We're a member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association! Aracari is proud to announce we're a member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association! Operating adventure trips in Peru since we started back in 1996, we felt it was high time that we supported the efforts of this global membership organization, which has social and environmental ethics at the heart of their efforts. The ATTA is an association of 800 members, ranging from tour operators, travel agents, guides, and media representatives, all of whom are dedicated to promoting responsible adventure travel around the world. As one of the only upscale travel agencies in Peru to operate our own treks, we are able to provide a very high standard of trekking experiences in the Andean region, with the assurance that every detail is catered for. Offering short camping treks, treks that take you close to local communities, multi-day high altitude treks, and anywhere in between, our guests get to know the region, its landscapes, its history, and its people through up-close-and-personal immersion. We have been recognized for our expertise in adventure travel before, most recently, in May 2013, Travel + Leisure featured our trek to Apu Huayllanay on their Ultimate Guide to Trekking, Walking, & Hiking. We even offer a number of treks in lesser known areas of the country, such as the Cordillera Blanca, where we were fortunate to trek to Laguna 69 in September 2012 with the help of our friends at Llanganuco Lodge. As well as trekking, the varied and dramatic landscapes of the Andes and the rainforest afford all kinds of opportunities for sustainable adventure travel. In the Sacred Valley, activities such as kayaking on Waypo lake and mountain biking from the ancient agricultural testing site of Moray allow you to escape life for a moment. One of our
We’re a member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association! Aracari is proud to announce we’re a member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association! Operating adventure trips in Peru since we started back in 1996, we felt it was high time that we supported the efforts of this global membership organization,…
Peru festival, Inti Raymi Today marks the colorful celebration of Inti Raymi, or the “festival of the sun,” thought to have been one of the most important rituals in the Inca Empire. On June 24th each year just after the Winter Solstice, a religious ceremony takes place venerating Inti, the most significant God in the pantheon of Andean religion. Huge importance was placed upon the movement of the sun, and the solstice marked the return of the sun from its farthest position from earth. This also meant the beginning of longer days, the start of a new cycle, and the return of the source of life to the Andes. Thus, Inti Raymi was a celebration of the Inca New Year. A theatrical reenactment of the celebration takes place each year in Cusco, attracting thousands of locals and tourists alike. In preparation for the festival, hundreds of actors are chosen to take part in the reenactment, including the Sapa Inca, the ruler of the Inca empire. On the morning of the 24th, the crowd assembles at the fabled Koricancha, or Sun Temple, and takes part in a ceremony led by the Sapa Inca and praising Inti. The crowd then marches to the Plaza de Armas carrying the Inca on a golden throne to continue the celebrations before beginning the climb to the temple-fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Following in tow are the hundreds of other participants, including high priests in traditional ceremonial robes, officials of the court, and other nobles, all dressed in colorful garb. Once they arrive at Sacsayhuaman, an elaborate ritual takes place including several speeches and sacrifices. The ceremony ends with a procession back to Cusco’s main square and once again, the Inca new year has began. Although this festival has become rather commercialized and contrived in recent years and
Peru festival, Inti Raymi Today marks the colorful celebration of Inti Raymi, or the “festival of the sun,” thought to have been one of the most important rituals in the Inca Empire. On June 24th each year just after the Winter Solstice, a religious ceremony takes place venerating Inti, the…
Preview of El Mercado Tunqui Yesterday Aracari had the fantastic opportunity to have a sneak preview of Cusco's latest boutique hotel, El Mercado Tunqui. Although they are still finishing a few details, I was thrilled to find out that the hotel exceeded all our expectations... not bad considering our expectations are pretty high in the first place! Following our blog article last month (which, admittedly, we lifted from a press release), we were eager to see the hotel with our own eyes. In particular we wanted to know how the concept of a marketplace has been handled, and whether the hotel lived up to the billing of Cusco's newest Boutique hotel. Finally, we were clamouring to know how the hotel stands up when compared to other hotels in the same category. I'm very pleased to say, after my visit, that El Mercado Tunqui succeeds on all counts. The 27 rooms are beautifully decorated, many of these have a view of the city. Apart from having a more ample size, the 2 suites and the 5 junior suites differ from the 20 standard rooms in that they all have their own bathtub and fireplace. All the rooms have feather pillows and 400 thread count cotton sheets (if you're allergic to feathers synthetic pillow can be provided). Amenities include a coffee machine as well as a selection of mate teas. The walls and floors of the bedrooms are all heated creating a perfect temperature. Internet wifi is strong all over the hotel as the have multiple routers and a router in every room. There is an elevator to access the upper floors. The brakfast room is incredible! It is open with service all day and is very comfortable, it has one of the most beautiful atmospheres that I have seen in a hotel
Preview of El Mercado Tunqui Yesterday Aracari had the fantastic opportunity to have a sneak preview of Cusco’s latest boutique hotel, El Mercado Tunqui. Although they are still finishing a few details, I was thrilled to find out that the hotel exceeded all our expectations… not bad considering our expectations…
