Etched into the desert plains over 2000 years ago, The Nazca Lines geoglyphs are one of Peru's most capitvating sites to visit. Flying over the Nazca Lines offers the best perspective to appreciate the large scale of these mysterious shapes, an impressive feat achieved by the ancient Nazca culture. These ancient geoglyphs - consisting of several hundred individual figures - were created by brushing away the dark top layer of barren desert to reveal the light, sandy soil underneath and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Aracari arranges Nazca lines tours from Lima as part of a multi-day private tour to Peru including all accommodation, guiding and transfers. We do not arrange visits to the Nazca Lines on a standalone basis. Planning a Nazca Lines Tour from Lima Getting to Nazca, Pisco or Ica airport from Lima by Road The Nazca Lines are located south of Lima. To see the lines you take short scenic flight from one of the three nearby airports: Nazca, Pisco or Ica. The nearest airport to the Nazca lines is Nazca airport. The closest airport to Lima is Pisco, which is around a 3.5hr drive from the capital; alternatively there are limited commercial flights from Cusco to Pisco. The advantage in visiting the Nazca lines from Pisco airport is that it is the closest to the coastal destination of Paracas, a half hour drive away, which has plenty of other attractions that merit an overnight stay. These include the Ballesta Islands and Paracas National Reserve. Paracas has excellent luxury hotels including Libertador Luxury Collection and Hacienda Bahia Paracas. Aracari arranges trips to the Nazca Lines combined with Paracas on a private basis only, as part of a multi-day itinerary to Peru. Getting to Pisco Airport by Commercial Flight Pisco is one of the three airports that
Etched into the desert plains over 2000 years ago, The Nazca Lines geoglyphs are one of Peru’s most capitvating sites to visit. Flying over the Nazca Lines offers the best perspective to appreciate the large scale of these mysterious shapes, an impressive feat achieved by the ancient Nazca culture. These ancient geoglyphs –…
Located 70 km southeast of Paracas lies a vast fertile land known for producing large quantities of succulent grapes used to create Pisco (Peru's national drink) as well as a selection of increasingly high-regarded wines. A few weeks ago, Aracari-founder Marisol, Lauren, and I went in search of a route that could deliver the perfect tasting experience, leading us to a variety of different vineyards and distilleries. From modern and impressive, to the classic and cozy, and even the dirty and impersonal, we were able to delineate a path that is sure to deliver the best of fine Peruvian spirits. Our first stop was for a sneak-peek at the brand-new Pisco Portón distillery. Situated on the grounds of the oldest working distillery in the Americas, Hacienda La Caravedo dating from 1684, Pisco Portón seeks to embrace and integrate its traditional, centuries-old methods into the its new, sleek and modern facilities. When Texas oil mogul William Kallop and his son were in Peru for business, they made a discovery of a natural resource quite different to the oil with which they were familiar: Pisco. Their love for the intense flavors of the liquor led them to purchase the historical Hacienda, and they enlisted the expertise of Johnny Schuler to serve as Master Distiller of the multi-million dollar project. Mr. Schuler, Peru’s “pisco ambassador,” also travels around the world promoting and educating people about the liquor and is famous for his popular TV show Por Las Rutas del Pisco. With the help of Schuler, the distillery has already earned itself a reputation of producing some of the best Pisco in Peru and is becoming increasingly popular outside of the country as well. We arrived at the enormous entrance gates where we were promptly greeted by the friendly staff and on-premise security. We were
Located 70 km southeast of Paracas lies a vast fertile land known for producing large quantities of succulent grapes used to create Pisco (Peru’s national drink) as well as a selection of increasingly high-regarded wines. A few weeks ago, Aracari-founder Marisol, Lauren, and I went in search of a route that…
For several decades, the Instituto de Arte Contemporáneo (IAC), a major national cultural institution, has been fighting to provide Peru, and particularly its capital city, with a proper museum dedicated to contemporary art. In January of this year, the IAC finally made this dream a reality and opened the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (MAC) in Lima’s artsy district, Barranco. In addition to an international selection of works from the collection of the IAC dating back to 1950, the museum recently opened a new exhibit known as "Lima 04", the postal code for Barranco (where the museum is located). The exhibition focuses on the relationship between the 13 artists on display and how Lima has influenced their work. It features four distinctly themed sections each with its own curator, which allows for a variety of unique perspectives on artists’ works in a variety of different mediums including sculptures, photographs, videos, and embroidery. The first theme, curated by Rodrigo Quijano, focuses on the use of public space throughout Lima and rituals of representation and identification. This includes the work pictured below, was formerly a sign atop a building in central Lima. Daniel Contreras, the curator of the second theme, deals with the personal relationships between artists and the diverse city of Lima. This includes works from the late Santos Sánchez, whose murals depict life in the working class districts of Lima. The third perspective, that of curator Miguel López (who also curated a previous exhibition sponsored by Aracari), reflects on the construction of public works through the display of photos of the billboards throughout the city. Finally, the fourth section, curated by Gabriela Germana, addresses immigration from the perspective of those moving from outside provinces into Lima, for example, through a series of paintings depicting a mass migration from Ica to Lima
For several decades, the Instituto de Arte Contemporáneo (IAC), a major national cultural institution, has been fighting to provide Peru, and particularly its capital city, with a proper museum dedicated to contemporary art. In January of this year, the IAC finally made this dream a reality and opened the Museo…
