For travelers who looking for an outdoor adventure, Peru has wonderful opportunities to horseback ride through impressive landscapes One of our favorite places to ride is in the Colca Valley in Southern Peru, home to a range of alternative adventure activities, cultural and historical attractions. Here we share our expereince horseriding in Colca Canyon on a short trail of three hours. We also offer a longer horseback ride in Colca which takes around five hours. Horseriding in Colca Canyon On an inspection trip to the valley, I was delighted to discover that this is a terrific way to experience the beautiful Colca region. I met with my Chalan (an expert equestrian guide) early in the morning at my hotel, near the small village of Corporaque, and we set out on a short route through the Colca Valley, lasting around three hours. We trotted through the outskirts of the village, passing by locals, before continuing through fields of native crops like quinoa and habas. We began to move uphill, where the view of the valley opened up beneath us: gorgeous green terraced fields with distant snowy peaks illuminated on the horizon. Pre-Incan Burian Graves of the Colca Culture On the horseride you get to visit the Yuraq Qaqa graves, also referred to as Aya Wari or “House of the Dead,” where you will observe the burial rituals of the ancient Colca cultures in which bones and skulls are still visible. Then you’ll pass back through the main square of Coporaque, visiting the Colonial temple of Santiago de Apostol, built in 1569 on your way. The Peruvian Paso Horse Despite the fact that I do not have extensive experience in horseback riding, it did not take long for me to become accustomed to my steed, a Peruvian Paso Horse. My guide explained that the Peruvian Paso Horses are great for beginners and
For travelers who looking for an outdoor adventure, Peru has wonderful opportunities to horseback ride through impressive landscapes One of our favorite places to ride is in the Colca Valley in Southern Peru, home to a range of alternative adventure activities, cultural and historical attractions. Here we share our expereince horseriding in Colca Canyon…
On Tuesday night I ventured with my colleagues Giovanna and Vicky to the Alianza Francesa of Lima to listen to a talk about the gastronomy of Peru and France; one of the speakers at the event, writer and Peruvian culinary specialist Naguib Ciurlizza, had kindly invited the Aracari team to attend. The conference, titled, “Gastronomic Traditions, Culinary Creation and Marketing”, was the first event of the “Semana del Sabor” (or “flavour week”), and I did not know what to expect before arriving. This year is the second annual Semana del Sabor, which runs from October 15 to 24 in the cities of Lima, Piura and Cusco. It is a celebration valuing the relationship between food and the five senses, which is sponsored by the Alianza Francesa of Peru and, in Lima, by the Franco-Peruvian School of Lima. As with the first Semana del Sabor in 2012, it is being headed by the Vice President of Peru, Marisol Espinoza. As the website explains, Semana del Sabor aims to teach the value of the products native to France and Peru, demonstrating the diversity of flavors that these natural products offer. It also places emphasis on the origins and production methods of the products, as well as the importance of a healthy and balanced lifestyle. The four values that the Semana del Sabor promotes with its events are gastronomy, education, culture and social inclusion. This year the “flavors” selected for the week are quinua and cacao from Peru and, of course, the world-renowned wines and cheeses of France. When we entered the courtyard of the Alianza Francesa, people were mulling around tables, sampling hot quinoa drinks, chocolates and cheeses from various vendors. Some sat down for a meal at the café that had been transformed into a restaurant. At the center of the courtyard a
On Tuesday night I ventured with my colleagues Giovanna and Vicky to the Alianza Francesa of Lima to listen to a talk about the gastronomy of Peru and France; one of the speakers at the event, writer and Peruvian culinary specialist Naguib Ciurlizza, had kindly invited the Aracari team to attend….
