Last week, James, Simon, and I were privileged to canvas the stalls of Lima’s very first international art exposition, Art Lima, with Aracari's esteemed friend Mariano Ugalde. Owner of Salar Galeria de Arte in La Paz, Bolivia and professional art dealer, Mariano’s career requires him to promote the work of talented artists around the globe, providing him with fantastic and extensive insight into the contemporary art scene. On this such occasion, Mariano was invited to showcase his artists’ work, along with 30 other different galleries that were represented at the show. The exhibition was held at one of the magnificent buildings of the Military School in Chorrillos, and the galleries themselves were sectioned off along the interior walls and within the courtyard area. We meandered from gallery to gallery inspecting the wide variety of artwork, from psychedelic and evocative oil paintings, to sculptural pieces that had cosmic and aquatic characteristics. Many galleries had representatives present to talk about the work, to answer questions, and to assist in any sales transactions, a task fulfilled by Mariano as well. However, what made this visit compelling was the passion for and knowledge about his particular artists, providing us with biographical information, award histories, and extensive explanations that still left much to the viewer’s imagination. Sara Modiano, a Jewish-Colombian woman whose work was not fully realized until her arrival to and acceptance in the New York art community, had a diverse yet interconnected body of work represented at the show. Her work was introspective, ranging from a celebratory piece called “Orgasmic Shrine,” which consisted of wire building blocks imposed with images of the artist’s face in ecstasy, to the pieces that portrayed the intense angst she felt during her battle against cancer. In these latter images, Modiano appears with a shaved head. In one,
Last week, James, Simon, and I were privileged to canvas the stalls of Lima’s very first international art exposition, Art Lima, with Aracari’s esteemed friend Mariano Ugalde. Owner of Salar Galeria de Arte in La Paz, Bolivia and professional art dealer, Mariano’s career requires him to promote the work of…
Amongst the contemporary art galleries and stylish ateliers in the airy boulevard of Saenz Peña in Barranco, there sits a majestic, pillared mansion. Built in 1916 by a wealthy Limeñan, this stately home was somewhat neglected, passing from hand to hand and inevitably falling into disrepair. That is until a few years ago, when the proprietors of the sumptous Titilaka hotel discovered this dilapidated beauty and envisioned its potential for greatness. After two full years and countless hours of painstaking planning and restoration, this grand old building is now finally on the brink of being unveiled to the world. Ever curious (and desperately eager to see a hotel that since 2011 has had us waiting at the edge of our seats in the sheer anticipation of being able to offer it), those of us at Aracari have been privileged enough to pay Hotel B a visit (or five) in the final stages of its development. Based on what we've seen so far, we think that this hotel is not only very beautiful, but that it will be totally unique to Lima as the only upscale boutique hotel in the city. It's stylish and elegant, but in a discreet manner, and we expect it to be very much "a-la-mode"... a sentiment that How to Spend it has already voiced. We're very confident that it will be an ideal hotel for Aracari guests. Much like its original design intended, the home is a sanctuary in the heart of Lima's bohemian district by the sea. Yet its function has a different purpose, as it is now transformed into a historic-meets-modern, luxury boutique hotel. The story goes that it belonged to a sixty-something Limeñan woman who left Peru to live in Europe, and that the hotel guests are in fact visiting her home . This
Amongst the contemporary art galleries and stylish ateliers in the airy boulevard of Saenz Peña in Barranco, there sits a majestic, pillared mansion. Built in 1916 by a wealthy Limeñan, this stately home was somewhat neglected, passing from hand to hand and inevitably falling into disrepair. That is until a…
Last week I was lucky enough to be invited aboard Inca Rail’s top-of-the-line Presidential Class (previously called the Inca Princess) carriage for a luxurious journey to Machu Picchu. As a Peru travel expert with over two decades of experience I had taken several different trains and services in the past, but I certainly found this trip to be a unique one! As soon as I stepped onto the train, I immediately noticed how beautifully decorated the carriage was, with nice wood finishing, artwork, a marble bar, and relaxing ambient music playing in the background. I was greeted with ice cold champagne, wet hand towels, and even an assortment of chocolates before getting settled in one of the rotating and spacious seats. We pulled out of the station and soon after, the gourmet, multi-course meal began. In between delicious courses served on what I was pleasantly surprised to hear was tableware from Jallpa Nina ceramics workshop, I even had the chance to enjoy the picturesque views from outside on the Presidential’s private balcony. Aside from all these lovely details, what makes Presidential Class service so special and unique is that it is the only option for a private group of up to ten passengers who are looking to travel to Machu Picchu in total privacy. This isn’t possible on the luxurious Hiram Bingham (or on any other train service for that matter). Even if you were to splash out and charter the entire dining carriage of the Hiram Bingham (which has room for 42 passengers), the observation cart - which includes the bar and the lounge - is always shared… unless you were to charter the entire train that is! On the whole, after my experience aboard Presidential Class, I think it is an excellent alternative for guests looking for the highest quality
Last week I was lucky enough to be invited aboard Inca Rail’s top-of-the-line Presidential Class (previously called the Inca Princess) carriage for a luxurious journey to Machu Picchu. As a Peru travel expert with over two decades of experience I had taken several different trains and services in the past, but…