The Ship, The Lady, and the Lake follows the extraordinary account of Meriel Larken’s quest to restore the “Yavari” steamship in Peru’s Lake Titicaca. The story vividly describes her account of finding the decrepit ship rotting away in the Lake, how she discovered the ship’s incredible history, and her project to restore and preserve this piece of history. In 1861, the Peruvian government ordered the construction of the steamships for Lake Titicaca to transport cargo and passengers between lake ports in Peru and Bolivia. One year later, the British-built ship arrived at the southern coast of Peru, and the government faced the daunting task of transporting the ship through the Andes to Lake Titicaca, which arrived in thousands of separate pieces. Piece by piece and with the help of mules, the ship was carried over 12,500 feet to the world’s highest navigable lake where it was reconstructed for use. Larken’s book recalls this epic journey and puts the remarkable feat into perspective. Following its reconstruction, the steamship was operated by a British company and provided transport for the region’s exports and moved passengers between lakeside communities for more than a century. Around 1975, the ship became the property of the Peruvian Navy, and unfortunately, due to a lack of resources, was allowed to fall into disrepair. By the time Meriel Larken discovered the Yavari in 1985, it had been rotting away for years in a Puno port. Fortunately for Larken, having been in fresh water and a high altitude, the ship’s iron hull was preserved and deemed worthy of a restoration. This is where her quest began to restore the ship to its former glory and turn it into a major tourist attraction. As she describes in her book, years of dedication and hard work paid off, and in 1998
The Ship, The Lady, and the Lake follows the extraordinary account of Meriel Larken’s quest to restore the “Yavari” steamship in Peru’s Lake Titicaca. The story vividly describes her account of finding the decrepit ship rotting away in the Lake, how she discovered the ship’s incredible history, and her project…
Peru gastronomy. The Year of Quinoa Quinoa, the so-called “mother grain of the Incas,” has become increasingly popular throughout the world, not only for its excellent nutritional value, but also for its versatility in the kitchen and overall tastiness. So much so that the United Nations officially declared 2013 as the International Year of Quinoa to “raise awareness of the nutritional, economic, environmental and cultural value of a food that has been traditionally cultivated for thousands of years.” The UN hopes that by launching this campaign people will learn about this superfood and recognize the indigenous Andean people who have maintained and preserved it as food for thousands of years. In addition, they feel that the grain can play an essential role in achieving the Millenium Development Goals, global anti-poverty targets, by increasing food production of nutritious foods like quinoa. Quinoa is predominantly grown in and around the Andes, and Peru is currently one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of this superfood. However, the crop can easily adapt to various climates and locations, thriving in a wide range of temperatures and altitudes. Additionally, it is the only plant food to contain all of the essential amino acids for the human diet, its protein content is greater than that of wheat, rice, and oats, and it also happens to be gluten free. This versatility and remarkable nutritional value make it an excellent food option in areas with difficult farming conditions, with low amount of accessible animal proteins, and with high malnutrition rates. Quinoa Salad on the Salkantay Lodge to Lodge Trek The variety of flavors and textures make this versatile grain a delicious addition to a wide variety of dishes that you might already cook up! So why not celebrate the Year of Quinoa and incorporate it into
Peru gastronomy. The Year of Quinoa Quinoa, the so-called “mother grain of the Incas,” has become increasingly popular throughout the world, not only for its excellent nutritional value, but also for its versatility in the kitchen and overall tastiness. So much so that the United Nations officially declared 2013 as…
A Visit to Suasi Island Following our adventure to Taquile Island in Lake Titicaca, James and I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a relaxing two days at Suasi Island, the only privately owned island on the Peruvian side of the lake. This tiny island is home to Martha Giraldo’s one-of-a-kind Suasi Lodge, where the focus on providing excellent service in a remote location coupled by beautiful and fragrant gardens, swaying hammocks and cozy fireplaces, and a plethora of wildlife make the long journey worthwhile. Upon our arrival to the island’s private dock, we were greeted by the friendly staff and walked the short distance to the lodge with our luggage safely in tow. As we walked up to the hotel, we couldn’t help but notice the aromatic and lush landscaping, which we would later discover was a nice personal touch of the owner’s. Our guide from the boat, Maria, helped us with check-in and briefed us on the activities that we had planned during our brief stay, including a tour of the facilities, a hike to watch the sunset, as well as a bird-watching boat tour around the island. Despite the secludedness of the island, there were plenty of things to do and places to explore, and the lodge conveniently displayed these options in their main lobby. Before heading to our room, we enjoyed a refreshing beverage from the open bar, which included everything from water and soft drinks, wine, whisky, beer, as well as some snacks. After getting settled into our comfortable, appealingly-rustic accommodations on the second floor, bright with sunshine from the overhead skylights and with great views of the lake, we ventured outside for a BBQ lunch on the patio overlooking the vast beauty of Lake Titicaca. Lunch consisted of soup, salad, locally-sourced bread, and grilled
A Visit to Suasi Island Following our adventure to Taquile Island in Lake Titicaca, James and I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a relaxing two days at Suasi Island, the only privately owned island on the Peruvian side of the lake. This tiny island is home to Martha Giraldo’s…
