants is one important facet of Peruvian cuisine today, but with this educational and fun cooking class you get an in-depth appreciation for what makes Peruvian ingredients so extraordinary, for a better understanding of why the country's food scene has flourished. In the cooking class you learn to prepare two traditional Peruvian dishes with expert tuition: causa and lomo saltado. And vegetarians, vegans or anyone with allergies or sensitivities need not worry: the class accommodates any dietary restrictions. Background: The Expert Chef The chef behind the restaurants Marcelo Batata, Uchu and Blue Puppy is Erick Paz Gallegos, a Cusco native, who is currently embarking on several projects that include restaurant openings in international locations and the development of a culinary school—in addition to his professional rally racing. Friends from America begged him to teach them how to cook—after which the flow of people asking him to teach them continued until he finally opened the classes to the public at Marcelo Batata. His focus is on the fusion of culinary traditions from the diverse cultures that coexist in
When you’ve had your fill of Inca sights in and around Cusco, there is no better way to relax and enjoy Peruvian culture than taking Marcelo Batata’s interactive Peruvian Cusco Cooking Class. This culinary experience proved to be much more than just a cooking class: it was a real window…
In addition to the eclectic collection of folk art that Las Pallas offers to visitors with an eye for quality, the shop has once again set up an impressive display of Christmas and holiday crafts and art collected from all over Peru. We listed Las Pallas in our holiday shopping guide last year and have profiled the shop in two previous blogs, which you can check out: 25 Years of Las Pallas, Arts and Crafts in Barranco Bird Watching in Barranco: Las Pallas features Peruvian artisans avian artwork Shop owner Mari Solari has an eye for folk art and decades of experience seeking out and extracting quality artisanal works from a myriad of Peruvian cultures. In keeping with the Las Pallas tradition, she has transformed what is usually her living room into a public Christmas exhibit, featuring an ornamented cactus as well as a mountain of nativity scenes and colorful crafts in honor of the “Apus” (mountain deities) of Peru. Everything on the ‘Christmas Cactus’ and mountain display is for sale, except for the cactus itself, which will return to Mari’s personal garden at the end of the season. The decorations are a mix of carved, hand painted angels, woven pieces like llamas and wooden ornaments of little animals of Peru like the famous cuy (or guinea pigs). Most notably, the Christmas exhibit displays handmade nativity scenes from all different regions and cultures in Peru, from the coast to the sierra and the selva (rainforest). Each set is completely unique and representative of the region. Even for those who do not celebrate Christmas, the artistry is something to marvel at; the various different scenes and religious figures are all distinct and crafted with care. There are also several intricate retablos of the nativity scene that are a typical adornment in
In addition to the eclectic collection of folk art that Las Pallas offers to visitors with an eye for quality, the shop has once again set up an impressive display of Christmas and holiday crafts and art collected from all over Peru. We listed Las Pallas in our holiday shopping…