Spizza Lima Restaurant Review Despite the ridiculously fresh seafood and a variety of tasty food options here in Lima, I’ve had a hard time finding substitutes for some of the things I love from back home, and oftentimes in the past year, I have found myself craving a taste of home. Coming from New York and being raised in a family that for some time owned and operated pizzerias, it goes without saying that my relentless craving was for some good pizza. I was under the (perhaps ignorant) assumption that I would definitely not find anything remotely as good as back at home, but nonetheless I was on the hunt. I sampled some places nearby the office, stopped in chains like Papa John’s, and even went out and purchased a pizza stone to experiment in my own oven, but nothing really satisfied that craving. That was until I found Spizza Lima in San Isidro...easily the best pizza to be had in Lima and what has become a weekly staple during my time in Lima. Download Aracari's free e-guide book to culinary travel in Peru Before you even walk into this San Isidro establishment you immediately notice the smell of the wood fired oven, reminiscent of some of my favorite pizzerias back home and something pretty rare here in Peru. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and I’ve had nothing but good experiences with the friendly staff there during my many visits. After several visits, we eventually earned the status of “Regulars” and, proving our committed relationship to the restaurant, we were fortunate enough to sit down with co-owner Augusto Tenorio. Over some wine, we discussed our mutual love for pizza and learned how he first became involved with a Peruvian pizzeria. His love for food, specifically pizza, and an influence by
Spizza Lima Restaurant Review Despite the ridiculously fresh seafood and a variety of tasty food options here in Lima, I’ve had a hard time finding substitutes for some of the things I love from back home, and oftentimes in the past year, I have found myself craving a taste of…
It’s African-Peruvian Culture day! June 4th was chosen in 2006 to celebrate this unique aspect of Peruvian culture due to it being the birthday of late African-Peruvian icon Nicomedas Santa Cruz. A popular musician, Santa Cruz helped to raise recognition for the distinct and vibrant aspects of African culture in Peru in the late 1950’s and early 60’s. He is pictured below (source: wikipedia) People from Africa first came to Peru in the 16th century along with the Spanish conquistadors. Initially acting as personal servants and bodyguards to Spanish soldiers, right at the outset of the conquest, they were eventually trafficked in laarge numbers to replace indigenous slaves, the populations of which had been decimated by disease as well as overworking. Today as many as 17% of Peruvians are of African descent, most of whom live around the capital of Lima. There is a particular concentration of African-Peruvians around the areas of Cañete and Chincha on the coast to the south of Lima, a region that was originally requisitioned for labour-intensive cotton plantations. As well as having a strong influence upon Peruvian arts, dance, science, religion and food (try anticuchos, Picarones or the delicious Tacu-Tacu, for example), perhaps the most striking aspect of African-Peruvian culture is its beautiful, sensual music and dance, an important aspect of Musica Criolla. Originating from the traditions of slave communities, Musica Criolla developed to incorporate Spanish and Andean traditions. This somber music genre, remnant of similar styles in the Carribean, is characterised by the striking rhythm of percussion instruments such as the cajón (a box shaped drum struck with the palm of the hand between the knees) and the quijada de burro (a donkeys jawbone, rattled together in the palm of the hand) combined with rich Spanish guitar styles. The strong African influence on Musica
It’s African-Peruvian Culture day! June 4th was chosen in 2006 to celebrate this unique aspect of Peruvian culture due to it being the birthday of late African-Peruvian icon Nicomedas Santa Cruz. A popular musician, Santa Cruz helped to raise recognition for the distinct and vibrant aspects of African culture in…
UPDATE 30/05/2013:Peter now has a matching donor who will equal every donation you make, up until the funding target of $20,000 is reached. This means your donations going forward effectively double in value! So we have a truly realistic expectation of raising the needed funds. Have you ever dreamed of unraveling Inca mysteries in the Peruvian Andes? Supporting a search for answers in a still relatively unexplored region? Being a part of a history in the making? This may well be your chance! Explorer, scholar, writer and photographer Peter Frost will be leading a new expedition to explore Peru’s remote Vilcabamba region, known as the last stronghold of the Inca Empire, to confirm the existence of several unreported Inca sites... and he’s asking for your help! Peter has been visiting and exploring this rugged region of the high rainforest for some time now. His initial expedition to Vilcabamba in 2001 and 2002 with National Geographic eventually led to the discovery and investigation of a new Inca site, Qoriwayrachina. It was actually a few years earlier when he first spotted the clues that led him to this discovery while on a trek with some travellers who he was guiding. Following this expedition, with some more understanding of the Inca investment in the region, but still with several unanswered questions, Peter revisited several times on reconnaissance, exploring, surveying, and mapping the territory to prepare for this upcoming project. With a better understanding and knowledge of the difficult territory, riddled with deep canyons and high-altitude snow-capped peaks, Peter plans to embark on an intensive campaign to follow up on leads discovered over his years of research. With your help, Peter and his team can lay the groundwork for a major new phase of investigation into the cultural and historical landscape of this Inca heartland.
UPDATE 30/05/2013:Peter now has a matching donor who will equal every donation you make, up until the funding target of $20,000 is reached. This means your donations going forward effectively double in value! So we have a truly realistic expectation of raising the needed funds. Have you ever dreamed of…