Lima's Cathedral Gift Shop & Tearoo This August Lima's Cathedral finished renovating the gift shop, and Aracari received an invitation to come see what's new. So last Saturday Simon and I wandered to the Plaza de Armas, where the Cathedral is located, to check out the shop. As we approached the entrance, we asked the attendant for the tienda (gift shop) and were directed towards open doors where sun poured inside of the dim church. We stepped out onto the Patio de los Naranjos, a narrow, yellow-walled courtyard named after that of Sevilla, and were greeted by purple sun umbrellas shading tables and a sign for La Tetería de La Catedral (Cathedral tearoom) that said "Welcome" in many languages. We were immediately taken by the tranquility of the space, which makes the noisy streets of Lima seem far away. Patio de los Naranjos Tearoom Though it has always been open to the public, the Patio de los Naranjos has only recently been transformed into an inviting space for reflection and relaxation, where people can read a book, meditate, enjoy a cup of tea and a quinua muffin from the tea shop or have a conversation with friends. Now, visitors to the Cathedral and the adjoining museums can finish their tours by perusing the new gift shop for souvenirs or reflecting on their visit over a fruit-infused tea. The tearoom and the store can be visited independently from the Cathedral by simply asking at the main doors of the church. Just to the left of the tables of La Tetería tearoom is the door to the gift shop. Friend of Aracari and professor of architecture, specialist guide Luis Villacorta Santamato, oversaw the gift shop renovation, viewing it as an opportunity to promote the Cathedral and give back to local communities in need. Luis, who used to give tours of
Lima’s Cathedral Gift Shop & Tearoo This August Lima’s Cathedral finished renovating the gift shop, and Aracari received an invitation to come see what’s new. So last Saturday Simon and I wandered to the Plaza de Armas, where the Cathedral is located, to check out the shop. As we approached…
Whoever said that you can only enjoy Peruvian culture in Peru?! Founded in 1961 and based in London, the charity organization The Anglo-Peruvian Society aims to, “advance the education of the people of Great Britain about Peru, its people, history, language and literature, its institutions, folklore and culture and its intellectual, artistic, and economic life” and invites anyone, Peruvians, students and those who are simply interested in learning more to become a member. The society meets regularly and hosts events that feature a myriad of aspects of Peruvian culture and society while also fundraising for charities located in Peru. At Aracari we follow the society closely (see here), and for those of you currently living in or visiting London, there are a couple of Anglo-Peruvian Society events on the horizon that may be of interest! Firstly, in just a few weeks on Thursday, October 17th the society is hosting a Perudo Tournament that benefits Sense International, a non-profit that assists the deafblind in Peru. Now, from what I can gather (and I don’t claim to be an expert), Perudo is an ancient South American dice game that can be played with up to six players who each get five dice and a cup. The players must roll their dice, keeping them concealed under the cup and make bids as to how many dice have been rolled by the other players (i.e. eight ‘4s’ have been rolled). Estimates can only increase. The tricky part is that players are allowed to bluff and force other players to overestimate the number! If another player’s bid sounds unrealistic, you can say, “dudo,” which means “I doubt” in Spanish. Once a player’s bid is in doubt, the dice are counted and a new round begins after a player has been eliminated. The last player left
Whoever said that you can only enjoy Peruvian culture in Peru?! Founded in 1961 and based in London, the charity organization The Anglo-Peruvian Society aims to, “advance the education of the people of Great Britain about Peru, its people, history, language and literature, its institutions, folklore and culture and its…
It was a sunny Saturday afternoon in Lima, and I decided that I wanted to see the new exhibit Piruw and Wanu at the art gallery MATE. I wandered down the Avenida San Martin in Barranco, past the Main Square, walking along the trolley line until the street turns into Avenida Pedro de Osma. Just as I rounded a bend, I came upon a building with a gate and white pillars out front. There is a small sign posted outside indicating that this was in fact the art gallery I was looking for. A peek inside of the gates revealed the name MATE in large, colorful letters on the outer wall. After greeting the security guards, I followed a tile walkway inside of the elegant, refurbished townhouse. After entering the lobby, I glanced down the hall at the different salas or rooms of the exhibit before going to the counter to get my entrance ticket. There was no cover for this exhibit, but for one Peruvian Nuevo Sol you can rent an audio guide. Since it was only one sol, of course I rented it and pressed play as I entered the first sala, where I found six black and white photographs displayed in black frames on white walls. This first sala was part of the works titled Piruw, in acknowledgment of the origin of the name Perú as the Spanish conquistadors referred to the country when they arrived. The photographs are by Leslie Searles and Musuk Nolte, born in Lima and Mexico City respectively. Both studied visual arts in Lima. Each of the photographs that comprise this project has a mystical quality, a surreal haze meant to draw the viewer into a realm where reality and spirituality cross and momentarily become indistinguishable. Searles and Nolte documented the celebration of important festivals like the Virgen de la Candelaria in the jungle communities of
It was a sunny Saturday afternoon in Lima, and I decided that I wanted to see the new exhibit Piruw and Wanu at the art gallery MATE. I wandered down the Avenida San Martin in Barranco, past the Main Square, walking along the trolley line until the street turns into Avenida Pedro de…
Over the course of my travels this year, I've had the fortune to visit three small and equally lovely islands: Rapa Nui or Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean, Block Island in the Atlantic Ocean and the Island of Menorca in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Although they are each distinct in many ways, considering the first alone is a volcanic island and the other two continental, all located in different bodies of water, they share a common trait, which is authenticity. To different degrees, all of the islands are lacking in major tourist infrastructure for they have not been built for such mass access; thus the only visitors are those who truly have a desire to explore them. Always on the lookout for new places to explore in South America, in February I found a direct flight from Lima to Huang Roa (Easter Island) and decided to travel to the Pacific island, which had long mystified me. I am not (generally) the sort of traveller who does meticulous research before visiting a new destination, but rather, I follow my instinct and go simply to satisfy my attraction to travel to a new place. I was ready to be surprised by Easter Island, and I was. I was surprised by the magnetism that the famous giant statues or Moais had on me, that despite seeing many of them in different locations I never tired of seeing them. I was also surprised by the barrenness of the terrain. I never expected it to be so devoid of trees, vegetation and wildlife. I thoroughly enjoyed my five-day visit to Easter Island and would happily recommend the charming Explora Lodge to anyone who goes to Easter Island. The visit left me with bittersweet memories and a longing to return and spend more time admiring the intriguing Moai, studying their
Over the course of my travels this year, I’ve had the fortune to visit three small and equally lovely islands: Rapa Nui or Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean, Block Island in the Atlantic Ocean and the Island of Menorca in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Although they are each distinct in many…