A transient and brilliant rainbow spanning across the commanding andean mountain range...majestic pink dolphins skimming through the waters of the Amazon...the intricate tattoos blanketing the mummy arm of the only known female Inca priestess...gently lapping waves along the shores of a private-island retreat... Inspiration comes in many forms and in our recent discussion with Peruvian-artist Grimanesa Amorós, we discussed her work and how a trip with Aracari through her homeland can be a source of inspiration for new ideas. An interdisciplinary artist, Grimanesa makes use of various mediums including sculpture, video, and lighting, Grimanesa to complement her diverse areas of interest in social history, scientific research and critical history. During her absence from Peru for formal training and to showcase her professional work, Grimanesa sourced and continues to source her inspiration from the fascinating and diverse aspects of her home country. Grimanesa began studying at the Art Students League of New York, where she explored painting and printmaking for several years before realizing that her true calling was working with light instead of paint. Despite moving at a relatively young age to pursue her career as an artist, Grimanesa has always had a deep connection with her homeland. In our recent interview with her, Grimanesa said she “was exposed at an early age to the colors, the variation of the landscape - coast, sierra and jungle along with all the tropical fruits that Peru has to offer.” She often found herself having deja vu moments when natural landscapes and breathtaking phenomenons reminded her of home. Trips back to her Peru were particularly moving for Grimanesa and provided her with inspiration for several of her projects. Among these was a trip to the Uros reed islands in Lake Titicaca. These unique floating islets, situated in the world’s highest navigable lake, are
A transient and brilliant rainbow spanning across the commanding andean mountain range…majestic pink dolphins skimming through the waters of the Amazon…the intricate tattoos blanketing the mummy arm of the only known female Inca priestess…gently lapping waves along the shores of a private-island retreat… Inspiration comes in many forms and in…
Aracari launches new Peru Family Itineraries 18 April 2013, Immediate Release Aracari Travel, an award winning travel agency based in Lima, Peru, has announced a range of new family-friendly tour itineraries for summer 2013. Family Travel Peru Responding to increasing demand for family-oriented experiences in Peru, Aracari Travel has developed two itineraries that incorporate the destinations, accommodations and activities that are most suited to younger families with children aged up to 12 years old as well as families with children aged 13 years and older. Both itineraries include a broad range of adventure activities, educational visits and opportunities to meet and interact with local people and communities. Activities for the younger itinerary include a trip to the Amazon rainforest, treasure hunts, interactive weaving lessons, a chocolate workshop and fishing excursions. The tour also includes a visit to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Cusco. The older itinerary includes more adventurous activities such as surfing, mountain biking, hiking and driving sand buggies. In addition to visiting Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Cusco, the older itinerary adds the Nazca Lines, Lima and Paracas National Reserve. Interest in family travel to Peru has grown rapidly in recent years with Aracari Travel noting a substantial increase in family requests since 2010. The Lima-based company attributes this to improvements in travel infrastructure and hotel accommodations as well as a growth in the number of destinations and activities suitable for younger travellers. This is particularly the case in the Amazon rainforest where a number of lodges have developed activities specifically for children, such as interactive rainforest trails and child-friendly field guides that are designed to teach youngsters the value of the natural environment. Other family-friendly activities have become widespread throughout the country over recent years such as horseback riding, quad biking, hot air ballooning and
Aracari launches new Peru Family Itineraries 18 April 2013, Immediate Release Aracari Travel, an award winning travel agency based in Lima, Peru, has announced a range of new family-friendly tour itineraries for summer 2013. Family Travel Peru Responding to increasing demand for family-oriented experiences in Peru, Aracari Travel has developed…
The best travel experiences are always well-balanced, multi-sensory and leave you with a positive lasting impression. During a recent visit to the humble abode of Aracari’s longtime friend Charo Leon, Simon, James and I had the opportunity to learn more about the fascinating life and selfless work of this Peruvian entrepreneur. Oh, and she just happens to be a master of jams, jellies, chutneys and marmalades as well :). I came to be acquainted with Charo when she came into the Aracari office one day to showcase the most recent collection of textiles and crafts produced by the hands of women from Cajamarca, Chiclayo, Chincha, Apurimac, Puno, Shipibo, and other locations across Peru. Her business is quite multifaceted, as she travels to various locations throughout the country, seeking out and working with under-educated women of all ages and teaching them how to produce a variety of traditional Peruvian handicrafts. She then helps to promote their work to vendors, acting as a facilitator between the two parties. Yet her goal is simple and pure: provide women with varied opportunities to become educated. Through the reintroduction of traditional textile- and craft-making techniques, Charo provides local woman with an opportunity to preserve their identities and to improve the quality of their lives. Each woman dedicates a countless number of hours to technical training to master their skills, to produce high-quality goods, and to take pride in their work. Once these skills have been mastered, she helps her artisans to understand modern business models in which trends in fashion become a guideline for creating profitable yet authentic products. Beyond the skills necessary for creating beautiful handicrafts, Charo teaches practical, lifelong lessons and encourages them to reach their long-term goals by furthering their education. Knowledge, she noted, is a catalyst for positive change, and by
The best travel experiences are always well-balanced, multi-sensory and leave you with a positive lasting impression. During a recent visit to the humble abode of Aracari’s longtime friend Charo Leon, Simon, James and I had the opportunity to learn more about the fascinating life and selfless work of this Peruvian…
